Carbonnell Awards Seek Scholarship Applicants

(Press Release) (South Florida – February 10, 2026) Gary Schweikhart, board president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s Theatre & Arts Honors, today reminded college-bound high school students that the nonprofit organization is now accepting applications for its 2026 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships. The deadline to apply has been extended to Saturday, February 28, 2026. Since 1978, the Carbonell Awards has given out more than $140,000 in scholarships to winning applicants.

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The selection of scholarship recipients is based on talent, experience and demonstrated commitment to theater and/or journalism, with one winner from each of the three area counties (Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach) receiving a double scholarship worth $3,000, including a $2,000 Jack Zink Scholarship and a $1,000 Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarship.
 
The selection process is chaired by Carbonell Vice President Javier Siut, a member of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. The scholarship selection committee also includes Carbonell Board members Terry Colli, Bill Nix, and Gary Schweikhart, former Board member Jody Leshinsky, longtime Carbonell Judge Nancy Cohen, and Elaine Oksner, the widow of Hap Erstein.
 
Applications and guidelines for the 2026 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships are available online at http://carbonellawards.org/the-jack-zink-memorial-scholarship-application/.
 
Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must be a graduating high school senior with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• Applicant must be a resident of Broward, Miami-Dade or Palm Beach County.
• Applicant must be nominated by a mentor from school or theatre (no parents and no self-nominations).
• If selected, the applicant must be accepted into College to pursue a degree in theatre or journalism.

 
Timeline:

• Completed application must be submitted no later than February 28, 2026.
• The interview/audition for scholarship finalists will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach.
• The three winning scholarship winners will be honored at the 49th annual Carbonell Awards Celebration on November 16, 2026, at the FAU University Theatre in Boca Raton.