2024 Scholarship Application for an In-Person Program

2024 Scholarship Application for an In-Person Program

PLEASE NOTE: The deadline to submit your scholarship application is midnight EST on January 31st. To accommodate questions or issues that may come in after business hours on January 31, we will leave these application links live until 9am EST on February 1st.

If you have questions or issues submitting your application outside of EST business hours, please contact us at scholarships@highlightsfoundation.zendesk.com. Our team will respond as soon as possible on February 1 to inquiries at that address. We do recommend submitting as much of your application as you can before the deadline, but if you’ve emailed us before the deadline with a question or issue, your application will still be accepted.

This scholarship applies to our Summer Camps, Working Retreats, and other available in-person programs (excluding our Whole Novel Workshops).

As you fill out this form, please keep in mind that scholarship awards will be based on the following criteria:

Seriousness of purpose, including time and effort devoted to craft.
Talent displayed via a writing or art sample.
Financial need.

QUESTIONS? Check out our FAQ's, or email us. If you are having technical difficulty filling out this application, please try a different internet browser first. If that does not work, email us for assistance.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BEGINNING ON MARCH 27, 2024.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

First Name*

Middle Initial

Last Name*

Email*

Phone*

Address*

City*

State*

Select or enter value

Zip*

Country (if outside US)

We seek a diverse cohort of voices at our programs and events. To your comfort level, please tell us more about yourself, including ways that you identify.

Please share the identity markers that you are comfortable sharing: race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity (including expression), neurodiversity, disability, socioeconomic status, age, geography, appearance, linguistic or cultural identity, veteran status, and/or any other details that you would like to share.

Identity Continued (Optional list)

This is an optional list of some identity markers. Please feel free to use this list in combination with the narrative above, or skip this section altogether. This information will be used to understand more about who is applying for scholarships at the Highlights Foundation, not as criteria for the scholarship itself.

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SCHOLARSHIP(S) YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

A reminder that this application is for an IN-PERSON WORKSHOP only. If you are interested in applying for any other option (an online workshop, an in-community retreat, a whole novel workshop, or a personal retreat) please fill out the corresponding application. Only one application will be accepted per person for 2024.

Which Scholarships You'd Like to Apply For:

Please select the scholarship(s) you'd like to be considered for. All applicants will be considered for General Scholarships. You can choose as many scholarships here as you feel you are eligible for. Details on eligibility (including background, genre and/or self-identity, if any) for each scholarship can be found here.

Select

TRAVEL

Travel Note

We have restricted funds available to offer ten travel stipends of $500 each during this scholarship period.

In addition, there are a select few scholarships that include a travel stipend in the award.

If you'd like to be considered for travel assistance, please note your status here.

I absolutely cannot travel to the Retreat Center without assistance on cost.

I can travel to the Retreat Center without assistance on the cost.

It will not be easy, but I'd do my best to make it to the Retreat Center without assistance on the cost.

YOUR WORK, CAREER and/or BACKGROUND

Career Summary or Background*

Please briefly explain some of your writing and/or illustrating goals for the next three years to help the review committee understand how a scholarship can help you attain those goals.*

Please describe recent writing and/or illustrating projects to help the review committee know more about your work.*

What are your passions and/or interests in the children’s book industry?*

Where are you in your publishing journey?*

We ask that you self-select where you are in your publishing journey. We recognize there is a spectrum of experiences when it comes to creativity. Your narratives will help support the point in your journey as well.

If helpful, the following definitions will be provided to the review committee:

Aspiring: As a creative this term may apply if one identifies as just starting out in pursuit of writing or illustrating stories for children and/or teens. (Minimal courses taken in writing/illustrating for children and/or teens, minimal writing/illustrating for children and/or teens, minimal projects in draft form.)

Emerging: As a creative this term may apply if one identifies as someone with some study of the craft, and/or knowledge of the field of children’s books. (Perhaps benchmarks like, familiarity the feedback process- from a critique group/partner/courses/professionally; projects have gone from idea to draft stage; actively seeking publication, representation, or may even be published.)

Established: As a creative this term may apply if one has been studying and crafting work in the field of children’s books, for some time. (Likely, this creative, has worked through the revision process, has received professional feedback on their work consistently, has a number of polished projects; and may have publications and/or representation within the children's book field.)

Select

FINANCIAL INFORMATION & PREVIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS

Adjusted Gross Income

Your adjusted gross income (AGI) consists of the total amount of income and earnings you made for the tax year minus certain adjustments to income. For tax year 2021 or 2022, your AGI is on Line 11 on Form 1040, 1040-SR, and 1040NR.

Note about your financial need (optional)

Please provide any additional notes about your financial need that might help the scholarship committee.

Please list any previous attendances with the Highlights Foundation.

If applicable, please list name of course(s), and year(s) attended.

Previous Scholarships Awarded from the Highlights Foundation

If applicable, please let us know of previous scholarship awards received.

SUBMISSION

Please select the type of submission you are attaching.*

Please only include one sample/submission. You may select multiple areas/genres if your single submission is multi-genre.

Select or enter value

UPLOAD your writing/illustration sample in the box below

**SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS**

PLEASE INCLUDE:

A cover letter that includes your title, genre, and project status (first draft, sample publication)
Writing Sample (a picture book manuscript, or up to 10 pages from a longer piece of fiction or nonfiction)
and/or sample illustrations (if applicable.)

FORMATTING YOUR SUBMISSION:

Combine files and upload ONE pdf document, beginning with your synopsis/cover letter.
Use 12-point font with your name on each page.
Name your file as FirstName.LastName_Genre_Title (example: Reilly.Lou_YAHorror_The Last House on the Block.pdf)

ILLUSTRATORS:

For illustrators who are attaching files, please combine images into ONE file, with a size limit of 50MB.
If you would rather provide a link to your digital portfolio, please leave this field blank, and add your link in the next field.

Drag and drop files here or

Link to Digital Portfolio (Illustrators only)

IMPORTANT NOTE!

If you would like a copy of your application for your records, please be sure to CHECK THE BOX BELOW - "Send me a copy of my responses".

Please check your email for an message from "Smarthsheet Forms".

Send me a copy of my responses

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