Ashley Williams & Hallmark Launch New Scholarship & Mentorship for 1 Lucky College Student

In a matter of weeks, one lucky college student will learn she’s the recipient of Hallmark Media’s first-ever Make Her Mark Student Scholarship. But first — she has to apply! Announced in April 2025, the deadline to apply is May 22.

Created in partnership with the Alliance for Women in the Media (AWM), which hosts the annual Gracie Awards, the $7,500 scholarship will be awarded to one creative, female student who’s pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. It comes with a mentorship session for the winning student with Hallmark actress, producer, and director Ashley Williams.

Make Her Mark Scholarship Submissions Must Include Sample Work & Letter of Recommendation

The new scholarship is part of the Make Her Mark program that Williams spearheaded at Hallmark to provide mentorship and opportunities for female directors.

“Make Her Mark is about offering education to up and coming directors through on the job experience. We give these aspiring women their first ‘yes’ and then ensure that during their first opportunity behind the camera, they are supported and set up for success,” she said in a statement. “We’re incredibly proud to collaborate with AWM on this scholarship opportunity and to celebrate our shared goal of uplifting and empowering women in media.”

Now, a college student who aspires to follow in their footsteps will get a little help from her Hallmark friends. The $7,500 reward will be paid directly to the student’s educational institution for the 2025 fall semester, according to submission materials.

The recipient will also get a one-hour virtual mentorship session with Williams and a ticket to attend the 50th Annual Gracie Awards Luncheon in June, where the winner will be announced, though travel to New York is not included.

Interested students must complete a submission form, provide a letter of recommendation from a professor or journalism/communications profession, proof of their college enrollment, and a sample of their work from a college class.

Ashley Williams’ Make Her Mark Program Continues to Grow at Hallmark

When Williams brought the idea of Make Her Mark to Hallmark executives, just eight out of its 100 movies that year were directed by women, she said during a Facebook Live kickoff discussion in early 2023. That disparity has been common in the filmmaking industry, she said, and her goal at the time was to help Hallmark eventually reach “50/50 parity.”

Actress Crystal Lowe was named in February 2023 as the inaugural participant, invited to shadow established director Jessica Harmon on the set of “Dream Moms,” a movie starring Tamera Mowry-Housley and Chelsea Hobbs. She has since directed numerous other Hallmark films, and new aspiring directors have joined the program, too.

In the spring of 2024, Hallmark announced its next two female directors accepted into the Make Her Mark: Kay Metchie and Eva Tavares, who fans may recognize from her multiple Hallmark roles, including in the “Christmas on Cherry Lane” movies.

Metchie recently shadowed director Mike Rohl on set of Hallmark Mystery’s “The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening.” Tavares, meanwhile, shadowed longtime director Peter Benson on a Christmas movie, though it’s not clear which movie she got to work on.

Williams recently told EntertaimentNOW she expects more aspiring directors to be invited into the program in 2025.