For students outstanding in their fields

Yeah, we said that... but seriously folks, the outstanding accomplishments in art, design and scholarly research deserve to be rewarded with scholarships and awards for our department’s students.

Additional sources of funding include work-study employment within the department and campus-wide, and structured internship programs provide for on-the-job experiences in certain majors. Internships have been served worldwide.

Application Information 

For Currently Enrolled Students: Follow this link to ASAP (Appalachian Scholarship Application Portal). 

Art Education, Art History, Art Management, Graphic Design and Studio Art Majors

Applicants must meet all of the eligibility requirements of each scholarship for which they apply. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled as full-time students each semester in which they expect to receive the scholarship. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Contact Anna Buckner at bucknerad@appstate.edu if you have any questions. 

Commercial Photography Majors

Contact Chip Williams if you have any questions. 

Graphic Communications Management Majors

Contact Dr. Bruce Meyers if you have any questions. 

A three-panel oil painting of a nude figure lying horizontally across the canvases, the body painted in shifting rainbow hues of yellow, green, blue, and pink against a white background. A pink animal-like form looms above the reclining figure.

Lulu Nowicki
Close-up of a ceramic figure’s head with drooping ears, painted tears, textured skin, and colorful flowers sprouting from the top.

A Portrait in Flux [ Detail ]

Bugz Vargas Gallimore
A hand draws a wide brush loaded with blue dye across a piece of fabric, with torn scraps of pink and yellow cloth on the white work surface.
A person wearing a large, hand-painted paper mache head resembling a bird with brown and white feathers and a pointed beak, performing in front of a wall with the “CROSSROADS” logo, dressed in black with white gloves.

Opportunities and Eligibility Requirements

Any Art Major

Petschauer-Polson Penland Scholarship (Peter & Joni Petschauer, Peggy Polson)
Award
  • One 2-week summer workshop residency at Penland School
Eligibility 
  • Rising Sophomore or Rising Junior in any degree track with emphasis and/or prior experience in media offered at Penland.
  • Have not previously been a student or assistant at Penland
  • 3.0 Overall GPA; 3.4 GPA in Art Courses
Martin and Doris Rosen Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Rising Junior or Rising Senior Art Major (all degree programs)
  • 3.0 Overall GPA 
The Randolph A Johnson Scholarship Endowment for Art
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Students who are majoring in art at Appalachian State University 

Art & Visual Culture Majors (with concentrations in Art History, Art Management and Studio Art)

Peggy Polson Art Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Open to Art and Visual Culture majors (Art History, Art Management, BA Studio Art), BFA Art Education, BFA Graphic Design, and BFA Studio Art majors
  • Sophomore standing or above during the award year (could be a first year student when applying)
  • 3.0 overall GPA
  • Art History majors must have completed a minimum of six hours of Art History coursework and submit an art history research paper. The paper should have been produced as part of the applicant’s art history studies at ASU. It is permissible to rework a paper before submitting it.

Art Education Majors

Peggy Polson Art Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Open to Art and Visual Culture majors (Art History, Art Management, BA Studio Art), BFA Art Education, BFA Graphic Design, and BFA Studio Art majors
  • Sophomore standing or above during the award year (could be a first year student when applying)
  • 3.0 overall GPA
  • Art History majors must have completed a minimum of six hours of Art History coursework 
Steele-Reese Fund Scholarship to Penland
Award
  • Full scholarship for a workshop residency at Penland
Eligibility
  • Rising Sophomore or Rising Junior majoring in Art Education
  • 3.0 Overall GPA; 3.4 GPA in Art Courses
Eva H. Burress Memorial Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Rising Junior or Rising Senior BFA Studio or Art Education Major
  • 3.0 Overall GPA

Commercial Photography Majors

Open to students earning a BS in Commercial Photography. For more information, contact Chip Williams at williamsch1@appstate.edu.

Maren S. Robinson Photography Scholarship
Award
  • $1,000 in scholarship support for senior year
Eligibility
  • Rising senior and declared Commercial Photography major  
  • Preference given to a rising senior who remains in good academic standing with the University
  • Strong preference given to applicants on the Dean’s List
  • Recipient must be a resident of North Carolina
  • The recipient’s work will be on permanent display throughout their senior year at a location to be determined by the Commercial Photography program.
John Scarlata Memorial Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Junior level or higher status
  • Declared Commercial Photography major
  • 3.0 GPA or higher 

Graphic Communications Management Majors

Open to students earning a BS in Graphic Communications Management. For more information, contact George Glisan at glisangb@appstate.edu.

NAPCO
Awards
  • Two scholarships awarded per year
  • Amount to be announced
  • Renewable to students who maintain their eligibility
Eligibility
  • rising junior or senior
  • full time (12 semester hours) students
  • Graphic Communications Management major
  • minimum GPA of 2.7 overall and 3.0 within their major
GCM Advisory Board / John E. Thomas Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
  • Renewable to students who maintain their eligibility
Eligibility
  • Full time (12 semester hours) students
  • Graphic Communications Management major
  • Minimum GPA of 2.7 overall and 3.0 within their major
Joe L. Seaman Memorial Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
  • Renewable to students who maintain their eligibility
Eligibility
  • Rising Junior or Senior
  • Graphic Communications Management major
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
John R. Gordon Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
  • Renewable to students who maintain their eligibility
Eligibility
  • Full time (12 semester hours) students
  • Graphic Communications Management major
  • Minimum GPA of 2.7 overall and 3.0 within their major
Katherine Harper Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Priority is given to children of employees of Harper Corporation, followed by students majoring in Graphic Communications Management
Peter Krusa B. Memorial Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Full time (12 semester hours) students
  • Graphic Communications Management major
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5 (3.0 Grade Point Average is preferred)
Robert A. Banzhaf Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Full time (12 semester hours) students
  • Graphic Communications Management major
  • Minimum GPA of 2.7 overall and 3.0 within their major
William Marvin Reese Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Full time (12 semester hours) students
  • Graphic Communications Management major
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5 (3.0 Grade Point Average is preferred)
Printing Industry of the Carolinas
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Graphic Communications Management major
  • GPA of 3.0 GPA or better, or 3.25 GPA for incoming freshman

Graphic Design Majors

Peggy Polson Art Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Open to Art and Visual Culture majors (Art History, Art Management, BA Studio Art), BFA Art Education, BFA Graphic Design, and BFA Studio Art majors
  • Sophomore standing or above during the award year (could be a first year student when applying)
  • 3.0 overall GPA
  • Art History majors must have completed a minimum of six hours of Art History coursework
Marilyn C. Smith Travel Endowment

Scholarship support to provide educational travel opportunities for students majoring in Graphic Design. 

Award
  • Varies
Eligibility
  • Open to BFA Graphic Design majors
  • Must be enrolled full-time
  • 3.0 overall minimum GPA

BFA Studio Art Majors

Eva H. Burress Memorial Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Rising Junior or Rising Senior BFA Studio or Art Education Major
  • 3.0 Overall GPA
Jaroslav & Jarmelia Kabatnik Memorial Scholarship
Award
  • Award amount to be announced
  • Recipient must arrange local exhibition of their work at end of year
Eligibility
  • Rising Junior, Rising Senior, or Entering Freshman BA or BFA Studio Major
  • 3.0 Overall GPA, 3.5 GPA in Art Courses
Sherry Edwards Memorial Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Rising Junior or Rising Senior
  • BA or BFA Studio Art major with a emphasis in Sculpture
  • 3.0 Overall GPA
  • Student must complete one sculpture course during the award year
Peggy Polson Art Scholarship
Award
  • Amount to be announced
Eligibility
  • Open to Art and Visual Culture majors (Art History, Art Management, BA Studio Art), BFA Art Education, BFA Graphic Design, and BFA Studio Art majors
  • Sophomore standing or above during the award year (could be a first year student when applying)
  • 3.0 overall GPA
  • Art History majors must have completed a minimum of six hours of Art History coursework  
Marianne Stevens Suggs Travel Award for Fibers
Award
  • Amount to be announced
  • Funding is for student travel opportunities
Eligibility
  • Rising junior or senior
  • Declared major in Art with a strong grounding in Fibers
  • Minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0
  • Must be enrolled in at least one Fibers course in the year the award is received
Judy Humphrey Travel Award for Printmaking
Award
  • Amount to be announced
  • Funding is for Department of Art sponsored student travel opportunities
Eligibility
  • Junior or senior
  • Declared major in BFA Studio Art with a concentration in Printmaking
  • Minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0
  • Must be enrolled in at least one Printmaking course in the year the award is received

I have gained the confidence and skills to explore ideas and themes close to my heart. I am  more outspoken about the themes and validity of my work.

Rachel Merritt