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 open until Friday, May 15 at 11:59pm eastern.

This particular round of scholarships is specifically for the Reboot and supports artists with the extraordinary potential to be working at the highest level in the theatre industry.

Our selection process begins with your artistic readiness and then considers your financial need to determine the size of each award.

This round, we are awarding:
Up to 2 full scholarships
Up to 15 partial scholarships
With a total scholarship fund of $30,000

If you have previously received a scholarship from JWS, you are still eligible to apply!

apply for a scholarship

 Frequently Asked QUESTIONS

  • This round of the Changemaker Scholarship is for artists who demonstrate extraordinary potential to be working at the highest level in the theatre industry.

    At other times during the year, we may offer scholarship rounds that focus on a specific angle, such as artists from historically underrepresented identities, multi-hyphenate artists, or those creating work outside traditional pathways.

    For The Reboot, the only criteria is your potential. Artists from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

  • Item descriptionHow competitive is the scholarship?

    We expect a high volume of applications. Last year, we received nearly 70 for just a handful of spots. That said, every application is reviewed with care, and we encourage you to apply if you feel aligned with the mission of the program.

  • You can share a realistic range instead of a single number. Most partial scholarships will fall between $1,000 and $1,500. We also offer payment plans, which you can factor into your request.

  • Yes. The application includes a question asking if you’d like to be considered for The Reboot 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.

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