 The
Zapf Scholarship FundIn 1988, at the first Letterforum Conference, Professor Hermann Zapf endowed a scholarship fund, the Hermann Zapf Education Fund (HZEF), for members of the Washington Calligraphers Guild. The awards are distributed semi-annually (Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer) through the encouragement and generosity of Professor Hermann Zapf and his wife Gudrun Zapf von Hesse. Designed to assist promising students of calligraphy and its related arts with ongoing expenses to further their study of the historical hands, the grants can be used for workshops, classes, books, conference fees, private studies, etc. The Washington Calligraphers Guild is deeply grateful to Professor Zapf and his wife for their ongoing generosity and friendship. A maximum of $1,000 is awarded per session, and may be given to either a single application or shared. A panel of three respected lettering artists reviews applications (blind entries) and selects the successful candidate(s).
Only calligraphy students who have been WCG members for at least a year are eligible for scholarships. An applicant whose proposal has not been funded may re-apply after one year. An applicant who has been awarded funds may re-apply after two years. Please note that the HZEF is intended to encourage mastery of historical hands using the broad-edged pen. Please print and fill out this application form and mail it to WCG Scholarship Chair, PO Box 3688, Merrifield, VA 22116-3688 along with three to five samples of your lettering. Artwork done under the direct supervision of an instructor does not qualify as a sample. Please be specific as to the purpose of your scholarship request, as payment generally is made to the organization or individual instructor with whom you are planning to study. The deadline for applications for the Spring/Summer Scholarship is January 15 and the deadline for the Fall/Winter Scholarship is July 9. Additional information about eligibility and areas of study may be obtained from the Guild.
PAST WINNERS WCG has awarded the Fall/ Winter 2011 Scholarship to three members: Diane (Holly) Gibbons received $500 to study with Sheila Waters and attend Guild workshops; Derrick Tabor, $300 for continued studies with Sheila Waters as well as studying the works of Hermann Zapf; and Felecia McFail, $200 to study pointed pen with Pat Blair.
The 2008 scholarship recipient, Shane Perry, used his grant to continue his studies with Sheila Waters and attend selected WCG workshops. Claire Lohrmann, who was awarded a partial scholarship for the Spring/Summer 2007 session, furthered her studies in local classes and workshops. La Verne Magarian was the recipient of the Spring/Summer 2005 scholarship and used her award funds to attend Letterforum 2006. Ruth Schellbach, who was awarded a partial scholarship in the Fall/Winter 2005 session, also used her funds to attend Letterforum 2006. The 2003 winner was Lucinda Fitch Huttlinger, who used her scholarship to continue her studies in Blackletter with Sheila Waters and Versals with Ann Pope. The 2001 scholarship winner, Cindy Yount, also used her award to continue her studies with Sheila Waters. The 2000 scholarship went to Sister Delphine Vasquez, CHM, who used it to continue studies with Ann Pope. The Fund's 1999 grant was used to introduce children to calligraphy.
Susan Easton taught the first Guild-sponsored calligraphy class
for children at Carole Highlands Elementary School
in Takoma Park, MD. The class introduced young artists who have
completed 5th or 6th grade to the principles of Other past Zapf scholarship winners have included Rose Folsom, who used the grant to create over 20 hand-made artists books, some of which are now part of permanent collections in prestigious national libraries. Recipient Rebecca Lepkowski attended the 1995 Letterforum Conference and Marie Lenker used her 1996 scholarship for classes with Sheila Waters. In 1997 Lee Ann Novak and Stephen Rapp shared the scholarship to study with Michael Clark. Theresa Daly used the 1998 scholarship to attend the international conference, Discoveries, in San Diego, and 1999's winner, Davette Leonard Kvarnes, used the funds to study with Sheila Waters. HZ initials at top of page designed by Julian Waters. Alphabet in middle of page was lettered, then cut in paper, by Gudrun Zapf von Hesse. Alphabet at bottom lettered by Hermann Zapf. 
Hermineh Miller (pictured) and Jordenne Ferrington gave a free
workshop on the Foundational hand at the Capital Children's Museum
in 1999 in Washington, DC. ~ Meetings, Classes & Workshops ~ Scripsit, the WCG journal ~ ~ Exhibits & Special Events ~ Freelance calligraphers in the DC area ~ ~ Links to related websites ~ How to become a WCG member ~ |
calligraphy as they
learned to write the Foundational hand. They completed a series
of exercises and projects to learn the structure and character of
Foundational letters, and used a variety of broad-nib pens and calligraphy
paper to become acquainted with materials used by calligraphers.
The class compiled a collection of favorite words, poetry, quotations
and alphabet sentences to inspire their creation of beautiful and
expressive letters.