The Scholars program recognizes and salutes graduate students who show outstanding leadership as reflected in their proposed thesis films. Five to ten Center Scholars are selected annually on their ability to further the Center's mission. Each Center Scholar receives a $2,000 stipend. Last year, nine were selected.

The Center's mission is to inspire a new generation of filmmakers and media experts whose commitment to environmental stewardship drives them to produce creative work that is informative, ethically sound, entertaining--and makes a positive difference.

Our goal with the Research Fellows program is to recognize and honor
distinguished professionals whose work exemplifies the Center's mission: to inspire a new generation of filmmakers and media experts whose commitment to environmental stewardship drives them to produce creative work that is
informative, ethically sound, entertaining—and makes a positive and measurable difference. The Research Fellow award is accompanied by a $5,000 stipend. 

The Research Fellow will have the following responsibilities during the 12 months following the award: 

• Give a guest lecture
• Mentor our current grad students
• Host events, working closely with Leena, with students/and industry professionals to discuss diversity in environmental filmmaking with an eye toward creating a more inclusive space for future filmmakers

Alum Aditi Desai is the recipient of the Research Fellow award for 2018 at the Center for Environmental Filmmaking. Aditi is the Director of Multimedia and Assistant Director of Communications at American Bird Conservancy. 

Aditi has helped fulfill the Center's mission by serving as a role model for emerging environmental filmmakers, facilitating internships with current AU students, and working with students on films for the Center and its partners. 

Aditi is a digital storyteller skilled in producing, editing, and shooting documentaries. She has worked for clients such as The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Prince Charitable Trusts, the National Park Service, and Blue Bear Films. Aditi holds an MFA in Film and Electronic Media from AU and a BA in Psychology from Smith College. She is honored to share stories about passionate people working to manage and protect wilderness and wildlife for future generations.

She is a recipient of the William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service, the Pew Leadership Year Fellowship, the Women in Film and Video Carolyn's First Decade Fund Grant, and has won a CINE Golden Eagle, TIVA-DC Peer Awards, and other industry awards. The Culture of Collards, which she produced for the Center, was recently a finalist for Saveur Magazine's best food video. Her films have screened in numerous festivals including the DC Environmental Film Festival and Newport Beach Film Festival. 

The Center for Environmental Filmmaking Challenge Award is an annual competition open to second year SOC graduate students who have overcome (or are overcoming) challenges and adversity in their lives (such as poverty, marginalization, racism, or personal tragedy) and plan to use environmental and wildlife media to make the world a better place.

Three to five graduate students will be selected. Successful applicants will each receive a $3,000 prize. The intent of this award is to provide funding for the creation of environmental and wildlife media.

Applicants must be in good academic standing in a SOC graduate program (min. 3.5 cumulative GPA), and be committed to making environmental media that aim to influence personal behavior or public policy.

To apply, applicants are required to:

1. Submit a resume.
2. Submit a letter of recommendation from an AU faculty member.
3. Provide a personal statement up to two-pages double spaced that addresses the adversities that they have overcome (or are currently facing).
4. Provide a synopsis (no more than 300 words) of their envisioned media project.

A condition of the award is that all awardees give an inspirational five-minute presentation in the Doyle/Forman Theater at a Center for Environmental Filmmaking event reflecting on how they will use media to change the world. Awardees will have the opportunity to work with Professor Maggie Burnette Stogner to develop their presentation. Each one will be videotaped and posted on the Center's website. The goal is to inspire other students, environmentalists, donors and the public.

This prize is non-renewable, and the deadline each year is November 1. Winners will be announced every year by November 15. A faculty committee will judge the entries and grant awards based on the criteria outlined above.