Recipients will also Receive a Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarship – Total Value $3,000 Each
Application Deadline is February 9 for Theater/Journalism Students in Broward, Miami/Dade, and Palm Beach Counties
(South Florida – January 12, 2026) Gary Schweikhart, board president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s Theatre & Arts Honors, today reminded college-bound high school students that the nonprofit organization is now accepting applications for its 2026 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships.
The selection of scholarship recipients is based on talent, experience, and demonstrated commitment to theater and/or journalism, with one winner from each of the three area counties (Broward, Miami/Dade, Palm Beach) receiving a double scholarship worth $3,000, including a $1,000 Hap Ernstein Memorial Scholarship.
The selection process is chaired by Carbonell Vice President Javier Siut, a member of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.
Applications and guidelines for the 2026 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships are available online.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be a graduating high school senior with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Applicants must be a resident of Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach County.
- Applicant must be nominated by a mentor from school or theatre (no parents and no self-nominations).
- If selected, the applicant must be accepted into college to pursue a degree in theatre or journalism.
Timeline:
- Completed application must be submitted no later than February 9, 2026.
- The interview/audition for scholarship finalists will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.
- The three winning scholarship winners will be honored at the 49th annual Carbonell Awards on November 16, 2026, at the FAU University Theatre in Boca Raton.
About the Jack Zink Memorial Scholarships: The scholarship is named for Jack Zink (1947-2008) who was a major voice in South Florida entertainment coverage for the more than three decades. During his long career, he was employed as entertainment editor, columnist, critic and reporter at each of South Florida’s major newspapers: The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The Miami Herald, The Palm Beach Post & Evening Times, and The Fort Lauderdale News. Mr. Zink was the founder and a past president of the Carbonell Awards, a past president of The American Theatre Critics Association, and was a recipient of both the Sun-Sentinel’s Fred Pettijohn Award, which is given annually to the newspaper’s top reporters, and South Florida’s prestigious George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts.
About the Hap Erstein Memorial Scholarships: Established in 2025 to honor the legacy of theater and film critic Hap Erstein, who enjoyed a long and happy career for over 40 years, first at the Washington Times in the nation’s capital and later at The Palm Beach Post and the Palm Beach Arts Paper. He also was a longtime judge for the Carbonell Awards and in 2022 was a recipient of the nonprofit organization’s prestigious Charlie Cinnamon Award for significant contributions to the arts in South Florida. Highlights from Mr. Ernstein’s career included interviews with Kennedy Center Honors recipients such as Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, and Stephen Sondheim. He loved live theatre and loved writing about it. This scholarship is given in the hope that this love is shared with the next generation.
About The Carbonell Awards: The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of
professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the excellence and diversity of our
theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation
and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. More than 30
professional theater companies in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties
participate in the awards process every year. The Carbonell Awards also celebrate the
accomplishments of local artistic leaders by presenting various Special Awards.
Along with New York’s Drama Desk and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell
Awards are among the nation’s oldest regional arts awards and predate others, including
Washington, D.C.’s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards are named after the
internationally renowned sculptor Manuel Carbonell, who designed the signature solid
bronze and marble award given annually to Carbonell Award winners. Over nearly a halfcentury, the Carbonell family has donated more than $250,000 in awards. For more
information, please visit www.carbonellawards.org.
