The TSA Scholarship Fund

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An exciting new initiative for education, opportunity, and advancement in screenwriting!

The Tennessee Screenwriting Association’s Scholarship Fund is intended to support members’ creative growth, professional skill development, and career trajectory within the film and television writing industry. TSA’s various scholarship funds strive to achieve the following:

Support Emerging Screenwriters – Provide financial assistance to new or developing writers with a demonstrated passion for screenwriting.
Build Professional Opportunities – Connect scholarship recipients to professional development opportunities such as conferences, workshops, or educational institutions.
Promote Diversity and Inclusion – Encourage applications from underrepresented voices in the screenwriting field.

Eligibility
Recipients of scholarship funds must be members in good standing and may be required to submit a writing sample, in a manner determined by the TSA Scholarship Committee. Recipients of scholarship funds may not be a current TSA officer, board member, scholarship committee member, or a donor to any of TSA’s scholarship programs.

Scholarships Available in 2026

Currently, the following scholarships will be available throughout 2026:

The Chase Scholarship (Spring 2026) -- APPLY NOW!
The Extracurricular Activity Scholarship (Summer 2026)
The Script School Scholarship (Fall/Winter 2026)

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chase scholarship program

Overview

The Chase Scholarship is designed to support the continued education and professional advancement of TSA members pursuing writing placement and/or employment in the film and television industry.

Each year, the program will award a total of $1,000, which may be distributed to multiple recipients in increments of at least $250 each. Funds will be used to participate in educational programs, classes, or workshops offered by reputable organizations to be approved by the TSA Scholarship Committee.

As with all of TSA’s scholarship objectives, the Chase Scholarship is intended to directly support the Member’s creative growth, professional skill development, and career trajectory within the film and television writing community.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

TSA Membership. Applicants must be a member in good standing for at least one (1) year from the application period’s closing date.
Community Participation. Applicants must have participated in at least one Open Mic session as a presenter within a year of applying.
Writing Sample. Applications must be accompanied by a writing sample as determined by the Scholarship Committee. Different awards may have different submission requirements.
Conflict of Interest. Applicants/recipients may not be a TSA officer; a currently seated TSA Board member; a member of the Scholarship Committee; or a donor to TSA’s scholarship programs.

Recipient Obligations

Upon completion of the approved program, scholarship recipients agree to submit a report - in a manner to be determined by the Scholarship Committee - describing their class, session, or workshop activities. They shall also provide testimonial statements and photographs for publicity and reporting purposes.

Indemnification and Legal Acknowledgment

By applying to the Chase Scholarship, applicants agree to indemnify and hold harmless TSA, its officers, Board members, and the Scholarship Committee from any and all claims related to submitted materials. Applicants acknowledge that reviewers may be working writers, producers, or creatives who may have projects in development that are similar in tone, theme, or subject matter. Applicants waive any legal claims or responsibilities arising from such similarities.

Application Period

TSA shall begin accepting applications to the Chase Scholarship fund beginning in March 2026 for a period ending by December, 2026. Various awards may be offered throughout the calendar year, with announcements to be made via TSA's website and through its social media outlets.

Selection Process & Use of Funds

Chase Scholarship recipients will be selected by the TSA Scholarship Committee using eligibility and other standards established by that committee. Should any Chase Scholarship funds not be utilized within the annual period, TSA’s Board of Directors reserves the right to “roll over” funds into the next calendar year at its discretion and due diligence.

First name

Last name

Phone

Home Address

Country/Region

Address

City

Zip / Postal code

Please provide a short bio (150 words or less)

Which educational programs are you hoping to apply the scholarship to and why? (150 words or less)

How would you describe your voice as a writer/storyteller? What types of stories are you excited to tell? (150 words or less)

Tell us a story about a moment that helped define your voice as a writer, or made you want to start writing. (500 words or less)

Why are you applying for this scholarship and what do you hope to gain from the educational opportunities possible through this scholarship? (150 words or less)

Please attach a completed script (short, pilot, or feature) that you feel best represents your voice and your work. (.pdf files only please)

I certify that all writing samples submitted were written by myself and are my own intellectual property.

I have read and agree to abide by the program's Requirements, Obligations, Indemnification and Legal Criteria listed above.

I agree to abide by the decisions made by the TSA Scholarship Committee and I understand that if I mislead TSA or violate the agreed-upon terms, I could forfeit scholarship funds or be required to reimburse TSA for the amount dispersed.

The TSA Scholarship Fund

the chase scholarship program

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