Scholarships
Scholarships and Awards in the School of Art
Students in the School of Art can receive merit- and need-based aid through the following scholarship opportunities. All scholarships are awarded through the Student Financial Aid Office.
Applicants must have a current FAFSA on file in the Student Financial Aid Office before applying for School of Art scholarships.
You must be registered full-time during the semester for which the scholarship is awarded. In the spring, the Scholarship Committee considers applications for fall of the coming academic year; in the fall, the committee considers applications for the coming spring semester.
Scholarships are available for both current and incoming students.
Questions about School of Art scholarships? Contact Lisa Everson, administrative clerk, at lheld2 [at] kent.edu or 330-672-1351.
Current Students
SCHOLARSHIPS for Spring 2020
Applications will open on September 3, 2019.
Deadline is October 18, 2019 by 11 p.m.
How to Prepare a Digital Portfolio
UNDERGRADUATE ART SCHOLARSHIP
Multiple awards to art majors in any discipline awarded based on:
- One of the following samples of work created while enrolled in the School of Art
- Studio majors will submit a digital portfolio of 10-15 works (see application for details on file type requirements)
- Art history majors will submit a research paper
- Art education majors may submit a digital portfolio of 10 personal works, a research paper, or a lesson plan
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Financial need
VINCENT J. STARK SCHOLARSHIP
Two $1500 awards are available, one for a junior or senior B.F.A. student in painting and/or drawing and one for a M.F.A. student in painting and/or drawing.
Awarded based on:
- a digital painting and/or drawing portfolio of up to 10 works created while enrolled in the School of Art (see application for file type requirements)
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
The Frank D. Susi Scholarship in Art Education
One $800 tuition scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate Art Education major who shows financial need and meets the following requirements.
- Minimum 3.2 GPA
- In student teaching during the semester of the award
- Current FAFSA on file with Student Aid
No Application Required. Art Education Faculty will recommend qualified students.
Incoming Students
Fall 2020 Scholarships
GRAHAM FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
Award of $7,500/year ** for an incoming student who will graduate or has graduated from a Carroll County (Ohio) high school.
- outstanding high school credentials
- portfolio
Please contact lheld2 [at] kent.edu (Lisa Everson) for application instructions.
Elmer, Virginia & Karen Novotny Scholarship
$2,500 award (disbursed over two semesters) for an incoming first-year major of any discipline in the School of Art.
Award recipient will be determined by nomination.
Dr. Emily Farnham Graduate Scholarship in Art History
Award of $500-$1,700 per semester, renewable for a second semester upon reapplication, for an incoming graduate student in art history. Requires strong credentials in art history, a sample of research writing and a statement of intent for M.A. study. Contact gmedicus [at] kent.edu (Gustav Medicus) for application instructions.
** "Renewable" - may be awarded upon subsequent reapplication, given strong academic progress toward degree and continued minimum award GPA.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FALL 2020
Application period for Fall 2019 scholarships will open on January 21, 2020.
Applicants must have a current FAFSA on file in the Student Financial Aid Office before applying for School of Art scholarships.
Deadline is March 6, 2020.
An awards ceremony will take place in April. More details TBA.
How to Prepare a Digital Portfolio
Open to all majors:
First-Year Art Scholarship
Multiple awards in varying amounts totaling $4000. Open to all majors completing their first year. Awarded based on:
- a portfolio of 10 works created while enrolled at KSU or, for art history and art education majors, a research paper created while enrolled at KSU
- 3.0 or higher GPA
- financial need.
Denise Rhea-Adams Scholarship
Applicants must be planning to study abroad in one of two categories:
1. School of Art semester abroad in Florence in Fall 2019. Multiple awards available in varying amounts, totaling $10,000.
2. Summer Institute in Florence or other study abroad through Global Education in Summer/Fall 2019 or Spring 2020.
Applicants must also meet these requirements:
- Junior or senior standing
- 3.0 or higher GPA
- Statement in which applicant outlines how study abroad will impact current studies and career plans
- Statement should indicate which scholarship category you are applying for from the above options.
Studio Art:
Marjorie L. Collins Scholarship
One year full in-state tuition scholarship** (or $10,012 toward out-of-state tuition) & 2 $2500 scholarships
awarded based on:
- B.F.A. major in any Studio Art discipline in the School of Art
- outstanding portfolio of 15-20 works created at KSU
- 3.0 or higher GPA and good academic progress
- financial need
Vincent J. Stark Scholarship
One $1500 award for a junior or senior B.F.A. student majoring in painting and/or drawing and one $1500 award to M.F.A. student in painting/drawing.
Awarded based on:
- a portfolio of 10 works created at KSU
- 3.0 or higher GPA
The Nancy Oldham Seibert Art Scholarship in Painting (New!)
One $2000 award for an undergraduate painting major in the School of Art.
- portfolio of 10 works created at KSU
- 3.0 or higher GPA
- Full-time student majoring in Painting
- 2019/20 FAFSA on file with Financial Aid
Richard R. Sweet Memorial Scholarship in Art and Design
One $1000 award for a student enrolled as a print media and photography, painting, drawing or sculpture major or minor. Awarded based on:
- Must be a graduate of a Portage County high school
- Full-time student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Digital portfolio and cover letter
Art Education:
Carol Klingel Scholarship for Art Education
One scholarship award of $1,000 for:
- art education major
- junior or senior standing
- minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Awarded based on essay explaining "Why I Want to Teach Art"
The Frank D. Susi Scholarship in Art Education
One $800 tuition scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate Art Education major who shows financial need and meets the following requirements.
- Minimum 3.2 GPA
- In student teaching during the semester of the award
- Current FAFSA on file with Student Aid
No application required. Art Education faculty will recommend qualified students.
Jack and Dora Tippens Scholarship in Foundations
$500 award for a student exhibiting outstanding work in the Foundations Show, as judged by Foundations faculty.
Prizes and Residencies:
Prizes and residencies open to current students.
Deadline is March 15, 2019 at 5 p.m.
Anthony Bartholomew / Zygote Press Residency
A residency opportunity provided by Cleveland's Zygote Press in memory of KSU printmaking alumnus Anthony Bartholomew. The two-week residency takes place at Zygote in June, with a $500 stipend.
- Awarded to graduating senior based on a physical portfolio of at least 10 works.
Portfolios are to be delivered to the Print studio (CVA, 3rd Floor).
Contact Taryn McMahon at tmcmaho5 [at] kent.edu with any questions. Deadline is March 15, 2019 at 5 p.m.
THOMAS D. LITTLE PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRINTMAKING
Created in memory of master printer Thomas D. Little, KSU art student in the mid-1970s. Two awards (one undergraduate, one graduate) totaling $4,000 given based on:
- a physical portfolio (not digital) of prints
Portfolios are to be delivered to the Print studio (CVA, 3rd Floor).
Contact Taryn McMahon at tmcmaho5 [at] kent.edu with any questions. Deadline is March 15, 2019 at 5 p.m.