John Fischetti Scholarship

The John Fischetti 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 John Fischetti Scholarship application - there are four parts to the application:

You must submit both essays:

1. In a 500-word essay, describe why you are passionate about journalism, who or what influenced your choice, and what you career goals are. This essay should demonstrate the applicant's writing aptitude and ability to think clearly and logically.


2. In a one-page statement, please address the following:
   • List your journalistic experience, including high school or college publications, broadcast stations, newspapers, magazines, online, internships, etc.
   • List your previous honors, awards, scholarships, etc.
   • Explain your financial need, including the assistance you expect from scholarships, fellowships, and other financial aid for the 2012-2013 year.

Upload 3 samples of your best work. These can include clips from publications and online sites, scripts or audio files from television or radio, photos, cartoons, and graded classroom work. You must submit your sample in one of the following formats:

• IMAGES: .jpg, .png, .gif
• VIDEO: .mov, .wmv, .flv
• AUDIO: .mp3
• DOCUMENTS: .pdf

One letter of recommendation is required from a journalism faculty member at Columbia College who is familiar with your journalistic work and accomplishments. The letter should focus on your ability and promise within your specialty area.

Note: Remember to contact your recommender directly before providing his/her information on the application. Be sure to give faculty members as much time as possible to write the letters. Requests made at the last minute are often difficult for faculty 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 John Fischetti 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 John Fischetti 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.

• Go to OASIS portal

John Fischetti was a Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist who drew for the Chicago Sun, Chicago Daily News, Chicago Sun-Times, The New York Times, The New York Herald Tribune, and Stars and Stripes. As a long-time Chicagoan, Fischetti's work touched on local issues, but it also addressed national issues such as the Watergate scandal, the energy crisis, the economy, and terrorism. The John Fischetti Scholarship was established by the friends and colleagues of John Fischetti as a continuing tribute to his extraordinary talent.

• Application must be submitted by February 15, 2012 (11:59 pm) for review by the committee
• Maximum amount of this one-year award is $5,000
• The award is applied toward tuition, fees and other educational expenses
• Students must be enrolled at the time of application and must maintain enrollment during the 2012-13 academic year
• Students who are not selected to receive the award may compete in subsequent years
• Recipients will be asked to submit a short biography describing their background and life goals, which will be shared with donors; portions of the essay may also be used for publication
• 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