Artstarts Company’s
Rebecca J. O'Neill Scholarship
Application Criteria
Who is eligible to apply? Eligible students are those students who graduated from high school in 2021 or who are graduating from high school in 2022 who reside in one of the following counties: Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, and Williamson.
Students who plan to pursue, or are pursuing, a college education in a field of art such as performing arts, music, dance, theater, film, writing, painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic design, or any other form of creative art are eligible to apply.
The Scholarship Committee will give weight to the student’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of art. For example, if a student desires to pursue a degree in performing arts, the committee will consider the student’s previous participation in the performing arts. If a student desires to pursue a music degree, the committee will consider the student’s participation in various forms of music, both instrumental and vocal. If a student desires to pursue an art degree, the committee will consider the student’s participation in art exhibits and art competitions, and may consider viewing the student’s artwork. If a student desires to pursue a degree in photography or film, the committee will consider the student’s demonstrated work in these areas.
The Scholarship Committee will also give special consideration to the applicant’s participation in any programs offered by Artstarts Company. For example, in the Fall of 2019, Artstarts Company produced Frozen Jr.. If the applicant participated in this musical as a cast member or helped with the productions through direction, stage management, set build or design, or designed artwork for the musical or production, the applicant’s participation or contribution toward the production would be given special consideration toward selection of that person for the scholarship. Lack of participation in any Artstarts Company program, will not disqualify a student from receiving the scholarship.
The Executive Board of Artstarts Company will also take into consideration the conduct of candidates for initial scholarships and continuing scholarships. Since Artstarts takes pride in recognizing upstanding young citizens, the Executive Board may take into consideration instances of inappropriate behavior that may bring negative attention to the recipient of this scholarship and the Artstarts organization. In turn, the Executive Board will share all instances of misconduct with the Scholarship Committee and will take any and all actions necessary to revoke or deny a scholarship if it deems it necessary. The Scholarship Committee will not be involved in these actions. The purpose of the Scholarship Committee is to research the scholarship applications and select the winner of said scholarships(s).
The Scholarship Committee will ultimately choose the student that has met the above criteria and whom the committee determines has most demonstrated excellence and made a substantial contribution to the community of Southern Illinois by sharing his or her talent with the community. The student(s) selected for this scholarship will be eligible to be considered for a continuing scholarship to be used toward his or her pursuit of a college degree in an art related field. To be considered for a continuing scholarship, the student must apply for a continuing scholarship by February 1, each year following his or her initial award of the scholarship. The award of the continuing scholarship will be based upon the student’s progress toward his or her college degree and academic success in his or her chosen arts related field. The student must maintain, at a minimum, a C average and have no failing grades each semester to be awarded a continuing scholarship. Continuing scholarships will be awarded each semester and the student must submit grades to the committee for approval of the scholarship for the upcoming semester. Grades should be submitted to the committee no later than 2 weeks after grades are issued by the college or university the recipient attends. Continuing scholarships will also be based upon Artstarts Company’s ability to fund continuing scholarships.
To be eligible for a continuing Artstarts scholarship, recipients of the scholarship are asked to continue to GIVE BACK to the Southern Illinois arts community by volunteering 25 hours each year toward programming offered by Artstarts Company. This work must be approved by the President of Artstarts or the Artstarts Executive Board.
The deadline for applications for 2022 Scholarship: March 1, 2022
To apply: students must send a letter postmarked by March 1, 2022, to Artstarts Company, P. O. Box 1005, Marion, IL 62959. There will be no exceptions to this deadline. The letter should describe the student’s experience and how the student has demonstrated a commitment to his or her chosen field of art. The student should explain whether he or she has participated in any of the programs offered by Artstarts Company. Finally, the student should explain how he or she has contributed to the community of Southern Illinois through his or her work in art or performing arts. Should the scholarship committee determine a need to view the applicant’s artwork or interview the student, the student must cooperate in making his or her work available for the committee to view and/or to being interviewed during a reasonable time period. Scholarship applicants are encouraged to submit resumes and references to accompany their letters of application.
The scholarship awards will be made payable to the educational institution that the student attends for the benefit of the recipient.
If you have specific questions, you should consider e-mailing us at [email protected] or calling us at 618 694-1699 (Artstarts).
Artstarts Company is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charity
P. O. Box 1005, Marion, IL 62959
[email protected]
Students who plan to pursue, or are pursuing, a college education in a field of art such as performing arts, music, dance, theater, film, writing, painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic design, or any other form of creative art are eligible to apply.
The Scholarship Committee will give weight to the student’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of art. For example, if a student desires to pursue a degree in performing arts, the committee will consider the student’s previous participation in the performing arts. If a student desires to pursue a music degree, the committee will consider the student’s participation in various forms of music, both instrumental and vocal. If a student desires to pursue an art degree, the committee will consider the student’s participation in art exhibits and art competitions, and may consider viewing the student’s artwork. If a student desires to pursue a degree in photography or film, the committee will consider the student’s demonstrated work in these areas.
The Scholarship Committee will also give special consideration to the applicant’s participation in any programs offered by Artstarts Company. For example, in the Fall of 2019, Artstarts Company produced Frozen Jr.. If the applicant participated in this musical as a cast member or helped with the productions through direction, stage management, set build or design, or designed artwork for the musical or production, the applicant’s participation or contribution toward the production would be given special consideration toward selection of that person for the scholarship. Lack of participation in any Artstarts Company program, will not disqualify a student from receiving the scholarship.
The Executive Board of Artstarts Company will also take into consideration the conduct of candidates for initial scholarships and continuing scholarships. Since Artstarts takes pride in recognizing upstanding young citizens, the Executive Board may take into consideration instances of inappropriate behavior that may bring negative attention to the recipient of this scholarship and the Artstarts organization. In turn, the Executive Board will share all instances of misconduct with the Scholarship Committee and will take any and all actions necessary to revoke or deny a scholarship if it deems it necessary. The Scholarship Committee will not be involved in these actions. The purpose of the Scholarship Committee is to research the scholarship applications and select the winner of said scholarships(s).
The Scholarship Committee will ultimately choose the student that has met the above criteria and whom the committee determines has most demonstrated excellence and made a substantial contribution to the community of Southern Illinois by sharing his or her talent with the community. The student(s) selected for this scholarship will be eligible to be considered for a continuing scholarship to be used toward his or her pursuit of a college degree in an art related field. To be considered for a continuing scholarship, the student must apply for a continuing scholarship by February 1, each year following his or her initial award of the scholarship. The award of the continuing scholarship will be based upon the student’s progress toward his or her college degree and academic success in his or her chosen arts related field. The student must maintain, at a minimum, a C average and have no failing grades each semester to be awarded a continuing scholarship. Continuing scholarships will be awarded each semester and the student must submit grades to the committee for approval of the scholarship for the upcoming semester. Grades should be submitted to the committee no later than 2 weeks after grades are issued by the college or university the recipient attends. Continuing scholarships will also be based upon Artstarts Company’s ability to fund continuing scholarships.
To be eligible for a continuing Artstarts scholarship, recipients of the scholarship are asked to continue to GIVE BACK to the Southern Illinois arts community by volunteering 25 hours each year toward programming offered by Artstarts Company. This work must be approved by the President of Artstarts or the Artstarts Executive Board.
The deadline for applications for 2022 Scholarship: March 1, 2022
To apply: students must send a letter postmarked by March 1, 2022, to Artstarts Company, P. O. Box 1005, Marion, IL 62959. There will be no exceptions to this deadline. The letter should describe the student’s experience and how the student has demonstrated a commitment to his or her chosen field of art. The student should explain whether he or she has participated in any of the programs offered by Artstarts Company. Finally, the student should explain how he or she has contributed to the community of Southern Illinois through his or her work in art or performing arts. Should the scholarship committee determine a need to view the applicant’s artwork or interview the student, the student must cooperate in making his or her work available for the committee to view and/or to being interviewed during a reasonable time period. Scholarship applicants are encouraged to submit resumes and references to accompany their letters of application.
The scholarship awards will be made payable to the educational institution that the student attends for the benefit of the recipient.
If you have specific questions, you should consider e-mailing us at [email protected] or calling us at 618 694-1699 (Artstarts).
Artstarts Company is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charity
P. O. Box 1005, Marion, IL 62959
[email protected]