Linda Rie Cohen Rising Star Award

Learn about the Linda Rie Cohen Rising Star Award.

A $10,000 Annual Endowment

LRC RISING STAR AWARD

The memory of Linda Rie Cohen, a North Fork resident and champion of the arts and sciences, is honored through an endowment established by her husband that annually recognizes the merits of a local young ‘Rising Stars’ with a $10,000 unrestricted award. The ‘Linda Rie Cohen Rising Star Award’ Committee, working alongside East End Arts & Humanities Council, Inc. (EEA), begins accepting applications for the 2024 awardee selection on March 1, 2024. The online application remains open until April 15, 2024.

Now officially in its second year, the ‘Linda Rie Cohen Rising Star Award’ provides an unrestricted award of $10,000 to a single local 16–20-year-old. “I want this award to make a difference in their future direction,” states Linda’s widower and the endowment’s founder. Selection is by committee and is subjective, not based on financial need but instead on the potential positive impact of the young talent. “We’re thrilled to work with this Rising Star Committee and help the next generation of artists, musicians, and scientists realize their dreams,” says Diane Burke, EEA Executive Director.

The 2023 award committee meticulously reviewed a dozen applications from young locals with an array of talents in art, music, dance, and innovation before giving the award to 18-year-old Orient, NY native Franklin Mastroangelo for his passion and dedication to music. In the true fashion of a rising star, Franklin put on a special performance at his award ceremony hosted at Brecknock Hall, courtesy of Peconic Landing, last June.

‘Linda Rie Cohen Rising Star Award’ candidates must be 16 – 20 years old, have a strong connection to the East End of Long Island, and demonstrate exceptional talent combined with strength and drive focused on the arts, music, and/or science. Applicants must include three (3) samples of their work, provide three (3) letters of reference, and submit three (3) essays describing why they deserve consideration and how the award would help them reach future goals. All applicants must submit via the EEA online application portal and meet all the requirements set forth. One application per person. The application portal closes at midnight on April 15, 2024 with no exceptions made for late inquiries. Awardee announced by the committee no later than June 1, 2024.

  • Applicants: Apply here.
  • Applications open: March 1, 2024
  • Applications close: April 15, 2024
  • Awardees contacted by: June 1, 2024