2015 Performing Arts Scholarship Winners Announced

Saturday, January 17, 2015, Thea Foundation hosted its annual Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, which drew more than 80 high school seniors from across the state of Arkansas to Thea’s North Little Rock headquarters and Argenta Community Theater to sing, act, dance and perform for a panel of qualified judges, including Jennifer Maddox, Ann Muse and April Gentry-Sutterfield. 10 winners, who received scholarships varying from $2,000 to $4,000, and five honorable mentions were selected and announced the same day.

The winners of the 2015 Performing Arts Scholarship Competition:

1st Place: Logan Kinkade, Russellville, $4,000

2nd Place: Mary Stovall, Conway, $3,500

3rd Place: Laura Leigh Turner, Sherwood, $3,000

4th Place: Kaleb Hatton, Alma, $2,500

5th Place: Melody Garrett, Sherwood, $2,000

6th Place: Emily Harris, Conway, $2,000

7th Place: Bailey Sexton, Alma, $2,000

8th Place: Rodtavious Watts, Little Rock, $2,000

9th Place: Daisy Heister, Jacksonville, $2,000

10th Place: Samantha Martin, Ashdown, $2,000

Honorable Mention: Mizani Ball, North Little Rock

Honorable Mention: Chance Williams, Jonesboro

Honorable Mention: Kolby Cole, Cabot

Honorable Mention: December Ensminger, Benton

Honorable Mention: Rachel Wyrick, Sherwood

This marks the 11th year of the performing arts scholarship competition and the 13th of Thea Foundation’s scholarship competitions, which began as solely visual arts and expanded to include performing arts, film, creative writing, fashion design and poetry slam. Scholarship competitors are judged only on their talent; no GPA, test scores or interest to major in the arts are required for eligibility. To date, Thea Foundation has awarded close to $2 million in scholarships to students across the state. Thea Foundation partners with every four-year college in the state, one technical college and several institutions outside of Arkansas, who match or exceed a student’s scholarship if the student chooses to attend one of those institutions, but students can apply their scholarships at any school.

The winners of each of the six competitions will be honored with an award ceremony May 3, 2015, at Thea Foundation.

Congratulations to all of our 2015 winners and honorable mentions, and thank you to EVERYONE who participated!

See 1st place performing arts winner Logan Kinkade's performance below: