SVA Alumni Society

The Alumni Scholarship Fund was established in 1999 by the Alumni Society. This is a general fund that distributes awards to undergraduate and graduate students of any program in their final year at SVA to aid in the completion of final projects. A donation to the Alumni Scholarship Fund will reach the greatest number of students.

The 727 Award Fund was established in 2005 by a group of advertising and graphic design alumni headed by Todd Radom (BFA 1986 Graphic Design), the Chairman of the Alumni Society Board of Directors. This award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate design, illustration, comics or advertising student.

The Amelia Geocos Memorial Award Fund was established in 2008 in memory of Amelia Geocos (BFA 2007 Fine Arts) by her parents Marian and Cliff Geocos. This award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate fine arts student.

The BFA Illustration and Comics Award Fund was established in 2010. This award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate illustration or comics student.

The Bob Guglielmo Memorial Award Fund was established in 2003 in memory of former Alumni Affairs Director and SVA alumnus Bob Guglielmo (BFA 1984 Cartooning). At the request of Bob's family, the fund provides Bob's friends, classmates and colleagues with an opportunity to make donations in his memory. This award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate comics student.

The ixD Civic Imagination Fund was established in 2026 by Liz Danzico, founding chair of MFA Interaction Design. This award is intended to support a final project by an MFA Interaction Design student that addresses design’s role in shaping civic life through storytelling, policy, urbanism, journalism, or new public technologies. The award is intended to encourage lateral and interdisciplinary thinking and deep responsibility in design practice.

The Jack Endewelt Memorial Award Fund was established in 2007 in memory of the longtime SVA chair, instructor and alumnus Jack Endewelt (BFA 1984 Illustration). This award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate illustration or comics student.

The James Richard Janowsky Award Fund was established in 2012 by filmmaker and former SVA faculty member James Janowsky. This award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate film and video student working in the live-action narrative film genre.

The Lawrence P. Moody Memorial Award Fund was established in June 2019 with a donation from his mother, Dolores Washington-Moody. This award is designated to recognize a fourth-year undergraduate film student.

The MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Award Fund was established in 2010. This award is designated to support a final project by an MFA Illustration as Visual Essay student.

The Michael Halsband Award Fund was established in December 2018 by alumnus and Alumni Society Board Member Michael Halsband (BFA 1980 Photography). This award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate photography and video student. Special consideration will be given to photography students whose work is based in portraiture.

The Sylvia Lipson Allen Memorial Award Fund was established in 2006 in memory of Sylvia Lipson Allen, an SVA evening student. This award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate fine arts student.

The Thomas Reiss Memorial Award Fund was established in 2003 in memory of Thomas Reiss (MFA 1993 Photography and Related Media) by his brother, Richard M. Reiss. An avid environmentalist, Tom passed away in August 2002 in a boating accident in Thailand. This award is designated to support a final project by a final-year MFA Photography, Video and Related Media student whose project addresses a humanitarian issue.

The William C. Arkell Memorial Award Fund was established in 2002 by an anonymous SVA alumnus. This $5,000 award is designated to support a final project by an undergraduate film and video student working in the live-action narrative film genre.

The Brian Weil Memorial Award Fund was established in 2002 by Stephen Frailey, former Chair of the BFA Photography and Video department, in memory of his friend Brian Weil. This award is designated to recognize an undergraduate photography student who shares the integrity and ideology that Brian fought so vigorously to maintain in the photographic medium. The award process is overseen by the BFA Photography and Video department.

The Hannah Knighton Holst Award Fund was established in December 2015 by parent Sally Holst in honor of her daughter, alumnus Hannah Holst (BFA 2016 Visual & Critical Studies). This award is designated to recognize a second- or third-year undergraduate visual and critical studies student. The award process is overseen by the BFA Visual & Critical Studies Department.

The Richard Wilde Award Fund was established in 2009 to commemorate Richard Wilde’s 40th anniversary at SVA. Wilde was the Chair of the BFA Advertising and BFA Design departments from 1969 – 2019. This $5,000 award is designated to recognize a third-year undergraduate advertising or design student. The award process is overseen by the BFA Advertising and BFA Design departments.

The Russell J. Efros Memorial Award Fund was established in 2018 in memory of alumnus Russell J. Efros (BFA 2014 Film and Video). Established by The Russell J. Efros Foundation, the spirit of the award is to assist a student who exhibits excellence and promise as an emerging artist and filmmaker. This $1,000 award is designated to recognize a fourth-year undergraduate film student’s final project. The award process is overseen by the BFA Film department.

The Silas H. Rhodes Memorial Award Fund was established in 2007 in memory of SVA’s founder. This scholarship is awarded to third-year BFA Visual and Critical Studies students who demonstrate excellence in writing. The award process is overseen by the BFA Visual and Critical Studies department.

The Thomas J. Carnevali, Jr. Memorial Foundation Inc. Award was established in 2010 in memory of Thomas J. Carnevali Jr., who passed in an automobile accident when he was in his second year at SVA in 2008. Attending the College was the true artistic beginning of Thomas’ short life. Through the years, the Memorial Foundation worked in conjunction with the undergraduate advertising and design departments to grant awards to SVA students.

In 2016, the Memorial Foundation board of directors voted to dissolve, in turn granting the SVA Alumni Society with funds to continue the scholarship, establishing a new award in June 2016. The award of $5,000 is matched by the undergraduate advertising and design departments and is designated to support a third-year advertising or design student. The award process is overseen by the BFA Advertising and Design department.

The Will Eisner Sequential Art Scholarship Fund was established in 2008 by the Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation in memory of 19-year SVA faculty member Will Eisner, whose work was integral to establishing the graphic novel as a form of literature. This scholarship is designated to support an undergraduate comics student entering their third or fourth year who exhibits both merit and need. The award process is overseen by the BFA Comics department.

The Alumni Society Housing Scholarship Fund, established in 2006 by the Alumni Society, provides one new award to an incoming first-year/non-transfer student with financial need to cover the full cost of housing at SVA (not to exceed four years). The scholarship provides on-campus housing to a student who otherwise would commute from home. Eligible students apply for the award during the annual Housing Award application cycle. A panel of board members and administrators reviews applications for this award. Click here to learn about eligibility and how to apply.

This award is funded through our Corporate Partners for the Arts program.

Established in 2001, the Alumni Society Merit Award is designated to support a BFA candidate who has demonstrated community-building skills and leadership excellence during their time at SVA. Nominees for this award are selected by Student Affairs. Nominee applications are reviewed by a panel of alumni and administrators.

The Jack Potter Memorial Award Fund was established in 2002 to commemorate longtime SVA drawing faculty member Jack Potter, providing Jack’s friends and colleagues the opportunity to make donations in his memory. This scholarship is awarded to first-year foundation program students with exceptional drawing skills.

The Lila Eva Lewental Memorial Award Fund was established in 2012 in memory of Lila Eva Lewental (BFA 1977 Media Arts) per a bequest received from the Estate of Lila Eva Lewental. Nominees are selected by Financial Aid and reviewed by Alumni Affairs and Development to assess individual merit.

The Rodman Family Scholarship Fund was established in 2012 by Lawrence B. Rodman and Linda F. Rodman, friends of the Alumni Society. Nominees are selected by Financial Aid and reviewed by Alumni Affairs and Development to assess individual merit.