Brave women: Enter the Favor the Brave 2023 Travel Scholarship
Are you a creative woman with dreams of taking hold of the world, but lack the means to make it happen? Do you want to embrace your desire to travel independently and show the world you can do it? You were born curious and crave experiences over material objects. Adventure is your calling and the world is your muse. Now more than ever, the world needs divergent thinkers like you — and this scholarship is your ticket.
In partnership with The Newburyport Studio and Favor the Brave (a women owned and operated Brand Identity & Design Studio north of Boston) is offering a travel scholarship (worth over $2,000) to one aspiring young woman looking to pursue a career in a creative field.
All that’s required — an adventurous spirit with the ambition to travel the world!
What’s at stake...
One Round-trip Ticket to anywhere
Seriously, go.
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It’s time to leave your comfort zone and enter a new culture of your choice. We’ll cover your round-trip international airfare to help you truly experience a new part of the world.
(Economy flights to not exceed $1500)
One $500 Airbnb gift card
Live like the locals do.
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Leave the resorts behind and immerse yourself in the local culture. From a flat in the heart of Paris to a grass bungalow in the south of Thailand, Airbnb properties will give you a true glimpse into the community of your choice.
One $250 Visa gift card
Experience in ease.
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Whether it’s food, transportation or travel insurance – travel adds up. Enjoy your trip knowing some of these extras aren’t on your plate, so you have more space to fill up on new experiences.
How it started.
About the Judge, Kelsy Stromski
Owner & Creative Directress of Favor the Brave & The Newburyport Studio
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Travel was a catalyst for my success as an entrepreneur, creative, and a person. It’s been transformative for me in my creative career and has changed not only how I work, but how I live.
I grew up on 1000 acre potato farm in a tiny town in northern Maine — hours from any airport. My wanderlust began when I competed for the U.S. Biathlon team and continued as I studied abroad in Rome. I took lots of odd jobs as a teenager (sometimes 3 at the same time) to make it happen. Now, as I independently run two creative businesses north of Boston, I intentionally pause for a month each year to explore somewhere new in the world. While this scholarship is just the beginning of something bigger — I look forward to being able to give back in some small way.
It’s amazing how little you need in life when you’re forced to edit essentials to fit within a backpack. With just the basics in tow, away from routine and the familiar — this is truly when a creative mind is liberated. Travel allows you to be completely open to limitless possibilities and perspectives — which is essential. With an open mind, I soak up inspiration and use this to fuel my process so I can tackle my work with a bespoke approach. So I leave routine behind to prioritize and relentlessly pursue new experiences. I wander, explore, embrace the unknown and challenge others to break free of their comfort zones.
When I ran away from office-life and commuting several years ago, simultaneously I ran toward everything the world has to offer. I want others to experience the world, not escape it. I want them to experience new cultures, see every mountain, try new flavors, attend crazy festivals, and meet new people. Life is precious, and we only get to live it once.
In general, travel has inspired me to take a more casual, open-minded approach to business. Growing up in the U.S., it’s easy to think the American mindset is the most efficient. But having worked with and met people from all over the world, it’s been rewarding to create a life where I prioritize pausing to travel, recharge and spend time with my little family. People who travel the world aren’t running away from life. Just the opposite. Those who break the mold, explore the world, and live on their own terms in my opinion are running toward true living.
So, I am not running away. I’m running towards the world and my idea of life. I hope you are brave enough to do the same.
Let’s fly!
(Be social — but don't forget to put away your phone and be present! Peek at a few of my former travels to Spain, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Thailand, France & Iceland.)
So, can I apply?
Let’s see if you’re eligible
PURSUING A CREATIVE CAREER
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Applicants must be interested in (or actively pursuing) a higher education in a creative field such as (but not limited to) Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Industrial Design, Art, Architecture, Interior Design, Animation, Videography, Fashion or Textile Design, etc…
FINANCIAL NEED
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Preference will be given to those who may not otherwise be able to travel and explore a new place due to limited financial resources.
Creatives from small communities and isolated areas with no previous travel experience are highly encouraged to apply.
QUALIFICATIONS
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Must be a citizen of the U.S.
For young women between 18-22 years old when applying to the scholarship
Must have a current passport with at least 8 months left before expiry and have an intense desire to travel outside of her comfort zone.
Ok, how do I apply?
Not your average essay
MAKE A POSTCARD
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It’s time to get visual. To enter, you’ll need to create your own original 4x6” postcard. Please use a heavy grade paper, such as card stock, to ensure your card travels well. And be sure to use adequate postage for proper deliverability. Duplicate submissions or postcards that are not original creations will be disqualified.
Do not forget to follow Favor the Brave & The Newburyport Studio to stay in the know!
DITCH THE ESSAY
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Use your creativity! That’s what brought you here, after all. Display your unique talent on the front side of your postcard by visually answering the brief: Where do you wish to travel & why? Keep an open mind, share your motivations to travel and where you want to go. This is your opportunity to showcase your skills, passions, and individuality to convey a compelling and cohesive visual story.
On the backside clearly provide your name, address, email, phone number, age and a sentence caption explaining your postcard creation.
MAIL IN ON TIME
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Once your masterpiece is complete mail it in between September 1 & November 1 to:
Favor the Brave, 76 State Street, 3rd Floor, Newburyport, MA 01950
All applications will be evaluated based on originality, creativity, and technique. 10 finalists will be notified and asked to submit a 1-minute video of themselves explaining why they should be chosen to win. A minimum of 10 applications are required to run the scholarship.
Important Dates
Jot ‘em down
Sept. 1, 2023
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Mailing in your scholarship application postcard begins. You have two months!
Nov. 1, 2023
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Application closes. Postcards postmarked after this date will not be eligible.
Nov. 10, 2023
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10 finalists will be chosen. Finalists will need to submit a 1 minute video sharing why they should win!
Nov. 20, 2023
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Finalist video’s must be submitted by this date and emailed to Hello@Favorthebrave.co
Dec. 1, 2023
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The time has come! Our winning creative woman will be announced!
2024
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Travel must be completed within the year. Go have the time of your life!
FAQs
I’m turning 18 in 2024 can I apply?
You must be legally 18 when you apply for the Favor the Brave Travel Scholarship. (This opportunity is for women between 18-22.)
Can I mail my postcard on the November 1, 2023 deadline?
While this is the ultimate form of procrastination, yes you can — as long as your postcard is postmarked by November 1, 2023 it will be eligible.
I live outside of New England, can I apply for the Travel Scholarship?
Yes absolutely. The Travel Scholarship is open to all legal US Citizens living in the United States.
Does my postcard have to be a collage or painted?
NO! Any medium is acceptable as long as it is within the size requirements of 4”x6”. This is your opportunity to showcase your skills, passions, and individuality to convey a compelling & cohesive visual story through Photography, Graphic Design, Illustration, watercolor, screen printing, textile design, digital art, embroidery, etc…
Will I be notified once my postcard has been received and will it be returned to me afterwards?
Postcards can not be returned and unfortunately we can not notify everyone when their postcard arrives at the studio. You will be notified if you are a finalist!
How are postcards judged?
Postcards created will be evaluated based on originality, creativity in answering the brief, technique and motivations to travel. Display your talents on the front side of your postcard by visually answering this brief: Where do you wish to travel & why? (Postcards that have been purchased and are not original works of art will be disqualified.)
“It wasn’t until recently with support of my college professors and close family that I was able to build up the confidence to be proud of who I am and the gift I was given, as well as have the courage to apply for this scholarship. I’m in tears right now just thinking about this once in a lifetime opportunity. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for going above and beyond for me you have no idea how happy I am. ”
Meet our 2021 Winner
MADISON FROM DURHAM, NH
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This Scholarship allowed me to experience a new world of art and culture I never thought I would have had the privilege to see. I applied for this scholarship because I believed it to be an opportunity of a lifetime, and so it came to be. When I got the facetime call from Kelsy that I won the contest. It felt like all the hard work I’ve put into being an artist had paid off, and that my hobby could be an art career that I pursue in the future.
Being granted the pleasure to visit all over Italy this past summer was something that will stay with me forever. I got to stay in a breathtaking Airbnb in Florence courtesy of Favor the Brave and immerse myself in the historic birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. I visited art galleries such as Uffizi in Florence and Gallerie dell’Accsdemia in Venice. And got to taste authentic local cuisine from cannolis in Sicily to tortellini in Emilia-Romagna.
Since returning home from my trip and starting my next semester at University, I now have a whole new appreciation for my art education. My art history professors continue to mention the exact places where I stood and the paintings that I saw with my own eyes in Italy. It has brought such a meaningful and personal perspective to my education. I highly encourage any young women artist to apply for the Favor the Brave travel scholarship because it honestly changed my life, and it could make someone else’s dreams come true next just by simply creating a postcard.
Meet our 2022 Winner
MAGGIE FROM HALIFAX, MA
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Since applying last year, I knew I wanted to apply again, so this idea of the tapestry postcard had really been floating around my brain for the entire 2022. When I was working on the piece I was really thinking about what an amazing opportunity this could be for me if I won, that definitely was a driving thought for me throughout the entire process.
Textile design and weaving have become such big passions of mine and it's really refreshing to see someone giving this opportunity to young women, encouraging them to follow their dreams and further their education and inspiration in a hands-on way. Finding out that I had been chosen to receive the scholarship was so surreal!
Traveling has been something I've always been interested in, and to have this opportunity to travel and learn about something that I love deeply is just so priceless.
I feel so grateful and lucky to have been chosen for the scholarship, it really allowed my imagination to run wild and think about where I wanted to go, with no limits. Going to Scotland and Ireland brought me so much inspiration and joy and it strengthened my passion and love for creating. I often found myself wanting to go back to the Airbnb and immediately get to work on a new project! To have seen, experienced, and learned about textile design and craft and how it has developed over thousands of years firsthand was priceless.
