Application Process Now Open For New ICP School Scholarships
The International Center of Photography today announced the launch of the application process for The Malú Alvarez International Scholarship and the Mary Ellen Mark Memorial Scholarship—two newly established scholarships that will be available in 2017 for students applying to One-Year Certificate programs at the ICP School.
Established with funds donated by ICP alum Malú Alvarez, The Malú Alvarez International Scholarship will cover full tuition for an international student, in either the General Studies in Photography or Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism programs at the ICP School, who comes from a developing country and demonstrates significant need.
“The quality of the education at ICP and connection fostered between students and faculty is unparalleled. I feel lucky to have had the experience—and I knew that I wanted to find a way to extend the opportunity and pay it forward to the next generation of photographers,” says Alvarez, donor and namesake of one of the new scholarships, the first this institution has offered exclusively to international students. “It is my honor to be able to support an international student on his or her photography journey.”
Also new in 2017, the Mary Ellen Mark Memorial Scholarship will be presented to an ICP student of extraordinary achievement. The annual scholarship—which was launched in January 2016 at ICP Spotlights—will be awarded based on recommendations of a committee of faculty, department chairs, and the Dean of the ICP School. The recipient will demonstrate interest in pursuing a project that reflects on some part of Mary Ellen Mark’s life and career. This scholarship will assist the school in recruiting the best and brightest students to become a part of the ICP community, regardless of an individual's financial need.
“Mary Ellen had a strong connection with ICP throughout her career as a photographer and as a faculty member,” says Martin Bell, Mark’s husband. “She would be proud that her name is memorialized with this scholarship and happy these funds will support emerging photographers and encourage their diverse points of view and cultures—both of which she pursued with passion throughout her life.”
“The need for scholarships has long been an urgent priority for us at ICP—particularly those that enhance diversity and allow access to a wide range of perspectives,” says Fred Ritchin, Dean of the ICP School. “While ICP has offered financial aid for students in the past, the significant support provided via the Malú Alvarez and Mary Ellen Mark Scholarships points to a new direction in the way ICP thinks about and distributes these sorts of funds. We are excited to see the extraordinary work that emerges and we remain grateful to our benefactors.”
Those interested may now apply through ICP’s online application platform, Slideroom.
The deadline to apply for One-Year Certificate programs is March 6, 2017. All scholarships applications are due by April 1, 2017. Designated scholarship funds will be awarded later in 2017.