Columbia Central

Stephen Elsworth Wood Memorial Scholarship

for continuing undergraduate students

The Stephen Elsworth Wood Memorial Scholarship was established to provide monetary assistance to deserving undergraduate students majoring in Audio Arts, BA, Sound Design, BA, and Music Technology, BS who demonstrate academic merit and financial need.

Deadline to Apply: October 17, 2025

• How to Apply

  Visit Internal Scholarships and click on APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS to access the Stephen Elsworth Wood Memorial Scholarship. Only complete scholarship applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the scholarship committee.

  Please follow all directions carefully. Students must submit the following materials to make a complete Stephen Elsworth Wood Memorial Scholarship Application. There are 3 parts to the application:

   

  PART 1: CREATIVE SAMPLES

  Provide one or two samples of your creative work in audio or multimedia, either by uploading them to the scholarship submission platform, or by providing links to your work on online platforms. These submissions can take the form of audio, video, or other documentation, such as a report, photos, or chart/ diagram/ illustration. Note: Upload size limit is 50MB. 

  Upload a 1-page document that briefly describes your creative sample(s). Identify and discuss your role in the project and key challenges you faced.

  Please upload your submission response in .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.

  PART 2: ESSAY

  In a one- to two-page essay, explain what role you see audio and/or sound playing in shaping who you are as a person – past, present, and/or future.  Be specific and cite concrete examples when possible.

  Your essay must be double-spaced and must include your name and Columbia ID number in the upper right-hand corner of each page. Please upload your response in .pdf, .doc, or .docx format. 

  PART 3: FAFSA SUBMISSION SUMMARY

  A current FAFSA Submission Summary must be on file. To receive a FAFSA Submission Summary, students must complete a 2025-26 financial aid application (FAFSA) by October 17, 2025.

  Access online applications through Internal Scholarships.

• About Stephen Elsworth Wood

  In memory of what would be Stephen Elsworth Wood's thirtieth birthday on January 16, 1993, his parents John and Amy Wood have established the Stephen Elsworth Wood Memorial Scholarship. Stephen was a graduate of Columbia College, having earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Audio Arts and Acoustics on May 16, 2015. 

  Stepehn was creative, artistic, and a ton of fun. In Stephen's free time, he composed electronic music. He was very active and enjoyed so many intersts. He loved spending time in the outdoors, hiking and swining in hammocks, traveling, and photography. Creating fluid Art pictures, writing poetry, playing pool, frothing and skateboarding on a nice day, driving and owning sports cars (he owned 2), and most of all spending time with his extraordinary friends and special girlfriend. Stephen also loved animals having rescused a labrador retriver and a Bengal Cat.

  Stephen always saw the best in people. He simply loved people and he loved life. Stephen was everyone's best friend and always would support them and provide a helping hand.

  Stephen was spritiual and attended Parkview Christian Church. In an "I AM" poem he once wrote several years ago, he described himself as "peaceful, nice and loving" and this is exactly who he is many years later.

  Stephen enjoyed his time at Columbia and he would be honored to celebrate this significant birthday milestone by helping a student in need with similar interests and attributes and maybe one day this student would publish his music. 

   

• Scholarship Terms
  • Application must be submitted by October 17, 2025 (11:59 pm) for review by the committee
  • Scholarship amount is up to $2,000, awarded half in Fall and half in Spring
  • Scholarship is applied toward tuition only
  • Students' scholarships that are applied toward tuition may not exceed the amount of their tuition costs
  • Recipients must maintain full-time enrollment during the 2025-26 academic year
  • Scholarship may be renewable provided recipient:
    • Maintain full-time, undergraduate majoring in Audio Arts, Sound Design, and/or Music Technology each academic year
    • Do not interrupt enrollment
    • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
    • Continues to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year for the subsequent academic year, and this application demonstrates continued financial need
  • Scholarship may be used toward a study abroad program through one of Columbia’s student exchange programs, excluding Summer sessions. Please note: Recipients who enroll in an independent study abroad program will forfeit their scholarship during the semester spent abroad.
  • The rules and regulations governing other sources of financial aid (federal, state, institutional and other grants, gifts, or loans) will apply
  • Outstanding documents to Columbia Central before the scholarship can be disbursed. Students can review missing documents in the MyColumbia portal under MyFinancials
  • Columbia College Chicago reserves the right to withhold the award in any year in which, at the sole discretion of the scholarship committee, suitable candidates cannot be found among applicants

IMPORTANT DATES

More Dates