About The Scholarship
From Xan’s Mother, Carolyn Korman:
“The words we heard to describe Xan Korman most often were “selfless,” “generous” and “passionate.” Just one example of his selflessness is that he chose to register to be an organ donor when he first got his driver’s license at the age of 16. In August 2021, Xan was shot and killed in a drive by shooting at the age of 20. Xan donated as many organs as possible upon his death so that others could live, including both his kidneys and his liver.
But this is about honoring Xan’s life. Xan found his passion in photography and that was the language he used to tell a story. Xan’s main focus was sports photography, especially basketball, but he also explored the worlds of street photography and social justice. Behind the lens, regardless of what he was photographing, he focused on the emotion of the moment and captured the beauty that exists in human excellence.
Check out the Xan Korman Legacy Project here
We are offering this grant to a rising photographer, who, like Xan, can capture the human spirit. We hope you share his passions of helping others (such as through organ, eye and tissue donation), of equity and inclusion and of hard work and determination to get what you want.
We would like the applicant to submit a short essay about how this grant can help them advance their photography, how they share Xan’s passions and discuss importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. We would also like to see a sample of three recent photos taken by the applicant.
We expect the recipient to pay this gift forward by volunteering to photograph an Infinite Legacy event.
Eligibility
Applicants must be 16-25 years old. Secondary education is not required.
Applicants must reside in Maryland, Washington, DC or the following counties in Northern Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Clarke, Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, and Fauquier as well as the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Manassas and Manassas Park.
Scholarship Rules and Requirements
Those who are applying for the Xan Korman Scholarship must submit three photos and a self-authored short essay about the importance of registering as organ, eye and tissue donors. Submissions must meet the following criteria:
• The essay should be less than 500 words and focus on why you are passionate about photography like Xan was and the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation and/or any personal connection you have to organ donation such as being a transplant recipient, the family member of a recipient, a donor family member or a registered donor. Be creative…this isn’t a school assignment!
• Submit three of your own, recent photos that capture human emotion or spirit. If there is a connection to organ donation, even better, but that is not required. Please provide a one-sentence description for each photo.
The top five submissions will receive $1,000 each to go towards camera equipment, expenses, or something that supports their love of photography, etc. Infinite Legacy will contact the winners directly. The authors of the top five submissions, as chosen by Infinite Legacy, will be required to consent to Infinite Legacy’s use of their name, and materials, in connection with Infinite Legacy’s mission of inspiring communities to register to be organ, eye and tissue donors.
By providing materials in a submission for the Xan Korman Scholarship, you are acknowledging that these works are your own, and have not been published elsewhere (except in your personal portfolio) or used for any other purpose and that the information that you are including in your submission is accurate.
The deadline for submissions is August 31st, 2024.
