For the 2009–2010 academic year, the AAAA Foundation, Inc., has granted 18 scholarships totaling $180,000 to multicultural students studying art direction and copywriting at eight leading portfolio schools. The scholarships are part of the Foundation’s Operation Jumpstart scholarship program, established in 1997 to help increase the number of creative professionals from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds in the advertising industry.
Operation Jumpstart scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each, to be paid in two annual installments of $5,000, were awarded to the following students:
- Sebastian Alappat, Miami Ad School, Art Direction
- Andrea Aragon, Miami Ad School, Copy Writing
- Euan Au, Art Center College of Design at Pasadena, Art Direction
- Christopher Cordero, The Creative Circus, Art Direction
- Eric Franklin, The Creative Circus, Art Direction
- Danielle Granderson, The University of Texas at Austin, Art Direction
- Michael Hagos, VCU Brandcenter, Art Direction
- Raihana Halim, VCU Brandcenter, Art Direction
- Deidra Harper, The Portfolio Center, Art Direction
- Rita Nicole Leslie, The Creative Circus, Copy Writing
- Patricia Maldonado, Pratt Institute, Art Direction
- Christopher Ramirez, The University of Texas at Austin, Art Direction
- Elyse Simpson, Miami Ad School, Copy Writing
- Tousue Vang, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Art Direction
- Sonkarlay Vaye, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Art Direction
- Sylvia Villada, Pratt Institute, Art Direction
- Josephine Yatar, Art Center College of Design at Pasadena, Art Direction
- Tim Yuen, VCU Brandcenter, Copy Writing
Learn more about these scholarship recipients at the following link on AdUnity, the Web site for the 4A’s diversity-focused education programs: http://www.adunity.aaaa.org/page/ojs-winners
In order to be considered for an Operation Jumpstart scholarship, a candidate must be a first-year student at one of the eight participating portfolio schools listed above. In addition, the student must be African American, Asian American, Hispanic, Native American, multiracial or multiethnic, and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Scholarship recipients are selected based on creative promise and financial need.
The 2009–2010 academic year marks the fourth year in the third phase of Operation Jumpstart. During Operation Jumpstart I (1997–2000) and Operation Jumpstart II (2001–2005), 134 scholarships totaling $1.3 million were awarded.
Operation Jumpstart is funded by donations from 4A’s member agencies, which are matched by the AAAA Foundation. The following agencies have each committed $25,000 over the five-year span of Operation Jumpstart III (2006–2011):
Additionally, archer>malmo and Davis Elen Advertising have each committed $5,000 to the five-year Operation Jumpstart III program.
About the AAAA Foundation
Through the 4A's Foundation, Operation Jumpstart scholarships are granted to students of diverse ethnic backgrounds at post-graduate portfolio schools in an effort to increase the diversity of art directors and copywriters in the advertising industry. The Foundation also administers the Bill Bernbach Minority Scholarship and the ANA Multicultural Excellence Scholarship. Additional information about these scholarships can be found on the following 4A’s Web site, www.aaaa.org and www.adunity.aaaa.org.
