Al Parker Scholarship

The Al Parker Scholarship application is available online through your OASIS portal. Only complete scholarship applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the scholarship committee.

Please follow all directions carefully. Students must submit the following materials to make a complete Al Parker Scholarship application - there are four parts to the application:

In a two- to three-page essay, please address the following:

1. Describe your accomplishments to date in the Radio department
2. Describe briefly what you would like to accomplish upon graduation from Columbia, and how you plan to contribute to your profession

At least one sample of existing or new work is required:

• Audio samples may include: an audition tape (or air check), segments of radio drama performances, interviews, documentaries, audio scripts, produced public service announcements, promotional campaigns or other audio work. Audio samples must not exceed 10 minutes and should be submitted in .mp3 format.
• Written samples may include: sales/marketing plans, sales presentations, promotional campaigns, or other writing samples. Writing samples must be well-organized, typed, and double-spaced, not exceeding 10 pages, and submitted in .doc, .docx or .pdf format.

Two letters of recommendation are required.

For your convenience, the online application system will send an e-mail notification directly to the person you've chosen to complete your recommendation. This person will be invited to complete the recommendation online with ease and will not need to mail, fax, or e-mail their recommendation. Please be prepared with the e-mail address of the person making the recommendation.

Note: Remember to contact your recommender directly before providing his/her information on the application. Be sure to give recommenders as much time as possible to write the letters. Requests made at the last minute are often difficult to fulfill by the deadline.

A current Student Aid Report (SAR) must be on file. To receive an SAR, students must complete a financial aid application (FAFSA), available after January 1st of each year.

Access online application form through OASIS portal:

1. Applicant Portal: You may scroll through the list of scholarship programs until you locate the Al Parker Scholarship, and then select the "Start Application" link.


2. Scholarship Search: Select the "Search Scholarships" link in the navigation on the left-hand side of the page. You may search for the Al Parker Scholarship by using category, keyword, or description/name search. Once you locate the program, select the "More Info" link to be taken to the application form.

The Al Parker Scholarship Fund was made possible through the generosity of the Parker family, their friends and colleagues. The late founder of the Columbia College Chicago Radio Department, Al Parker served as Chairman from 1946 to 1999. He was a guiding force in establishing WCRX , the college radio station, and taught several generations of students who have become successful members of the national broadcast community. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, Al Parker was also the voice of Chicago’s ABC - Channel 7 and worked as a voice-over talent for numerous clients. In 1995 Al Parker was presented with the school’s highest honor, the prestigious President’s Medal. Al was dedicated to Columbia College and its students, and this scholarship fund represents a continuation of that dedication.

• Application for the Al Parker Scholarship must be submitted by February 1, 2013 (11:59 pm)
• The maximum award is $3000
• Scholarship is awarded in the Fall semester only and is not renewable
• Award is applied toward tuition and fee costs during the designated semester
• Recipient must maintain full-time enrollment during the Fall semester in which the award is posted
• Students who are not selected to receive the award may compete in subsequent years provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements, but no student may receive the award more than once
• Scholarship may not be used toward independent study abroad programs. Please note: Recipients who enroll in an independent study abroad program will forfeit their scholarship during the semester spent abroad
• The rules and regulations governing other sources of financial aid (federal, state, institutional and other grants, gifts, or loans) will apply
• Columbia College Chicago reserves the right to withhold the award in any year in which, at the sole discretion of the scholarship committee, suitable candidates cannot be found among applicants