The Leonard L. Greif, Jr. Scholarship in Photography is awarded annually to an outstanding senior photography student. MICA's photography department allows undergraduate students the opportunity to explore all areas of photography, from alternative processes to traditional black and white, color, and digital photographic imaging. Many graduates work in such fields as studio, commercial illustration, medical, architectural, nature, magazine, digital, and editorial photography; others go on to careers as museum curators, teachers and fine artists.

Leonard L. Greif, Jr., was known for the beautiful, often imaginative portraits he took of Baltimore's brides, debutantes, and professional leaders over a career spanning more than 40 years. The window of his studio at the Village of Cross Keys displayed the results. His portraits appeared in the Baltimore Sun and occasionally in The New York Times. They have also lined corridors and offices at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Whether he was shooting a distinguished corporate executive or a nervous bride, according to his daughter, Carol Greif Sandler, the key to his success was a genuine interest in people, "He took the time in his studio to make a real connection with his subjects, and he wanted to capture them at their best. His charm, wit, banter, and joie de vivre put people at ease and produced memorable pictures." He and his wife, Ann, frequently entertained at large parties at their Baltimore home-he singing in a baritone voice, his wife playing the piano. According to son Geoffrey Greif, Leonard "spoke French and German and loved to travel. Photography was always a hobby, and he took many photographs during his travels." Another son, Stephen Greif, added, "He was interested in learning and wanted us to learn as much as we could about the world."

After serving in the Coast Guard during World War II , Leonard Greif joined the family business, a Baltimore-based clothing manufacturer. But it wasn't a good fit, according to his wife, who noted that he preferred to work on his own. He was soon in New York, taking photography courses, and then returned to open his portrait studio in Baltimore. Over the years, Leonard Greif often donated cameras and other equipment to MI CA's photography department, and after his death, through The Greif Family Fund of The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, his family gave $100,000 to endow a scholarship here. "Our father was always interested in photography as an art form, and it was important to him to share his enthusiasm with others. By establishing this scholarship in his name, we hope to encourage students at MI CA to continue in this
effort," explained Stephen Greif.