California Legislators Announce Scholarships in Remembrance of Armenian Genocide

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation is hosting two scholarship contests in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. California high school students are invited to participate in an essay and/or a visual arts contest to increase awareness of the Armenian Genocide on its 109th anniversary. All scholarship applications must be submitted by Friday, March 29.

Winners will be announced to mainstream and Armenian media on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation will contact all winners directly. Original artwork may be requested from visual arts finalists for display in the California State Capitol.

Criteria for each contest are detailed below. Students may enter both contests, but each application must be submitted separately by completing the scholarship form. All applications must be submitted to the California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation by or before 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2024. No exceptions.

Essay Scholarship Awards:

• First Place: $1,000
  

• Second Place: $750
  

• Third Place: $500
  

Visual Arts Scholarship Awards:

• First Place: $1,000
  

• Second Place: $750
  

• Third Place: $500
  

Essay Scholarship:

Prompt: In 2022 and 2023 The Azerbaijani government launched a blockade of the Republic of Artsakh which displaced over 100,000 indigenous Armenians. How would you address the resulting humanitarian and refugee crisis?

Requirements:

• Essay must directly respond to the essay prompt;
  

• Responses must be 750 to 1,000 words and no more than four (4) pages in length;
  

• Responses must be typed on 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper, one-inch margins, in Arial 11-point font, and double-spaced;
  

• Applicant’s first and last name must be included at the top of each page with a page number.
  

Visual Arts Scholarship:

Prompt: In 2022 and 2023 The Azerbaijani government launched a blockade of the Republic of Artsakh which displaced over 100,000 indigenous Armenians. Create artwork to be published on the cover of a news magazine which illustrates the individual and global community impacts of this evolving humanitarian and refugee crisis.

Requirements:

• Include a 300 to 500 word personal statement explaining the artwork. Must be typed on 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper, one-inch margins, in Arial 11-point font, double-spaced, and include the applicant’s first and last name at the top of the page;
  

• Artwork must be original work created by the applicant;
  

• Only two-dimensional, visual art submissions will be accepted. Submission types are limited to drawings, paintings, photographs, digital illustrations, and graphic design;
  

• Artwork may not exceed an 11×17 frame and must weigh less than 25 pounds;
  

• Artwork and the accompanying personal statement may not include any nudity, excessive and/or graphic violence, racial slurs, derogatory and/or offensive language, profanity, and may not make use of or replicate existing artwork;
  

• Include up to five (5) high-definition photographs of the artwork. Take pictures in good lighting to ensure reviewers can see the details in the artwork. Provide different angles to showcase the depth of the artwork.