Charlotte is an illustration major at Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota FL. She was chosen from over 65 applicants for the award, which includes a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award weekend in Pittsburgh in May. The scholarship applicants submitted eight examples of their work along with an entry form that included short essays on their current and future plans in cartooning. Entries were judged by a jury of professional cartoonists who are members of the National Cartoonists Society Foundation.

In addition to her studies, Charlotte is working on writing and illustrating her own children’s book. She has done freelance work for Harper Collins Children’s Books and will be interning at American Greetings this summer.

The Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship is an annual award established in memory of Jay Kennedy, the late King Features comics editor, from an initial from the Hearst Foundation/King Features Syndicate and additional generous donations from other prominent cartoonists. It is administered by the National Cartoonists Society Foundation. The scholarship is awarded to a college student in the United States, Canada or Mexico who will be in their Junior or Senior year of college during the following academic year, and is selected by a panel of professional cartoonists.

Sarah is a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design where she studies illustration. She was chosen from over 100 applicants for the award, which includes a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award weekend in Las Vegas in May. The scholarship applicants submitted eight examples of their work along with an entry form that included short essays on their current and future plans in cartooning. Entries were judged by a jury of professional cartoonists who are members of the National Cartoonists Society Foundation.

In addition to her studies, Sarah writes and illustrates comics, and experiments with painting. She occasionally does freelancing, caricatures and sells work at conventions. She recently completed an illustrated book based on a short story by H. P. Lovecraft.

The Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship is an annual award established in memory of Jay Kennedy, the late King Features comics editor, from an initial from the Hearst Foundation/King Features Syndicate and additional generous donations from other prominent cartoonists. It is administered by the National Cartoonists Society Foundation. The scholarship is awarded to a college student in the United States, Canada or Mexico who will be in their Junior or Senior year of college during the following academic year, and is selected by a panel of professional cartoonists.

Diana Huh, is a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she studies history. Huh was chosen from over 100 applicants for the award, which includes a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award weekend in Boston in May. The scholarship applicants submitted eight examples of their work along with an entry form that included short essays on their current and future plans in cartooning. Entries were judged by a jury of seven professional cartoonists who are members of the National Cartoonists Society Foundation.

Huh is an illustrator for UCLA’s newspaper The Daily Bruin and is presently interning at Greenhouse Studios assisting on coloring the comic “Mace and Sputnik.” She has also created an on-going web comic called “The Wayside Manor.”

Applicants must be college students in the United States, Canada or Mexico that will be in their Junior or Senior year of college during the 2010-2011 academic year. Applicants do not have to be art majors to be eligible for this scholarship.

Along with a completed entry form, applicants are required to send 8 samples of their own cartooning artwork (copies only); noting if and where the work has been published, either in print or on the web. (See application for details.) DO NOT send original artwork.

Houghton’s studies at the College for Creative Studies have included character design for animation and writing and illustrating his own comics. He has also submitted gag cartoons and spot illustrations for the school’s student magazine. Aside from his class work, Houghton has also dabbled in freelancing including working on T-Shirt and logo designs and drawing caricatures at events.

Last summer he illustrated a 130 page NASCAR coloring book and is currently doing illustration and concept art for a children’s video game company. He would like to do magazine illustration and work in animation.

The Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship is an annual award established in memory of Jay Kennedy, the late King Features comics editor, from an initial from the Hearst Foundation/King Features Syndicate and additional generous donations from other prominent cartoonist. It is administered by the National Cartoonists Society Foundation. The scholarship is awarded to a college student in the United States, Canada or Mexico that will be in their Junior or Senior year of college during the following academic year, selected by a panel of professional cartoonists.

Houghton will receive his award and meet the professional cartoonists who selected him at the National Cartoonists Society’s Annual Reuben Awards banquet in Los Angeles on May 22nd.

You can see more of Chris Houghton’s work on his website.

Republished from Mike Lynch’s blog:

Last year’s Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship was awarded to RISD student Juana Medina. As the winner, she was invited to attend the National Cartoonists Society Reubens weekend, which was held in New Orleans last year.

I asked Juana if she could describe her own experience at last year’s Reubens. She graciously consented, even though she is very busy with her new semester. Below is her description of the experience.

(Illustration by Juana Medina, from her Flickr page)

Here is Juana:

———–

Being awarded the Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship turned out to be an experience that has shaped my life and the way I have approached cartooning since.

Imagine for a moment, finding yourself surrounded by cartoonists you admire, comic creators you have read since you were learning to read. Imagine them greeting you and making you feel part of the family. Imagine, they tell you they’ve also had similar fears to yours, they are willing to generously share their experiences, their dreams and their obstacles, and even their inspiration and work dynamics. I did not ever imagine this could be possible, until I found myself, in New Orleans, surrounded by renowned cartoonists and comic creators, all sharing their experiences and generously giving their advice.

Receiving the Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship was not only a great honor, but a commitment to reflect on what I have learned from wonderful cartoonists, making sure I apply my lessons on my everyday life. This weekend in late May of 2008, showed me what an important person Jay Kennedy was within this family of cartoonists, as they remembered him, making touching remarks of his thoughtful spirit and his brilliant mind. It was a lesson on kindness, as members of the National Cartoonists Society, dedicated hours to introduce me to each other and make sure I felt comfortable at all times. It was a lesson on humbleness, as they shared with me their techniques, obstacles and difficulties. A lesson of hope, as they enthusiastically shared their success stories and responded to my portfolio with valuable insights.

It was a space that made sure I would remember — hopefully, for a lifetime — the open heart and will to share that cartoonists from the NCS hold. The willingness to listen and give advice, their noble attitudes and sincere comments, are sure to stay with me and not only make me a more skilled illustrator and cartoonist, but a better person. The enthusiasm, love and honesty that characterized this space, served as true model to follow. I hold my memories of the invitation to receive the Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship at the Reuben Awards in New Orleans as part of my dearest memories. If you admire cartoonists because of their work, I will have to tell you that once you meet them, you will be absolutely fascinated by knowing that it is not only their work what makes them special, but their generous spirit, their open hearts and their will to welcome new generations into one of the best — if not the best — professions on Earth.

I am lucky and grateful. And hope that many students to come, will have the chance I have had, to learn through experience, about Jay Kennedy, a man who touched plenty of lives with true friendship and a keen mind. To learn learn from other cartoonists, about their lives and their passions. And most definitely, come back to life after a weekend of surreal events and befriending invaluable people, back to your drawing table, reinvigorated with their enthusiasm; assured that with dedication, good humor and generosity, doors open widely. And with the certainty, that those who have made it before us, are a constant example to follow.

———–

Have your applications postmarked by February 6, 2009. Applicants need not be art majors. All of the information here.

My thanks to Juana Medina, who selflessly took the time to write about her experience. Thank you, Juana!

The NCSF is the charitable arm of the National Cartoonists Society, the world’s largest and most prestigious organization of professional cartoonists. The NCS Foundation was formed in 2005 to continue the charitable and educational works that have been a hallmark of the NCS since its inception in 1946.

Visit often or subscribe to our RSS feed to stay up-to-date on NSCF news and events.

To find out more about the NCSF, visit our About Page.

Juana Medina was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. She completed high school in 1998 then moved to the U.S.A. where she has lived since. For two years, she studied at the Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C. and is now majoring in Graphic Design at RISD. She is a regular contributor to the College Hill Independent, a weekly magazine produced by students at Brown University and RISD. Her work has appeared in publications in South America and has been part of collective exhibitions in Colombia and Mexico.

In her application for the award, Medina wrote:

“I grew up in a country where war has been a constant since long before I was born. Our voices have been quieted by terrorist acts and constant threats from both governmental and clandestine groups, up to a point where the smell of gunpowder and the countless bomb threats became a part of our daily life … I found situations where there is little I can do to change reality but I have found in cartooning a voice that strongly reflects my feelings and intentions. I have found a way to raise consciousness without scolding, fuming or losing my stomach to an ulcer.”

Medina will receive her award and meet the professional cartoonists who selected her at the National Cartoonists Society’s Annual Reuben Awards banquet in New Orleans on May 24th. Two samples of Juana’s work are below.