NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Thea Foundation is excited to announce the winners of the 2023/2024 scholarship competition. Inspired by the theme “Individual, and beautiful,” 332 students from across Arkansas applied for a chance at part of the $219,000 worth of scholarships.
"It’s an honor to be a small part of this amazing organization. There is so much joy in recognizing these gifted students and supporting them as they take their next steps in life. Talent abounds in this state! I have the highest regard for the Thea Foundation and am awed by the impact it has made on the lives of so many young people,” stated performing arts judge Amy Herzberg, head of the MFA acting program at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville.
The following 36 Arkansas seniors were awarded scholarships in five different categories:
Performing Arts
- $10,000 - Jon Loveless - Bentonville High School, Bentonville
- $9,000 - Kampbell Davis - Central Arkansas Christian, Mabelvale
- $8,000 - Marionna Parker- Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, Little Rock
- $7,000 - Gracie Kennett - Har-Ber High School, Springdale
- $6,000 - Aidan Eslinger- Conway High School, Mayflower
- $3,000 - Lauren Lewis- Lakeside High School, Hot Springs
- $3,000 - Claire Hudnell- Lakeside High School, Hot Springs
- $3,000 - Anna Britt- Conway High School, Conway
- $3,000 - Hope People- Sylvan Hills High School, Sherwood
- $3,000 - Jordan Craig - Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock
Visual Arts
- $10,000 - Shiney You - Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock
- $9,000 - Jordan Rosso - Bentonville West High School, Centerton
- $8,000 - Avery Binuya - Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, Lamar
- $7,000 - Jared Holt - North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock
- $6,000 - Erin Elder - Little Rock Central High School, North Little Rock
- $3,000 - Avery Anderson -Har-Ber High School, Springdale
- $3,000 - Dominic Solis - Siloam Springs High School, Siloam Springs
- $3,000 - Winnifred Formby- Lakeside HIgh School, Hot Springs
- $3,000 - Gabriella Dover- Mountain Home High School, Mountain Home
- $3,000 - Adam Dandridge - North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock
Creative Writing
- $10,000 - Ananya Uddanti - Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock
- $9,000 - Devin Hemphill - Conway High School, Conway
- $8,000 - Caroline Buxtonl - Siloam Springs High School, Siloam Springs
- $7,000 - Noah Pennington- Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
- $6,000 - Noah Cawich - Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
- $3,000 - Lucy Burks- Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock
- $3,000 - Brooke DeLong- Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, Little Rock
- $3,000 - Elliott Bond - Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock
- $3,000 - Jennifer Gilmore - Bentonville High School, Cave Springs
- $3,000 - Avery Walker - Baptist Preparatory School, Paron
Film
- $10,000 - Corbin Pitts - North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock
- $9,000 - Nova Anderson - Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock
- $8,000 -Jamie McKuin - Lakeside High School, Hot Springs
Fashion
- $10,000 - Isaac Bristow - Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock
- $9,000 - Taylor Honeysuckle- Joe T. Robinson High School, Perryville
- $8,000 - Malia Anderson - Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
The complete list of the 36 scholarship-winning students who received support to pursue higher education beginning in fall 2024 along with samples of their work can be found on Thea Foundation’s new website. A majority of Thea Foundation’s scholarships are endowed. The name(s) or organization attributed with the endowment are also listed on the website.
Thea Foundation is excited to also announce the theme and deadline for the 2024/2025 competition. For students eager to get started, the theme for the 2024/2025 competition will be “Fluidity.” All rising seniors will need to submit their applications and work by January 5, 2025.
The annual competitions are for Arkansas graduating high school seniors, and remain a key resource for helping young people across the state receive financial help for higher education. Each of the five arts-based competitions provide Arkansas seniors with an opportunity to secure funding for college based on their talent alone. The organization’s first scholarship was awarded in 2002. The program is now endowed and has awarded more than $3.1 million in scholarships to Arkansas students since then.
About Thea Foundation
Thea Foundation’s mission is to advocate the importance of the Arts in the development of our youth. Three programs are implemented statewide to support this mission—Thea Scholarships, Art Closet and Arts Reconstruction. Since 2002, Thea Foundation has awarded more than $3.1 million in scholarships to Arkansas students and provided more than $2.1 million in art supplies and creative materials to underfunded schools through our Art Closet program. In addition, Arts Reconstruction is our focused effort to help teachers receive professional development and supplies to enable a better platform to advance in their own careers and schools. Our collective aim is to enrich young minds through the power of the Arts. Named for the daughter of Paul and Linda Leopoulos, Thea Foundation carries on the legacy of Thea Kay Leopoulos, who thrived academically, socially and emotionally thanks to her artistic pursuits. More at theafoundation.org, @TheaFoundation or Thea Foundation Blog.