From Woody Allen to Martin Scorsese, the Tisch School of the Arts has no shortage of famous former students. Perhaps the most active among them, however, is Alec Baldwin, who recently announced another $1 million donation to his Alec Baldwin Drama Scholarship Fund in Tisch.
In addition to Baldwin’s previous 2009 donation of the same amount, the funds will support Tisch’s Tuition Identification Program, which was started by Tisch dean Mary Schmidt Campbell to search for, enroll and support talented students across the nation, regardless of their financial status.
TIP efforts include high school pipeline programs, which give talented high school students a taste of NYU, with programs like the 14-week Future Artist workshops. TIP also works to build networks among schools, communities and nonprofits to aid them in their search for talent.
Tisch External Affairs executive director Andrew Uriarte said the scholarship fund currently supports four Baldwin scholars, who otherwise would not have been able to attend Tisch.
“The TIP and Baldwin Scholarship Funds are critical to ensuring that the best artistic voices have an opportunity to receive an NYU Tisch education,” Uriarte said.
“I think that is absolutely amazing because as an artist it can be hard to find support,” Tisch dance sophomore Stacy Yuen said.
Still, Yuen said she believes talent scouting may not be the best use of funds, claiming the traditional audition process is a distinctly important part of an art student’s career.
Uriarte, however, said Campbell believes all Tisch students gain from TIP and the Baldwin Scholarship Fund.
“The Dean believes that all students at Tisch benefit from a deep and broad talent-rich student pool,” he said.
The Baldwin Scholarship Fund is not Baldwin’s only contribution to his alma mater.
Beckman went on to cite Baldwin’s membership on Tisch’s Dean’s Council and his participation in many important NYU and Tisch events, such as commencement.
“Mr. Baldwin is an involved, dedicated and generous alumnus,” NYU spokesman John Beckman said.
A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Dec. 5 print edition. Kevin Burns is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].
