The JORGE E. MALDONADO Changemaker Scholarship at JWS

Jorge E. Maldonado (CARBIA OSURIO FELICES) defied description. He was a FORCE of NATURE.

He would tell you he was a son, brother, nephew, cousin, a proud Puerto Rican and Colombian from Houston, Texas, whose passion was music, giving the best hugs, putting smiles on people's faces, FOOD, and all Apple products. He would teach you how to salsa if you didn't know how (while eating chicharrones). He could make anyone feel like the most important person in the room. And he had a knack for knowing when people needed a little extra support, gladly rushing in to be a shoulder to cry on, to tell them how beautiful they were or to raise his voice with theirs in protest of wrong-doing and injustice.

So it's not surprising that he wasn't afraid of changing the energy in a room. He made spaces braver, leading by example, inspiring others to speak their truths and follow their passions. JORGE. HAD. PASSION! This was his superpower. He lived life the way it is meant to be lived, making the most of each moment, telling people how he felt, following his curiosity in pursuit of learning new things, cultivating a sense of adventure with a can-do attitude, unafraid to leap… trusting the net would always appear. That is the saving grace. Although he wasn't given nearly enough time here on Earth, he seemingly squeezed an entire lifetime into his 30 short years.

Be a changemaker.

Jorge E. Maldonado Changemaker Scholarships are awarded to Artists who demonstrate incredible potential, not only in their area of study, but also in their ability to create a positive cultural impact with their art.

In honor of Jorge and the legacy he leaves behind, we invite you to follow your passions, speak your truths, be curious, be brave and make the most of your time on this journey.

A NOTE from JEN

I’m personally funding this round of scholarships. No donors. No outside organizations. Just me—investing directly in artists I believe in.

If Jorge had lived, I believe he would’ve had a remarkable career—starring on Broadway in roles that would have been considered “out of the box” at the time.

Jorge never got that chance. I want to give someone else that chance—an artist with the skill, clarity, and potential to make an impact on this industry simply by being undeniably good.

The Reboot is for artists who are serious about their craft and ready to build the strategy, structure, and support to move their careers forward.

If that’s you, I hope you’ll apply.

How do I APPLY?

Applications for THE Jorge E. Maldonado CHANGEMAKER SCHOLARSHIP are currently closed.

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 Frequently Asked QUESTIONS

  • This round of the Changemaker Scholarship is for Artists who demonstrate incredible potential, not only in their career pursuits, but also in their ability to create a positive cultural impact with their art. 

    With this round of scholarships, we are specifically looking to support artists whose identities are underrepresented in the theatre industry. We trust that you will submit your application (or sit out of this round) accordingly.

  • Absolutely. If you’ve received a scholarship in the past, you’re still eligible to apply for this one. Each round is evaluated independently.

  • Yes. The application includes a question asking if you’d like to be considered for The Career Collective even if you aren’t awarded a scholarship. If you check “yes,” your application will still be reviewed for admission.

  • No. We’re not evaluating production quality—we’re looking for artistic skill and potential. A strong self-tape, rehearsal video, or live performance clip is more than enough if it shows us what you can do.

  • Yes. You do not need to be a current or past JWSer to apply.