ISF Opens Scholarship Applications for Muslim American Students in Media and Politics
For American Muslims passionate about making a positive impact in media and politics, ISF is able to aid their journeys by providing merit-based scholarships.
ISF aims to improve negative portrayals of Muslims in the news, increase the number of Muslim policymakers and invest in the creation of positive and engaging stories about American Muslims.
The Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) recently opened the application period for their 2024 scholarships.
For American Muslims passionate about making a positive impact in media and politics, ISF is able to aid their journeys by providing merit-based scholarships. The Fund aims to increase American Muslim representation in media and politics with the ultimate goal of influencing public opinion and public policy. It achieves this by empowering students and professionals through various avenues such as academic scholarships, film grants, mentorships, internships and fellowships.
Since its establishment in 2009, ISF has made significant strides in supporting the education of American Muslims. Over the years, the organization has awarded an impressive $2.3 million in scholarships to 528 alumni. Notably, 63 alumni have received multiple awards, showcasing the sustained impact of ISF's support. The scholarships range from $3,000 up to $10,000, providing substantial assistance to deserving individuals.
The ISF is looking for candidates who demonstrate potential in impacting public opinion, align with the organization's mission and vision, possess excellent communication skills and exhibit leadership qualities.
For those interested in the 2024 ISF Scholarship, the deadline for submitting a complete application is March 21. The Selection Committee dedicates April and May to reviewing applications, with finalists proceeding to remote interviews in June. Final decisions are then made in July, and successful candidates can expect to receive their scholarships shortly after.
In addition to completing an application form, those interested will also need to provide a copy of their résumé, a video introduction, their college transcripts and several work samples, as well as two letters of recommendation by a professor, mentor, religious leader or employer. They will also need to answer several essay questions.
To be eligible for the ISF Scholarship, applicants must meet certain criteria, including:
Being Muslim or an active member of the Muslim community
Enrollment full-time at an accredited U.S. university by August 2024, or full-time employment in an ISF Supported Field while being a part-time student at an accredited university in the U.S.
Majoring in an ISF Supported Field (you can view the full list of supported majors here)
Maintaining a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average
Being a U.S. Citizen, U.S. green card holder or DACA recipient
Being an undergraduate (incoming junior or senior), or a graduate or PhD student
While the ISF is committed to empowering individuals, it currently accepts applications only from U.S. citizens, DACA recipients, and green card holders.
ISF is holding an information session about the scholarship on Feb. 21, 2024. There, judges will cover eligibility, application requirements and how to make your application stand out from the rest. You can RSVP for the session here.
To learn more about the ISF Scholarship program and its opportunities — or to put in your application — visit their official website at the link below.
The feature-length “Ramadan American” comprises five narrative short films written by American Muslim writers, featuring stories about the holidays Ramadan and Eid.
"I would say I am ambitious, overly ambitious. I'm extremely passionate about just making people laugh and smile. That is ultimately my goal with content creation [and] why I started it. I love just making people's days when I'm streaming."
The Initiative, a partnership between the Islamic Scholarship Fund and Rifelion, was created to support up-and-coming American Muslim writers. Each winning team includes at least one person identifying as a Muslim. This year's theme was "stories about Ramadan or Eid."
