Scholarships and Grants administered by the Myers School of Art

The Myers School of Art offers generous support for ambitious, talented, and academically strong art students. We offer scholarships and grants to support your tuition, to help fund ambitious art projects, or to assist with the expense of art-related travel.

Looking for scholarship for incoming students? Visit our Portfolio Day Page for more information. 

Area Specific Scholarship Opportunities

Danison Memorial Photography Scholarship 

Established in 2016 in honor of Mervyn F. Danison and his long and storied career as a New Bureau Photographer for Goodyear Tire and Rubber, this scholarship supports outstanding junior or senior photography or photojournalism majors. When making the award, faculty consider the applicant’s GPA, quality of their photographic work, and their need for financial assistance.

Olson Photography Scholarship

In January 2014, Dr. Irving J. and Ruth B. Olson generously endowed a scholarship for Photography majors. The Olson Photography Scholarship one of the most prestigious and valuable awards offered through the Myers School of Art. The application process is highly selective, and only one or two scholarships are awarded annually. All sophomore, junior, and senior Photography majors are eligible to apply. 

Whims Endowed Graphic Design Scholarship

Established in 1994, this endowed scholarship honors the life and memory of Ms. Kristen Leigh Whims, a graduate of The University of Akron School of Art. The scholarship is an annual award made to a junior or senior Graphic Design major with demonstrated talent in the field; it can be renewed for a second year.

Myers Studio Scholarship Competition

Numerous endowed scholarships are awarded annually through the Studio Scholarship Competition in amounts ranging from $500–$5,000 per scholarship. These awards include the following scholarships, and unless otherwise noted, each is open to B.A. and B.F.A. art majors of all ranks and concentrations:

American Greetings Endowed Graphic Design Scholarship (junior and senior Graphic Design majors)

Emily H. Davis Memorial Scholarship

Mary B. Demetros Memorial Fund Scholarship

Harold and Catherine Folk Scholarship

Dorthella L. Griffen Scholarship Harris in Art (junior or senior art majors with preference given to non-traditional students)

Robert Foote and Lucille Scott Harris Scholarship Fund in Art Studies

Mary and Louis S. Myers Endowed Scholarship in Art (with preference given to painting and sculpture majors)

Edith H. Raleigh Endowed Art Scholarship (recipients must be art majors and graduates of the Akron Public Schools)

Ann H. Suri Scholarship

William C. Waldman Scholarship in Art (junior or senior art majors)

Gillette Academic Scholarship

The John and Barbara Gillette Academic Scholarship recognizes artistic talent and theoretical knowledge, as well as assisting students in overcoming financial barriers to achieving their academic career goals. Three $5000 Gillette Academic Scholarships are awarded each academic year—one each to the best sophomore, junior and senior-level students in the Myers School of Art as determined by the Studio Scholarship Competition each spring.

Participation guidelines for the Spring 2024 Myers Studio Scholarship Show can be found HERE.

DEADLINE to apply is Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 12:00 NOON. 
SUBMISSION IS BY EMAIL ONLY!  Fillable Form can be found HERE.

Buchtel College of Arts + Sciences Scholarships

In addition to the scholarships available through the Myers School of Art, the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences awards multiple endowed scholarships earmarked for arts students! Applications for these are due early each spring term. For details, visit https://www.uakron.edu/bcas/scholarships/.

Ambitious Art Projects

Dashiell Tools and Materials Award

The Malcolm J. Dashiell Scholarship Fund was created in 1997 through an estate gift from Janet Dashiell Gardner in memory of her husband who taught sculpture at The University of Akron for 17 years and helped establish the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program. The Dashiell Tools and Materials Award provides students in the Myers School of Art partial support (up to $1000) for art supplies, tools, software, and or other special materials needed to realize ambitious projects, including work towards their Senior Exhibition, Senior Thesis, or Honors Projects.

This grant is available in both fall and spring terms; the deadline is Friday of the 9th week of classes by 5pm. The required cover sheet can be found on the last page of the guidelines. Dashiell Tools and Materials Guidelines and Cover Sheet.

Travel Opportunities

Venice Biennale Scholarship

The Folk Charitable Foundation Venice Biennale International Travel and Study of Art Scholarship recognizes Myers School of Art’s stellar art studio, graphic design, and art education juniors and seniors. The scholarship award provides full support for travel to Italy during the internationally renowned Venice Biennale during alternating years. The Venice Biennale Scholarship is one of the most prestigious and valuable awards offered through the Myers School of Art. The application process is highly selective, and only eight to ten scholarships are awarded. The application for for the 2024 Venice Biennale will open the semester prior to travel.

The deadline is Friday of the 5th week of classes Spring semester by 5pm (Friday, February 23, 2024). The required cover sheet can be found on the last page of the guidelines. See guidelines for refrence: Venice Biennale Scholarship Guidelines and Cover Sheet. 

Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship

The John and Barbara Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship was established in 2013 to provide students with the opportunity to explore the borderless and timeless language of the arts, and to provide the gift of education for art majors. Held in even-numbered years starting in 2014, the Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship program will provide full support for overseas travel and study in contemporary art forms, art culture and art history.

The Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad program for Fall 2018 enabled students to visit the FIAC Contemporary Art Fair in Paris, France. The application for the next trip will open the semester prior to travel. 

Dashiell Travel Award

The Malcolm J. Dashiell Scholarship Fund was created in 1997 through an estate gift from Janet Dashiell Gardner in memory of her husband who taught sculpture at The University of Akron for 17 years and helped establish the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program. The Dashiell Travel Award provides students in the Myers School of Art partial support (up to $1,000) for educational travel including study-abroad, art workshops, seminars and conferences, and travel to art exhibits. (Please note: the Spring 2023 award is available for virtual travel only.)

This grant is available in both fall and spring terms; the deadline is Friday of the 9th week of classes by 5pm. The required cover sheet can be found on the last page of the guidelines. Dashiell Travel Award Guidelines and Cover Sheet.

Puglia New York City Travel Grant

Established in 2014, the John M. Puglia Endowed New York City Travel Fund for Art Students is intended to provide full or partial support for students in the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art at The University of Akron to travel to New York City during the school’s annual spring trips. The fund honors the memory of the late John M. Puglia, a 1988 graduate of The University of Akron and seeks to inspire students’ passion for art and New York City, just as John was inspired when he traveled to New York City as part of a student trip led by UA Art Professor Don Harvey. Puglia New York City Travel Grant Guidelines and Cover Sheet.