British Academy of Film and Television Scholarships Support Aspiring Media Professionals
Nov. 5, 2014
Television and Radio is on a tear. Not only does it continue to graduate extraordinary media professionals, but four of the department's graduate students also received Student Emmys for videos produced as part of a 2013 Summer Broadcast News Institute capstone class.
Most recently, four TV and Radio graduate students have received $15,000 in scholarships from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). The awards are part of BAFTA's New York Media Studies Scholarship Program, which supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing media at New York's higher education institutions.
The students were presented with their awards at a BAFTA ceremony earlier this semester. "This is indicative of the quality of graduate students we're attracting," says TV and Radio Chair Stuart MacLelland. "Each scholarship winner will be assigned a BAFTA member who is an industry professional and will work as a mentor and who the winner can talk to and consult with."
Camille Brown, Stephen Lorusso, Melissa Rodriguez, and John Sowulski were the recipients of scholarships from BBC America, Dreamworks Animation, Walkers Shortbread, and DLT Entertainment. The four corporate underwriters have committed to offer these awards for three years.
"They will also get the opportunity to network and attend industry events," says Maria Conelli, dean of the School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts. "And after the most recent upgrade to the college's high definition TV studio, students are now using state-of-the-art technology, no different from what professional studios use."
Melissa Rodriguez, who earned a bachelor's degree in cinema studies and minored in scriptwriting at SUNY Purchase, explained that she had chosen to create film and other visual media to give a voice to underrepresented and marginalized groups. She became an M.F.A. candidate in TV and Radio after directing, writing, and producing several shorts films, including Nevermore, which was featured in the 30 under 30 Film Festival in New York in 2013.
"Receiving the Walkers Shortbread scholarship made me feel that others believe in me and that I can truly make a difference in society through my videos," said Rodriguez at the awards ceremony.
"We selected Melissa from a short list of outstanding candidates," said Walkers-U.S.A. CEO Steve Dawson. "Her passion and determination were the deciding factors in her selection, and we hope that the scholarship enables her to make the most of her time at Brooklyn College, and to make a positive difference to the community."
After graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English from Marist College in 2012, John Sowulski studied at the TV and Radio Department's television production program in 2013.
"I owe much gratitude to BAFTA and DLT Entertainment for this wonderful scholarship, and I am very excited for all the benefits and opportunities that it may bring," said Sowulski. "It felt even better to receive this alongside three other Brooklyn College M.F.A. mates."
BAFTA is an independent British charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image. "It is thrilling to see the growth in the BAFTA New York scholarship program," says Linda Kahn, Co-Chair of BAFTA New York Outreach Committee. "We are excited to extend the program to these outstanding students and to provide them with mentoring opportunities."
