The comics appreciation project is proud to present
Dr Ben Tate Inspirational Scholarship
For the next generation of artists & writers.
Our scholarship deadline is
closed for 2025
For assistance, please reach out to bentatescholarship@gmail.com
Submit your application today
The Dr. Ben Tate Inspirational Scholarship is a memorial scholarship established in 2025 for aspiring high-school-age artists and/or writers. It carries with it the message, “I see you, and you will go on to do great things.” The $1,000 scholarship was established by one of Dr. Tate’s pupils and is administered by the Comics Appreciation Project Inc. (CAP).
The belief in the unique potential of every individual was the beautiful legacy of the late Dr. Benjamin Tate of Macon, GA. Sadly, Dr. Tate passed away in 2020 after dedicating his life to educating generations of Georgians. Known for his respect, curiosity, and compassion, he taught thousands of students in college, high schools, and even Georgia’s prisons. You can learn more at: Dr. Ben Tate Obituary Page
What do we need from you?
Below, you will find a link to a digital application form. To be considered for the scholarship, you will need to submit several materials, including an essay, art and/or writing samples, verification of your samples by a sponsored teacher/Media Specialist/librarian, and the completed application form.
1. A completed application form (click here to access)
2. A short (500 word) essay expressing your interest in comics/graphic novels
3. An art and/or writing sample of 3-6 pages that represents the kind of work you enjoy.
Application Details
Download the scholarship application form here.
- A short essay (500 words) expressing your interest in comics/graphic novels
Art samples should consist of 3-6 pieces of scanned original work that displays your current style and interest.
Writing samples should be in the form of a script and also be 3-6 pages. Start off with a paragraph describing your story “pitch” and then script a scene from your story that demonstrates an appreciation for the unique combination of text and visuals used to convey your unique story. Keep in mind, you do not have to script the opening scene of your story, in fact, you may want to use a more climatic or poignant scene that makes special use of the medium’s strengths. Also keep in mind that the audience for a comic script is the artist you would eventually be paired with or partner with on a project. You can go here to access dozens of sample comic scripts.
Special attention will be given to applicants that submit copies of original comic pages with a corresponding script for those pages. In this case, the accompanying art samples could even be more like rough storyboards.
*AI-Assisted work is not permitted
Your original samples must be verified by a current sponsoring high school teacher/staff/librarian. You must provide their contact information in the corresponding field of the application form. We will contact the sponsors for all of our sponsors to verify that the work was original or AI-assisted.
Please combine all of your documents into one pdf and submit it to bentatescholarship@gmail.com
Comics Appreciation Project
PO Box 28
Bogart, GA 30622
"We are thrilled to make this scholarship a reality. No teacher ever poured more of themselves into me or left a deeper imprint on my heart than Dr. Tate. His wisdom, kindness, and unforgettable stories shaped who I am today. Through our youth-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we donate thousands of graphic novels each year to comfort children in medical crisis and foster care, while also promoting a joy of reading in Title I schools. Inspired by the power of storytelling, we felt compelled to create a scholarship that encourages young dreamers to embrace their own voices and share their stories with the world. We honor his legacy."
FAQ
You can download the application form here: [Application Form]
The application window runs from January 15th to April 15th.
Applications can be emailed as one combined pdf to bentatescholarship@gmail.com or mailed to our PO Box.
The scholarship will be disbursed directly to the student’s account at the college, university, or technical school that they matriculate to after high school graduation.
Regardless of if the winner is in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade, we will hold the scholarship in trust until they matriculate into an institute of higher learning. At which time, the $1,000 scholarship will be paid directly to their student account at that institution. Winners will be recognized with an award certificate and spotlighted on both our website and socials.
Please direct all questions to bentatescholarship@gmail.com
Interested in contributing?
Those interested in contributing directly to the sustainability of the Dr. Ben Tate Inspirational Scholarship Fund can make a tax-deductible donation through either of the following:
You can Donate online through our Zeffy page. For those not familiar with Zeffy, it is a free online donation platform exclusively for nonprofits and charities. You can Donate online to the scholarship fund here.
Alternatively, donors can mail a check payable to the “Dr. Ben Tate Inspirational Scholarship Fund” to the following:
Comics Appreciation Project
PO Box 28
Bogart, GA 30622