Announcing the 2024 Jarvis Scholarship Recipients
In 2015, a generous gift by game developer Eugene Jarvis established the Eugene Jarvis Media Innovation Scholarship, in support of undergraduate students learning to critically analyze and help shape developments in new media.
Recognizing that education has become increasingly expensive and that students as a result are motivated to make educational decisions based on future job prospects, Jarvis hopes to promote intellectual exploration. “The undergraduate experience is the most formative in education,” Eugene Jarvis has said. “It’s the one time in your life you have an open mind and are absorbing knowledge while trying to find your mission on earth […] College is the ultimate kickstarter. I want to give students the freedom to learn the tools that will allow them to make something of their lives.”
This year, the Jarvis Scholarship has been awarded to Nisa Zamora and Em Erce.
From Nisa:
When I realized that our thoughts shape our reality, I chose to think differently. I learned to harness the power of my mind to create and experience a world without limits. As a child, my favorite pastimes were playing dress-up, making home videos where I interviewed neighbors, and acting out stories where I, inspired by superheroes and Disney princesses, somehow saved the day. These activities were my escape from the uncertainty of shuffling through the child welfare system and into the boundless world of my imagination.
It felt like a dream come true when I became the first in my family and community to attend college. Attending a prestigious institution like UC Berkeley has been a tremendous honor, but it has also presented its own set of challenges. When I transferred to UCB, I felt lost, unsure of which path to take, and without a robust support system to guide me. However, that all changed when I discovered the Berkeley Center for New Media (BCNM) through an email newsletter. Out of curiosity, I reached out, and to my delight, received a warm and swift response from Lara Wolfe, BCNM’s advisor. She kindly took the time to meet with me, offering a comprehensive overview of the diverse and robust opportunities at BCNM, which immediately sparked my excitement to get involved.
I began by enrolling in thought-provoking BCNM courses like Sociology of Virtual Communities with Professor Lin and Social Media and Television with Professor Di Kosnik. These classes ignited a more profound passion for new media and motivated me to immerse myself even further into the BCNM community. I discovered that my childhood interests aligned perfectly with BCNM’s unique ability to harmoniously combine art, performance, media, and technology. Finding a community of like-minded, innovative, and creative thinkers has been an incredible blessing and exactly what I needed.
Receiving the Eugene Jarvis Fellowship is not only a great honor, but it also significantly impacts my ability to continue pursuing my academic and creative journey. I am profoundly grateful for this support and incredibly excited about the future—where bold, visionary scholars and creators dare to think differently and explore the extraordinary possibilities that arise when technology and humanity come together to shape our world.
From Em:
I am honored to receive the Eugene Jarvis Scholarship. This award will provide me with invaluable support as I continue to explore the intersection of technology and storytelling. I am excited to use this award to push the boundaries of creativity in my last year of university.