RAFAS Tom Hope Memorial Media Scholar Program
The Tom Hope Memorial Media Scholar Program annually identifies, recognizes and rewards one outstanding media student from each of Rochester’s area colleges, and facilitates his/her transition from being an excellent student, to becoming an excellent practicing professional. The program is conducted by the Rochester Association for Film Arts and Sciences (RAFAS), a 501(c)3, non-profit charitable organization.
Selection Process
Faculty at each of the ten colleges in the Rochester area are asked to nominate one student from their campus. The nominee must be of high character, have high academic achievement, have produced a media work that demonstrates excellence within the support systems available on that campus, and be someone who the faculty would be proud to see represent their college.
Nominees attend a professional portfolio review session in February. At this session, nominees meet with each other and with practicing professionals in the media field. There is a friendly critique of their media work, along with an opportunity to solve common media production problems, share aspirations and begin building their own professional support network. Each student selected will be designated a “Tom Hope Scholar.”
Each Tom Hope Scholar
- Receives a cash grant to help defray the cost of his/her education, or to fund the purchase of professional/educational software, or to support the production of a film, video, television program, radio program, podcast, or other media product produced by the Scholar.
- Is recognized with an opportunity to show his/her best media production work to media professionals, faculty, family, sponsors, friends, and guests at the annual Tom Hope Memorial Media Scholar Award Ceremony in April.
- Is encouraged to remain in the Rochester area and apply his/her expertise here when they graduate from college.
- Is provided with opportunities to develop local professional support networks and mentors in Rochester.
- Is invited to carry on the mentoring example of namesake Tom Hope who, over a span of 80 years, not only achieved professional excellence, but also mentored countless other professionals.
Donations
As a donor, you are:
- Giving back to an industry and profession that you love and want to see flourish locally for many years to come.
- Seizing the opportunity to support the best college media students in Rochester, as nominated by knowledgeable faculty at each of the ten area colleges.
- Helping Scholars defray the cost of their education, the purchase of professional/educational software, or production expenses for their film, video, television program, radio program, podcast, or other media products.
- Encouraging the best college media students to remain in the Rochester area after graduation and apply their professional talents here.
- Providing Tom Hope Scholars with opportunities to develop local professional support networks and mentors in the Rochester area.
- Gaining exposure in all communications, news releases and publicity related to the Tom Hope Memorial Media Scholar Program.
- Recognized from the podium and in the printed program for the annual Tom Hope Memorial Media Scholar Award Ceremony in April of each year.
- Gaining an advantage for your company when you need to fill full-time/part-time/casual/contract positions in your company. These Tom Hope Scholars will be a pre-screened source of trusted candidates.
- Authorized to promote your support of the annual Tom Hope Memorial Media Scholar Award Ceremony in all of your publications, events, publicity, advertising, bid quotes and other corporate communications.
- Carrying on the mentoring example of namesake Tom Hope, who, over a span of 80 years, not only achieved professional excellence, but also mentored countless other professionals.
To donate via a personal check or purchase order, please contact Chris Pruszynski at chris.pruszynski AT rafasny DOT org. When you donate via check, 100% of your donation goes to the Hope Scholar Fund.
To donate via PayPal, go to: paypal.me/tomhopescholarship. When you use this option, PayPal retains a portion of your donation as its service fee.
For further information, write to Chris Pruszynski at chris.pruszynski AT rafasny DOT org
About Tom Hope
The Tom Hope Memorial Media Scholar Program is named in honor of Rochester AudioVisual Association (the predecessor to RAFAS) founding member Tom Hope, a nationally recognized Rochester area pioneer in the use of film and video. See more about Tom Hope here.
