SOA Scholarships

School of Art scholarship applications for returning students will open in ScholarshipUniverse each academic year in spring semester. To be considered for need-based scholarships, it is recommended that students submit FAFSA information to UC. Scholarship recipients will be notified via UC email in early to mid-May.

These scholarships are available to students currently enrolled at DAAP; incoming freshman or transfer students are not eligible.

Scholarships marked with an asterisk (*) have separate applications processes. Please view the scholarship’s description for more information.

Travel money is allocated for Master of Arts in Art Education graduate students and Pre-Art and Design Education Licensure certificate students who have been invited to present at a recognized academic conference. Scholarship will be applied to your student account once travel is complete and after recipient has provided a brief description of the recipient’s role in the conference along with any photographs for potential publication on social media.

Amount
Up to $200 per award as long as funds are available.

Eligibility

Full time students in any of the below programs in good academic standing who will be traveling to present at a conference in their field of study:

1. Master of Arts in Art Education

2. Pre-Art and Design Education Licensure

Submit
Email request to daapsoa@uc.edu. Please include evidence of the invitation to exhibit or present, and a letter of support from at least one ARTE faculty.

This scholarship is for underrepresented educators committed to applying the principles of diversity and inclusion in the classroom and beyond. It has been supported by Rosemary and Mark Schlachter.

Amount
Variable

Eligibility
Students accepted into the MA AE Summer Intensive program or Summer Institute.

Submit
To apply for the scholarship, please submit a letter of intent, up to 250 words, and a CV to the School of Art office (daapsoa@uc.edu).

The Beverly Helmbold Erschell Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to a School of Art graduate student who displays exceptional academic and creative excellence. Applicants will be required to submit ten images of their strongest work along with the DAAP scholarship application.

This scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Jonathan Riess, a longtime professor of art history in DAAP.

Dr. Jonathan B. Riess (1947-2006) was a beloved teacher, colleague, and scholar of Italian Renaissance art and the Arts and Crafts movement at the University of Cincinnati for 30 years. His students and peers have established this fund to honor his legacy and provide the first-ever tuition scholarship for undergraduate art history majors at UC.

This fund provides scholarships to art history students who demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to the field, leadership and service.

The recipient(s) of this scholarship is to be chosen based on academic merit.

Grover C. Thomas was the son of an Armco Steel Company machinist and his wife, Mr. & Mrs. A. A. Thomas, and a graduate of Middletown High School. He served in Europe during the second World War as a member of the U.S. Army's 78th (Lightning) Infantry Division and was awarded the bronze star for actions during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he briefly attended the University of Cincinnati studying art, before moving to New York City to live and work for a time. He returned to Middletown and went to work for Armco where he remained for over 30 years in different jobs in Middletown and Columbus, Ohio. After retiring, he traveled around the world with his wife, Martha Miltenberger Thomas; worked as a volunteer at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus; and was an important member and officer of the Columbus Calligraphy Guild. Art was an important part of his life, whether doing work on company items for his offices at Armco or painting and calligraphy in retirement. He was recognized for his lifetime contributions by the Columbus Calligraphy Guild at a special ceremony in 2010. His love of art is carried on by his children and grandchildren, and his family hopes this scholarship will allow others to do the same in the future.

Amount
$1000

Eligibility
School of Art majors and minors in DAAP, with preference to students from Middletown High School, and/or those who have demonstrated financial need.

This travel fellowship fund is available for fine arts or art history juniors who wish to travel during break.

Recipient will be required to submit a 3-5 page synopsis of their experiences gained through the assistance of the fellowship within 30 days of travel completion. The donor will receive a copy of this paper.

In addition to the DAAP scholarship application, students will submit a letter of intent, an itinerary, and a budget for their travel experience.

The Kristi A. Nelson Scholarship in Art History supports students in the art history undergraduate degree program in the School of Art. Eligible students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the School of Art at DAAP. Students with financial need will be given preference.

The Mary Ann Meanwell Art History Research Support Fund was established to be used to support student research in art history. Student must be an art history major in the School of Art at DAAP. Non-traditional students with financial need will be given preference.

The intent of this award is to expand students' experience and professional knowledge of artistic practices. The grant is for independent international travel and study (not for faculty-led credit bearing programs). One grant will be awarded annually.

The award amount varies, but it will not exceed $5000.

Eligibility:

  • Must be a junior in the fine art program and on track for graduation
  • Recipients must be on a path to receive a BFA degree at the University of Cincinnati during the academic year immediately following travel.
  • Preference given to students who are United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
  • Recipients must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above in all DAAP course work with no incomplete grades at the time of application.

Submit:

In addition to the DAAP scholarship application, students will need to submit a proposal that includes the following information:

  • Travel proposal and statement of educational justification
  • Travel itinerary
  • Travel budget
  • Supporting information (brochures, price quotes, railway schedules, etc.)
  • Names of two SOA faculty recommenders

The intent of this award is to expand students' experience and professional knowledge of artistic practices. The grant is for independent international travel and study (not for faculty-led credit bearing programs). One grant will be awarded annually.

The award amount varies, but it will not exceed $5000.

Eligibility:

  • Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to first-year MF A students.
  • Recipients must be on a path to receive a MFA degree at the University of Cincinnati during the academic year immediately following travel.
  • Preference given to students who are United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
  • Recipients must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above in all DAAP course work with no incomplete grades at the time of application.

Submit:

In addition to the DAAP scholarship application, students will need to submit a proposal that includes the following information:

  • Travel proposal and statement of educational justification
  • Travel itinerary
  • Travel budget
  • Supporting information (brochures, price quotes, railway schedules, etc.)
  • Names of two SOA faculty recommenders

The intent of this award is to expand the professional knowledge of students in fine arts by subsidizing some of their expenses to conferences sponsored by the International Sculpture Center and the College Art Association.

Amount depends on the itinerary; with a cap of $500 per student. Awards are made only for

transportation and conference registration, not food and lodging. Under special conditions, the Dean of DAAP, and Director of the School of Art, may approve a proposal for group travel. A group proposal must be initiated by students and approved by a member of the faculty who is an active member of the professional association.

Eligibility:

  • Full time students who are; (a) juniors and majoring in fine art, or (b) first year graduate students enrolled in the MF A program.
  • Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in fine arts courses and be in good standing (no incomplete in courses)
  • Must be members of the organization sponsoring the conference.
  • The grant cannot be used to purchase a student membership.

Submit: Students will work with the faculty who is an active member of the professional association to create a proposal. The faculty member will then submit the proposal to the School of Art at daapsoa@uc.edu

The intent of this fellowship is to honor an outstanding junior-level student and to facilitate completion of the student's senior year of BF A studies. One award will be given annually.

Amount: A one-time grant of $10,000 will be awarded

Eligibility:

  • Preference given to students who are United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
  • Recipient must be a full-time student and on track to receive a BFA during the academic year of the award.
  • Recipient must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above in all DAAP course work with no "incompletes" recorded.
  • Demonstrated merit should be evident in the applicant's distinctive approach to visual art and mastery of a technique.
  • Student must have demonstrated financial need.

The intent of this fellowship is to facilitate completion of MFA studies to the highest level before pursuing a professional career. One award will be given annually.

Award: A one-time grant of $10,000 will be awarded.

Eligibility:

  • Preference given to students who are United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
  • Recipients must be a full-time graduate student and on track to receive a MFA during the academic year of the award.
  • Recipient must have a cumulative grade point average of 3 .5 or above in all DAAP course work with no "incompletes" recorded.
  • Demonstrated merit should be evident in the applicant's distinctive approach to visual art, mastery of a technique, and readiness to make to professional contribution to the visual arts.

The purpose of the School of Art Student Emergency Fund is to offer financial assistance for students facing a death in the family, an uninsured medical emergency, a temporary loss of housing due to fire, and/or a similar catastrophe.

Amount: The one-time maximum award is $750 per student

Eligibility:

  • Must have completed at least one semester of study at UC
  • Be registered for full-time enrollment (12 or more hours for undergraduate students; 10 hours for graduate students) during the semester that the funds are needed
  • Provide written documentation of the emergency
  • Have a minimum 2.5 GPA and no outstanding incomplete grades in courses
  • Recipient cannot have received a prior grant from this fund

The Robert Fabe/Cook-Trane Fine Arts Award assists students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program and is given each year to the student(s) judged during Foundations Review.

Eligibility
Bachelor of Fine Arts students participating in the Foundations Review in April.

Information 
School of Art 
6431 Aronoff 
513-556-2962 
daapsoa@uc.edu

This scholarship was created to support a student studying fine art. Underrepresented students in the college and in the fine art program and those with demonstrated financial need will be given preference.

Travel money for students who have been invited to exhibit their artwork in museums, galleries or the public sphere, or who are presenting at a conference that is recognized by the academic community.  Scholarship will be applied to the recipient’s student account after travel is complete and after recipient has provided receipts for travel and exhibition/conference fees, a brief description of the exhibition or conference and the recipient’s role in it, and photographs of the exhibition or conference to daapsoa@uc.edu. This information may also be published on social media at the Director’s discretion.

Amount 
Up to $200 per award as long as funds are available.

Eligibility 
Full time students in any of the below programs in good academic standing who will be traveling to present to a conference in their field of study.

  • Bachelor in Fine Arts
  • Bachelor in Art History
  • Master of Arts in Art Education
  • Master of Fine Arts

Submit 
Email request to daapsoa@uc.edu. Please include evidence of the invitation to exhibit or present, & a letter of support by at least one SOA faculty.

Information 
School of Art 
Aronoff 6431 
513-556-2962
daapsoa@uc.edu

Financial support for students when available. Scholarship proceeds will be applied to the recipient’s student account.

Amount
Varies.

Eligibility
Full time students in any of the below programs in good academic standing.

  • Bachelor in Fine Arts
  • Bachelor in Art History
  • Master of Arts in Art Education
  • Master of Fine Arts

Submit

Information
School of Art
Aronoff 6431
513-556-2962 

This fund was established to provide support for materials, travel, and/or other research needs to student(s) who are underrepresented in the School of Art.

Eligible students must maintain a GPA of a 3.0 or higher.

In addition to the DAAP scholarship application, students will need to submit a proposal and budget for their materials, travel and/or research needs.

The Jane Alden Stevens Art Materials Scholarship was established to help School of Art Fine Art students purchase materials and supplies to further artistic research in the College of DAAP. Materials and supplies can be defined as any resource used by an art student to create artwork. The award is based on the excellence of artwork shown at the Undergraduate Review and an essay outlining why they need financial assistance. Once a student is selected, he/she will receive the award over the course of his/her remaining terms of study in the Fine Arts program.

Eligibility
Undergraduate Review participants in the School of Art with a minimum 3.2 GPA.

Submit
Email the following as one pdf file to 
daapsoa@uc.edu:

  • Digital portfolio containing 10-15 examples of your best artwork
  • Essay outlining financial need

Deadline
Materials must be submitted by October 24, 2023 at noon

Information
School of Art 
6431 Aronoff 
513-556-2962 
daapsoa@uc.edu

The Martin Tucker Travel Scholarship is for fine art students in the School of Art who have participated in the annual New York Trip, and display exceptional academic excellence. 

Amount 
$500

Eligibility
School of Art students who participated in the annual NY Trip. 

Submit 
Email a statement to the School of Art (daapsoa@uc.edu) by September 15, demonstrating how the NY Trip affected you as an artist or in your artwork.

Information
School of Art
6431 Aronoff
513-556-2962
daapsoa@uc.edu

The William and Mary Bonansinga Scholarship supports School of Art students at the undergraduate and graduate levels who display exceptional academic excellence.

Traveling fellowships of up to $2,500 are available each year, and are awarded on a competitive basis, to either juniors or first-year graduate students in fine arts, for national or international travel. The fellowships made possible by the Isabel Meta Wolfstein Fine Arts Fund are awarded based on submission of travel itineraries and statements of relevance by qualified applicants.

*If you receive this award you agree to have your application held in the School of Art office for future applicants to review up to 5 years.

Amount 
Up to $2500

Eligibility 
Bachelor of Fine Arts junior or first year Master of Fine Arts graduate student for travel during the summer.

Submit
In addition to the DAAP scholarship application, students will need to submit a proposal that includes the following information:

  • Travel proposal and statement of educational justification
  • Travel itinerary
  • Travel budget
  • Supporting information (brochures, price quotes, railway schedules, etc.)
  • Names of two SOA faculty recommenders

Information 
School of Art 
6431 Aronoff 
513-556-2962 
daapsoa@uc.edu

Contact for questions

Headshot of DAAP Student Affairs

DAAP Student Affairs

Aronoff 5470

513-556-1376