#BlackGirlMagic for GUCCI
One of the awards will solely be awarded to a woman of color
“The most neglected person in America is the Black woman”
The above quote by Malcolm X still holds true today. And this includes in fashion, where Black women are particularly under-represented. Gucci and the CFDA are starting a new initiative to change that. They have created two different scholarship awards and one of them is only for women of color studying fashion design. Read about BOTH below and if you’re eligible and interested apply soon!
The Gucci Changemaker Scholars Award
What it is: A scholarship reward for two selected graduating high school seniors planning on attending a four-year undergraduate degree. The two students selected will each receive up to $20,000 per year in the Gucci scholarship funds that are acceptable for up to four years. These two students will also receive mentorship from CFDA and Gucci.
What is the criteria:
This reward will be based on talent, financial need, and professional potential. Also you must be a student in North America and to put it bluntly, not caucasian. Or as they say it you must be a “diverse” student. “For the purposes of the scholarship programs, diverse students include persons who are African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous Populations.”
Also any gender is acceptable.
The Gucci Changemakers X CFDA Scholars by Design Award
New this year, “The Gucci North America x CFDA Scholars by Design award is the foundation to developing and empowering future female leaders of color in fashion, so that their particularly vital contributions and voices can resonate, inspire, and transform the consciousness of the industry towards equitable representation at all levels,” said CaSandra Diggs, President of the CFDA. “We are very pleased to continue the partnership with Gucci Changemakers and Gucci North America, which will further the CFDA’s important work to create a fashion industry that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.”
What it is:
$20,000 and a priceless mentorship from Gucci and the CFDA.
Who is eligible:
Women of color or a student that identifies as a woman who is entering her senior year of design school.
Note: this is for college seniors NOT high school students.
What is the criteria:
This reward will be based on talent, financial need, and professional potential.
Deadline for both awards:
The deadline to apply for the 2020-2021 award is Friday, January 29th.
We’re sharing the FAQs for the application below:
FAQ
Question: What are the two scholarship awards that I can apply for?
Answer: The Gucci Changemakers Scholars Award, and the Gucci Changemakers X CFDA Scholars by Design Award.
Question: How do I apply for either of the scholarship awards?
Answer: You can visit here to register for an account and start your application: https://cfda.smapply.org/
Question: Can I apply if I plan on or am currently attending a college or university outside of North America?
Answer: No. Both awards are only for diverse students attending accredited colleges and universities in North America.
Note: The Gucci Changemakers X CFDA Scholars by Design Award is only open to women of color who will be entering their final year of fashion design school.
Question: How is a diverse student defined?
Answer: For the purposes of the scholarship programs, diverse students include persons who are African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous Populations.
For the purposes of the Gucci X CFDA Scholars By Design Award, women of color are also defined as persons who are African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous Populations.
Question: Can I apply if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
Answer: Both programs abide by the guidelines utilized by the U.S. Department of Education for Federal Financial Aid eligibility which includes U.S. Citizens (not a Temporary Resident), U.S. Nationals, U.S. Permanent Residents, Refugees, Asylees, Cuban-Haitian Entrants, or Humanitarian Parolees.
Students who are Canadian citizens are also eligible to apply.
Question: I’m not sure what my major is going to be, can I still apply for a Gucci Changemakers Scholars scholarship?
Answer: Yes. We understand that many students do not declare their major entering their first year of undergraduate college or university, however you must express interest in the field of fashion to be considered for this scholarship.
Note: You must be entering your final year of design school for the Gucci Changemakers X CFDA Scholars by Design Award.
Question: Can I apply for the scholarship program as a graduate student?
Answer: Unfortunately, both awards are only open to undergraduate college or university students. You are also able to apply for the Gucci Changemakers Scholars Award if you are attending a two year accredited community college. In addition, the Gucci Changemakers X CFDA Scholars by Design Award is only for women of color or a person who identifies as a woman entering their final year of undergraduate fashion design school.
Question: Do I need to film my video submission with a professional camera?
Answer: No. Your phone will do. We are more focused on the content of the video, although ensuring that the video quality and audio are clear is also important.
In addition, the video part of the application is only required for students that are selected as finalists.
Question: What is FAFSA and how do I apply?
Answer: In order for us to determine your financial need for both of the scholarship programs you will need to apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA grants access to federal, state, and school-based financial aid. You can apply for FAFSA here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
Question: What can the scholarship aid be used towards?
Answer: Scholarship aid may be applied against tuition, applicable educational expenses, and room and board.
Question: What is the selection timeline for the scholarship awards?
Answer:
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The application period for Gucci Changemakers Scholars Award and Gucci X CFDA Scholars by Design Award will close on January 29, 2021.
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Finalists and scholarship recipients will be selected in Spring/Summer 2021.
Question: What is scholarship displacement?
Answer: Scholarship displacement is the term often used to describe situations where a student has received a financial aid package from a college, then receives a private scholarship, and the student’s college or university reduces the amount of the financial aid package by the size of the new scholarship.
We advise applicants to reach out to their financial aid office to determine if this applies to any outside scholarships you may receive, including one from the Gucci Changemakers Scholars Program, that can be considered an ‘over-award’, thereby reducing any institutional aid you may already have received as part of your award package.
For any questions pertaining to the Gucci Changemakers Scholars Award and the Gucci Changemakers X CFDA Scholars by Design Award, please contact: guccichangemakers@cfda.com.
