Congratulations!

 

You have been nominated for the most prestigious award for graduate students in the field of child drama, the Winifred Ward Scholarship. Please consider the selection criteria and follow the guidelines below in regards to submitting your application, portfolio, and other support materials. We look forward to receiving your materials by midnight, Eastern Standard Time, March 15.

 

Criteria for Selection

 

All nominees who wish to be considered should submit an electronic PORTFOLIO cataloging their past and current achievements in TYA, Applied Theatre, Educational Theatre, Arts Administration, Creative Drama, and other related areas. Please compile all areas of your portfolio into ONE PDF. This portfolio will be reviewed by readers and ranked according to the following criteria:

• Completed Application Form and required materials

• Transcripts of previous undergraduate and current graduate academic work

• Program of Study: Outline of the academic work (classes and practical activities) undertaken in preparation for             continued work in the profession

• Strength of recommendation letters from faculty and/or arts professionals familiar with your work.

• Demonstration of excellence in current TYA, applied theatre, youth theatre and/or scholarship.

• Demonstration of potential to make a substantial contribution to the field of TYA, applied theatre, youth theatre,             and/or scholarship on children’s theatre and performance.

• Demonstration of goals consistent with Winifred Ward’s legacy.

• Must be currently enrolled at a university with at least two semesters remaining in your program. All scholarship             payments are paid directly to your university.

 

Portfolio Guidelines

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• Your portfolio is limited to a maximum of 25 pages. This includes your evidence and support materials. Your portfolio should be submitted electronically. Please compile all elements of your portfolio (except letters of recommendation) into ONE PDF. Please upload all documents below or send a digital download link (Google Drive, DropBox, etc.) to meriahsage@gmail.com.​

• Please have your recommendation letters from faculty and/or arts professionals sent directly to: meriahsage@gmail.com, with your name clearly marked on the email subject line and letter.

• All materials will be deleted when we are finished with the review process. BE SELECTIVE. Find the materials that quickly and abundantly show you to your best advantage. Any descriptions of group projects should clearly indicate your contribution.

 

Portfolios should contain the following materials/sections, when applicable, in this order:

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1. Completed application form.

2. Official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions. (Please circle or otherwise highlight cumulative GPA.)

3. CV and/or Resume.

4. Statement of Purpose (700 words or less). This serves as an introduction to your readers. Help them to understand where you fit in a very broad field of artists, scholars, and teachers. How will you make lasting contributions to that field? The statement is also an opportunity for you to reflect on Ward’s significance for children’s theatre and education and to articulate how you follow in her footsteps.

5. SCHOLARSHIP: This section should begin with a Research Statement (500 words or less) outlining the applicant’s research interests and plans. A dissertation or thesis abstract may be substituted. Other things to include: sample pages from published articles, conference presentations, sample pages from graduate papers, grant proposals, prospectus, etc.

6. CREATIVE WORK: This could be one or more sections, depending on the applicant’s areas of expertise. For example, if you consider yourself both a director and a performer, you might have a section on each. If you are a member of a theatre company but also a playwright, you might include a section on your work with the company and one on your writing. Arrange your information in the way that makes the most sense to you and that helps to clearly convey both your passions and your strengths. Things to include: production photos, programs, reviews and other articles, scripts (if written by you), etc. You may also include a maximum of three YouTube posting sights of samples of your work. These should be no longer than 3 minutes each.

7. TEACHING: University/Professional Development or K-12. Could include teaching philosophy, course syllabi/lesson plans, copies of student assignments, teaching evaluations, other documentation of excellence in teaching, etc

8. Additional sections of your choosing.

 

• You may include Three (3) YouTube or Vimeo links, no more than 3 minutes (each) as samples of your work.

• Three Letters of Recommendation (in addition to your 25-page portfolio). Letters should be from either faculty conversant with your work or industry professionals, and should speak to your potential in the field. These should be electronically sent with your name clearly marked on the email subject line and letter as an addendum to your portfolio.

 

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