An Intro You Don't Want to Miss

Dear Usdan Community, 

Every year since 2018, my colleagues and I look forward to reviewing Uniquely U applications submitted by young artists from across Long Island and New York City. This year was no exception.

Nearly 150 applicants submitted a video — conceptualized, shot, and edited themselves — for the chance to win a full eight-week scholarship to camp this summer. Today, I am ecstatic to introduce you to Philip, Phoebe, and Ziggy, the three recipients of this year’s Uniquely U scholarship. 

What is special to me about these videos is the clarity at which these young artists communicate their creative spark. It has not been lost because of the closing or virtualization of their creative outlets.

All three recipients address the creative constraints they have experienced this past year. Somehow they were able to lean into these constraints and discover different opportunities such as recording an audiobook like Philip, finding new creative communities online like Phoebe, or writing and performing a mini musical in their apartment like Ziggy. 

I am in endless awe of these three and cannot wait for their creativity to ignite at camp this summer. 

And now, without further adieu, our 2021 Uniquely U recipients:

• Philip Leon, 8th grade, Lindenhurst
• Phoebe George, 9th grade, Glen Cove
• Ziggy Bornas, 7th grade, Manhattan

You can watch their full videos at uu.usdan.org.

Sending you joy into the weekend,

Olivia Wise, Manager of Marketing & Communications