King Features Commits $100,000 to Start Jay Kennedy Scholarship Fund

By: E&P Staff King Features Syndicate announced this afternoon that it has committed $100,000 to establish an endowed scholarship fund in honor of Jay Kennedy, who served as King's editor in chief from 1997 until his untimely death this March at age 50.

The Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship Fund -- to be administered by the nonprofit National Cartoonists Society Foundation (NCSF) -- will be used to "advance the ideals and standards of professional cartooning in its many forms and to stimulate and encourage interest in and acceptance of the art of cartooning by aspiring cartoonists, students, and the general public."

King and the NCSF will lead the effort to raise additional money for the scholarship fund.

"We hope this scholarship will continue Jay's legacy of creativity and generosity," King President T.R. "Rocky" Shepard III said in a statement. "He had a profound impact on our industry, certainly in strengthening King?s roster of talented comics creators and in articulating his vision for the future of the art form. But more importantly, Jay spent countless hours providing advice, support, and encouragement to aspiring cartoonists.?

NCSF President Daryl Cagle added another statement: "This scholarship will be a big boost to the careers of aspiring cartoonists. College students' work will be judged by a jury of top, professional cartoonists. The talented winner will meet his or her cartooning heroes as a guest at our annual convention and will receive his or her award on stage at our annual Reuben Award celebration. We appreciate King Features' support in establishing the scholarship to honor our friend, Jay Kennedy...."

The first scholarship recipient will be feted at the 2008 Reuben ceremony, which is scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend in New Orleans.

Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made payable to the National Cartoonists Society Foundation and mailed to: National Cartoonists Society Foundation, Attention: Donations, 341 N. Maitland Ave., Suite 130, Maitland, FL 32751-4761.

Kennedy joined King in 1988 as deputy comics editor and became comics editor one year later. Among his other cartoon-related work was authoring "The Underground Comix Guide" (1982).