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Emporia State School of Visual + Performing Arts

Art Program Scholarships for Continuing Students

Guidelines for submitting your scholarship application

ART PROGRAM CONTINUING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2025–2026

DEADLINE: February 1, 2025

Scholarship applications will be submitted online and through the ESU Scholarship Portal. Please read the following information and follow the directions for applying through the scholarship portal. Total Financial Aid + Stackable Scholarships shall not exceed the total cost of attendance.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Applicants must be degree-seeking Art majors (BFA, BA, BS, BSE, Pre-Art Therapy) and enrolled in at least twelve credits at ESU for the next academic year. 
  • All work must have been completed in an art class at ESU. 
  • All work must have been completed between March 8, 2024, and February 1, 2025.

CONTINUING SCHOLARSHIP PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES

Scholarships are awarded based on portfolios submitted by prospective candidates. Your portfolio is very important and will be used by the Scholarship Committee to evaluate your potential. It should be a collection of your best original artwork. 

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PORTFOLIO

  • Up to ten examples of your best work. 
    • Any artwork/design created in an ESU art class. (2D artwork, 3D artwork, digital, etc.) 
    • Any research created in an ESU art class (e.g. Art Education, Art History, Pre-Art Therapy). (research paper, lesson plan, etc.) 
  • How to present artwork/designs: 
    • Each piece shall be represented on its own page. 
    • Include the following information for each work. 
      • Image(s) of work  
        • 3D pieces can include up to 3 views. 
        • 2D pieces can include a detail shot. 
      • Title 
      • Medium 
      • Dimensions 
      • Course 
      • Academic Semester Completed 
        • Example: Nude in Chair, charcoal on paper, 8”w x 10”h, Life Drawing, FA24 
        • Example: Teacup, stoneware, 5”w x 4”h x 4”d, Ceramics Wheel Throwing, SP25 
  • How to present research: 
    • Research work can be multiple pages. 
    • Include the following information for research example: 
      • Title of Project 
      • Course 
      • Academic Semester Completed 
        • Example: Middle School Relief Print Lesson Plan, Theory and Practice in Art Education, FA24 

PDF GUIDELINES

  • Create your portfolio in the software or your choice.  
    • Popular choices are PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote. 
  • Page 1: Your name, major, classification  
  • Pages 2 through the end: Examples of your work 
  • Save file as a pdf. (maximum file size is 25MB). 
    • PowerPoint: File > Compress Pictures > Picture Quality: On-screen (150ppi), then File > Save As > File Format > PDF 
    • Google Slides: File > Download > PDF, then open PDF and File > Reduce File Size 
    • Keynote: File > Reduce File Size > Reduce a Copy, then File > Export To > PDF 
  • Name the file: Lastname_Firstname_ContinuingArtScholarship25.pdf

CONTINUING SCHOLARSHIPS TIMELINE

  • February 1, 2025, 11:59PM Application Deadline 
  • April 4, 2025, Scholarship winners announced at student art show opening. 

HOW TO DOCUMENT YOUR WORK

2D WORK:

  • How to photograph 2D work with your phone
  • Small two-dimensional art is often documented by using a scanner. 
  • Large 2D work can be documented with a digital camera. 
  • Crop two-dimensional work so that the image does not include the background. 

3D WORK:

  • How to photograph 3D work with your phone
  • Photograph on a neutral background (grey, black, or white are preferred)
  • Fill the frame of the viewfinder with your art. 
  • Show two different views of the piece. 
  • Clean up background imperfections. 

ART ‘96 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2025–2026

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2025

ART ‘96 ELIGIBILITY

The Art program at Emporia State University offers the Art 96 Scholarship to an outstanding art student. Eligibility is limited to currently enrolled Art majors entering their junior or senior years and planning to be enrolled in at least twelve hours each semester of the coming school year. This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates significant artistic achievement. Total Financial Aid + Stackable Scholarships shall not exceed the total cost of attendance.

ART ‘96 PROCESS

  • The scholarship committee will choose two-four finalists. The committee will then interview the finalists and select a winner. 
  • The Art ‘96 Scholarship is awarded based on submitted portfolio and interviews. 

ART ‘96 Timeline

  • February 1, 2025, 11:59PM Application Deadline 
  • February 28, 2025, Finalists for the award contacted. 
  • March 7, 2025, Interviews of the finalists will be conducted. 
  • April 4, 2025, Art ‘96 Scholarship winner announced at student art show opening. 

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PORTFOLIO

  • Cover Letter 
    • This is a very important part of the competition. A poorly written letter can eliminate your application. Include this in the PDF Portfolio as the second page of the document. Include the following information: 
      • Name 
      • Current classification at ESU 
      • Statement of interests 
      • Goals in art 
      • Art Education applicants specify level(s) of teaching preference 
  • Up to ten examples of your best work. 
    • Any artwork/design created in an ESU art class. (2D artwork, 3D artwork, digital, etc.) 
    • Any research created in an ESU art class (e.g. Art Education, Art History, Pre-Art Therapy). (research paper, lesson plan, etc.) 
  • How to present artwork/designs: 
    • Each piece shall be represented on its own page. 
    • Include the following information for each work. 
      • Image(s) of work  
        • 3D pieces can include up to 3 views. 
        • 2D pieces can include a detail shot. 
      • Title 
      • Medium 
      • Dimensions 
      • Course 
      • Academic Semester Completed 
        • Example: Nude in Chair, charcoal on paper, 8”w x 10”h, Life Drawing, FA23 
        • Example: Teacup, stoneware, 5”w x 4”h x 4”d, Ceramics I, SP24 
  • How to present research: 
    • Research work can be multiple pages. 
    • Include the following information for research example: 
      • Title of Project 
      • Course 
      • Academic Semester Completed 
        • Example: Middle School Relief Print Lesson Plan, Theory and Practice in Art Education, FA23 

PDF GUIDELINES

  • Create your portfolio in the software or your choice.  
    • Popular choices are PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote. 
  • Page 1: Cover Letter  
  • Pages 2 through the end: Examples of your work 
  • Save file as a pdf. (maximum file size is 25MB). 
    • PowerPoint: File > Compress Pictures > Picture Quality: On-screen (150ppi), then File > Save As > File Format > PDF 
    • Google Slides: File > Download > PDF, then open PDF and File > Reduce File Size 
    • Keynote: File > Reduce File Size > Reduce a Copy, then File > Export To > PDF 
  • Name the file: Lastname_Firstname_Art96Scholarship25.pdf

HOW TO DOCUMENT YOUR WORK

2D WORK:

  • How to photograph 2D work with your phone
  • Small two-dimensional art is often documented by using a scanner. 
  • Large 2D work can be documented with a digital camera. 
  • Crop two-dimensional work so that the image does not include the background. 

3D WORK:

  • How to photograph 3D work with your phone
  • Photograph on a neutral background (grey, black, or white are preferred) 
  • Fill the frame of the viewfinder with your art. 
  • Show two different views of the piece. 
  • Clean up background imperfections. 

HOW TO APPLY 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONTACT THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE 

Jennifer Holt: jholt6@emporia.edu

John Decker: jdecker@emporia.edu

Derek Wilkinson: dwilken2@emporia.edu