

Scholarships and Internships
The Mary and Jack Bayramian Arts Scholars and Fellows Program
The Mary and Jack Bayramian Arts Scholars and Fellows program provides scholarship support to qualified students involved in work at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts.
This program also offers internships that provide CSUN students direct work experience in marketing, promotions, guest services, sales, development, administration, and more. This experience gives students a solid foundation of skills they can use throughout their careers in any discipline, and enhances the success of The Soraya.
Award
Each Scholarship/Fellowship provides $8,000 towards tuition. Half of the award is disbursed in the Fall semester and the other half in the Spring semester. Typically, eight scholarships are awarded to undergraduate or graduate CSUN students (Scholars and Fellows, respectively) on our staff and four internships to eligible CSUN students.
Eligibility
Qualifying students must:
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Be a full-time CSUN student as defined in the University Catalog and hold a 3.0 GPA or higher at time of application and during the semesters toward which the scholarship funds are applied;
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Submit a complete application including, but not limited to an essay.
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In addition, all Soraya student staff applying to become a Bayramian Arts Scholar or Fellow are required to work at The Soraya as an intern or employee for a minimum of 15 hours per month during the semesters toward which the scholarship is applied. To see our current job openings, click here.
Students who are awarded an internship must work a maximum 10 hours per week during the internship period as defined in the internship program application included below.
Bayramian Arts Interns
The 2023-2024 Bayramian Internships will open on August 23, 2023.
Bayramian Arts Scholars and Fellows
Applications open in March and are due in April of each year. Awards are applied to the following academic year. The application includes an essay and is made available to interested students by our Director of Audience Services.
A panel of three to five members consisting of faculty, staff, and/or community members will review applications. The Soraya’s Executive Director approves final awardees based on the recommendations of the panel.
Please Note: Awardees of the Bayramian Arts Scholarship, Fellowship, or Internship are responsible for determining how the award will impact other sources of financial aid, such as student loans. If you have questions, please contact the CSUN Financial Aid Office at 818-677-4085 prior to applying.

About Mary and Jack
In 2005, Mary and Jack Bayramian gave the largest cash gift in the university’s history at the time, $7.3 million, for student scholarships. A portion of this generous gift was used to create the Mary and Jack Bayramian Arts Scholars and Fellow Program.
After years as a homemaker, Mary returned to college in her late 30s, earning a Bachelors Degree in Art from San Fernando Valley State College (now CSUN) in 1963. She then taught art at San Fernando High School. In 1971, Mary and Jack, a retired telephone company technician, retired to Laguna Beach and began renovating and managing real estate.
Don Barsumian (d. 2022), former Mary and Jack Bayramian Estate Trustee and nephew to the Bayramians, said his aunt and uncle “lived the American dream.” They were both children of Armenian immigrants who fled Turkey in the early 20th century to escape persecution. “Hard work, integrity, saving and investing,” he added. “You know in books how they talk about how to get from here to there? They did it.”
CONTACT US
Bayramian Arts Scholars & Fellows
Juliana Alvarez, Campus Engagement Associate
Juliana.alvarez@csun.edu
818-677-8846
Bayramian Arts Internship
Cydne West, Assistant to the Executive and Artistic Director
Cydne.west@csun.edu
818-677-8840

Past Bayramian Arts Scholars, Fellows, and Interns
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Neal Berg, Co-chair, Ambassador
Alfred (Jim) Gorman, Co-chair, Ambassador
Rodney S. Davis, Ambassador and Executive Director Circle Member
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Antonia Barela, Lead Usher (2nd Award)
Music – Music Therapy
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Anna Biskup, Lead Usher
Music – Composition/Commercial and Media Writing
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Agnese Gallenzi, Usher
Music, M.M. – Voice
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Emily Kipp, Usher
Kinesiology – Dance
College of Health and Human Development
Qi Hong (Desmond) Loh, Usher
CTVA – Film
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Britney Nguyen, Usher
Music – Commercial and Media Writing
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Gianella (Skye) Solorio, Usher (2nd Award)
Music Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Shaina Sur, Usher
Music – Commercial and Media Writing
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Bayramian Arts Interns
Felipe Andre Pimentel Carneiro, Membership
CTVA – Screenwriting (Major), Photography (Minor)
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Nur Fahlevi Pratama, Executive Director’s Office
Music – Music Composition
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
Sonny Keely
Music – Music Education
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
May Pyone
Business – Management and Analytics
Nazarian College of Business and Economics
Bayramian Arts Scholars
No scholarships awarded for the 2021-22 academic year.
Bayramian Arts Interns
Seung Joon Lee, Arts Education & Outreach
Belen Naranjo, Donor Relations & Events
Nur Fahlevi Pratama, Membership
Lakshitha Sasikumar, D.E.I.
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Jill Fager, Soraya Ambassador
Robert Kiddoo, Soraya Ambassador
Sherry Lapides, Soraya Ambassador
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Katelyn (Kat) Anderson – AMC – CTVA – Film
Antonia Barela – AMC – Music Therapy
Jered Dunbar – AMC – Music Industry Studies
Sasha-Courtney Hofisi – AMC – Music – Percussion Performance
Loliepop Mena – AMC – Music – Percussion Performance
Blair Rocheleau – AMC – CTVA – Screenwriting
Gianella (Sky) Solorio – AMC – Music Education
Bayramian Arts Fellow
Matisse Swanson – H&HD – Kinesiology
Bayramian Arts Interns
No positions offered for the 2020-21 academic year
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Wendy Furth, Soraya Ambassador
George Johnson, Soraya Ambassador
Andrea Reinken, Chair, Soraya Ambassadors
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Katelyn Anderson, Usher (2nd Award)
CTVA – Film (Major), Psychology (Minor)
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Theo Boccara, Usher / Hospitality
CTVA – Film
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Alexis Colson, Usher / Powered Cart Operator
Music – Music Industry Studies (Major), Popular Culture Studies (Minor)
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Bradley Davis, Usher / Hospitality
Music – Wind Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Patrick Dos Santos, Usher
Music – Guitar Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Jeremiah Gonzalez, Usher / Hospitality
Music – Piano Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Kenzie McCarrel, Usher
Music – Music Industry Studies (Major), Musical Theatre (Minor)
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Loliepop Mena, Usher / Hospitality / Powered Cart Operator
Music – Percussion Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Kevin Ramirez, Lead House Usher (2nd Award)
History (Major), Central American Studies (Major)
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Matisse Swanson, Usher / Hospitality
Kinesiology – Dance
College of Health & Human Development
Bayramian Arts Fellow
Bayramian Arts Interns
Logan Cantrell, Marketing Intern
Marketing
David Nazarian College of Business and Economics
Genevieve Hilburn, Future Currents Lead Musician Intern
Music – Percussion Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Lindsay Morrison, Future Currents Video Production Intern
CTVA – Electronic Media Management (Major), Dance – Performance (Minor)
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Andrea Ramirez, Donor Relations Intern
Music – Music Education (Instrumental)
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Kaylee Uribe, Development & Events Intern
Early Childhood Development
College of Health & Human Development
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Andrea Reinken, Soraya Ambassador
Christi Robinson, Soraya Ambassador
Ellen Stohl, Soraya Ambassador
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Katelyn Anderson, Usher
CTVA – Film
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Rediate Deribe, Usher
Health Administration
Health & Human Development
Alexander Hamilton, Usher
Music – Percussion Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Jimmy Licata, Usher
Music Industry Studies
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Adam Orozco, Usher
Music – Trombone Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Kevin Ramirez, Usher
History
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Gillian Richman, Ticket Office (2nd Award)
Music – Saxophone Performance
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Rendall Trinanes, Usher (2nd Award)
Art
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Bayramian Arts Fellow
Russell Strause, Lead House Usher (2nd Award)
Communicative Disorders
Health & Human Development
Bayramian Arts Interns
Zenobia Ortis, Arts Education Intern
Music Industry Administration
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Andrea Ramirez, Development Intern
Music Education
Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Julia Heinen & William Boatman
Suren Seropian, UA
Heather Cairns, TUC
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Logan Cantrell, Scholar
Nazarian College of Business & Economics
Destiny Chapron, Scholar
College of Health & Human Development
Joseph Hicks, Scholar (2nd award)
College of Engineering & Computer Science
Alexis Holman, Scholar
MCCAMC
Haley Jones, Scholar
Nazarian College of Business & Economics
Helina Mekonnen, Scholar
College of Health & Human Development
Sally Moore, Scholar
MCCAMC
Melanie Perez, Scholar (2nd award)
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Gillian Richman, Scholar
MCCAMC
Russell Strause, Scholar
College of Health & Human Development
Rendall Trianes, Scholar
MCCAMC
Bayramian Arts Fellow
Ana Maria Garcia, Fellow
Tseng College, Music Industries Administration
Siddharth Kundri, Fellow
College of Engineering & Computer Science
Shannon Thomas, Fellow, MCCAMC
Bayramian Arts Interns
William Brooks, Arts Education Intern, MCCAMC
Andrea Ramirez, Scholar
Development Intern, MCCAMC
Jared Shahar, Scholar
Program Intern, MCCAMC
Connie To, Scholar
Customer Service Intern, Nazarian College of Business & Economics
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Estefany Barrios, Scholar
Music Therapy
Audience Service Worker
Daniel Bonilla, Scholar
Film Production
Audience Service Worker
Kelcey Henderson, Scholar
Journalism
Audience Service Worker
Joseph Hicks, Scholar
Civil Engineering
Audience Service Worker
Katie Kelly, Scholar
Deaf Studies
Audience Service Worker
Cheryl Lee, Scholar
Film Production
Audience Service Worker
China Morgan, Scholar
Child Development
Audience Service Worker
Melanie Perez, Scholar
Psychology
Audience Service Worker
Christopher Rispoli, Scholar
Guitar Performance
Audience Service Worker
Connie To, Scholar
Marketing
Audience Service Worker
Lauren Turner Dunn, Scholar
Journalism
Audience Service Worker
Bayramian Arts Fellow
Nikith Sherigar, Fellow
MS Engineering Management
Audience Service Worker
Bayramian Arts Interns
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Joseph Hicks
CECS/ Civil Engineering
Nicholas Popham
Mike Curb College/Journalism
Lauren Turner Dunn
Mike Curb College/Journalism
Salar Owrang
HHD/RTM
Cameron O’Hanlon
Mike Curb College/Percussion Performance
Eli Falk
Fellow (Master’s) Music Industry Administration
Negin Sadri
Social & Behavorial Science/Anthropology
Janessa Reyes
Mike Curb College/Communications
Bayramian Arts Fellow
Kelly Brooks, Fellow
Mike Curb College, Music (Education Dept)
Bayramian Arts Interns
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Negin Sadri, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Anthropology
Mark Winterlin, Scholar
Audiene Servie Worker
Cinema and Television Arts
Janessa Reyes, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Communication Studies
Brandon Tisor, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Cinema and Television Arts
Laurena Infante-Aguilar, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Music Industry Administration
Michael Enriquez, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Jazz Studies
Cheryl Lee, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Cinema and Television Arts
Brandi Murphy, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Journalism
Cherise McKenzie, Scholar
Concessions
Kinesiology-Dance Option
Bayramian Arts Fellow
Joseph Solano, Fellow
Audiences Service Lead
Graduate Music Industry Administration
Andrew Porteous, Fellow
Audience Service Worker
Graduate Screen Writing
Bayramian Arts Intern
Bayramian Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Panel
Bayramian Arts Scholars
Melissa Del Pino, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Communicative Disorders-Speech Paqthology
Eli Falk, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Music
Alexandra Fung, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Broadcast Journalism
Wynnona Loredo, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Economic & Photojournalism
Mark Winterlin, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Cinema and Television Arts
Matthew Lengyl, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Cinema and Television Arts
Arsalan Nami, Scholar
Audience Service Worker
Music Therapy
Bayramian Arts Fellow
Andrew Porteous, Fellow
Audience Service Worker
Cinema and Television Arts
Zachary Torres-George
Audience Service Worker
Environmental & Occupational Health
Bayramian Arts Interns