Thespian Scholarships
The Educational Theatre Foundation is proud to offer scholarships to inducted Thespians who meet the eligibility criteria. Applications are open February 1-April 1 annually with winners announced in May.
Artists of the Future Scholarships
Dr. Kenny D. Hasija Scholarship
Honors Broadway producer Ken Davenport’s father by supporting applicants traditionally underrepresented in the theatre industry
- Amount: $1,000
- Number awarded annually: 1
- Eligibility: graduating high school seniors
Mark Drum Scholarship
Created to support Asian and Pacific Islander Thespians with donations from and in honor of Thespian alum and teaching artist Mark Drum
- Amount: $1,250
- Number awarded annually: 1
- Eligibility: graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students in an accredited college or university
Alan D. and Penny Lu Engelsman Scholarship
Created in honor of the late Alan Engelsman, a former Thespian troupe director, theatre educator, and author of theatre textbooks
- Amount: $1,000
- Number awarded annually: 1
- Eligibility: graduating high school seniors pursuing a major in theatre or a related field
Theatre Educators of the Future Scholarships
Future Theatre Educator Scholarship
Created by Nebraska and Indiana chapter leadership, with funding from chapter leaders across the country.
- Amount: $1,500
- Number awarded annually: 1
- Eligibility: graduating high school seniors enrolling in an accredited college or university as theatre education majors
Gai Laing Jones Theatre Education Scholarship
Created by a former EdTA board president to support preservice theatre educators in completing their degrees
- Amount: up to $2,000
- Number awarded annually: 2
- Eligibility: college juniors, seniors, or graduate students working toward their theatre education degree at an accredited college or university
Leaders of the Future Scholarships
Board of Directors & Presidents' Leadership Scholarships
Created with donations by and in honor of past and current EdTA board directors and presidents
- Amount: $1,000
- Number awarded annually: 1 of each
- Eligibility: graduating high school seniors who can successfully demonstrate leadership abilities
Christopher L. Hunt Scholarship
Honors a late EdTA marketing director
- Amount: $1,000
- Number awarded annually: 1
- Eligibility: graduating high school senior pursuing a degree and career in business or marketing
Michael J. Peitz Leadership Scholarship
Honors a former executive director of EdTA
- Amount: $1,500
- Number awarded annually: 1
- Eligibility: graduating high school seniors who can successfully demonstrate leadership abilities
Thespy Scholarships
These scholarships are open to International Thespian Excellence Awards (Thespys®) finalists — students who score a superior overall rating at their chapter qualifying event and qualify for the final round of adjudication during the International Thespian Festival. More than $40,000 in educational and training opportunities are awarded each year. Applications are accepted April 1 – May 1 annually, with winners announced in June.
ITF Scholarships
International Thespian Festival (ITF) scholarships enable Thespians to participate in the life-changing experience of ITF and its weeklong student immersion into theatre with interactive workshops, top high school performances from around the world, the International Thespian Excellence Awards, college auditions, scholarships, and more.
The application period is open from January 1 – March 1.
Chapter Scholarships
EdTA’s chapters award more than $200,000 annually to Thespians through their own scholarship programs, many associated with participation in state Thespian festivals. EdTA matches up to $1,000 per chapter. Contact your chapter for more information.
