“What it Means to Be Me” was the theme for the 2021 Thea Foundation scholarship competition, and yet again, the entries were outstanding. In spite of the many challenges students faced this year, there was a resounding theme of hope in the many entries we received.
Thea’s annual scholarships remain a great resource for helping young people across the state receive financial help for higher education. Each of the six arts-based competitions provide Arkansas seniors with an opportunity to secure funding for college based on their talent alone. Our first scholarship was awarded in 2002, and we’ve awarded more than $2.3 million in scholarships to Arkansas students since then. During the 2021 scholarship season, we again adapted our competition to be completely online to allow students to enter in a safe and fair way.
At this time, we are proud to share a complete list of all of this year’s 36 scholarship-winning Arkansas seniors. While this year has been unique, we know the future is bright for these incredibly talented students we are honored to support. A strong majority of Thea’s scholarships are endowed. A special thank you to the teachers that supported and encouraged these students along the way. For those that are, the name(s) or organization attributed with the endowment are listed above the scholarships. For students graduating in 2022, stay tuned for information regarding next year’s competition.
Visual Arts Winners
Thea Foundation Board Scholarship
Daye Kwon – 1st place, $4,000 (pictured above)
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
Windgate Foundation Scholarship
Caroline Gunderman – 2nd place, $3,500
Mount St. Mary Academy
Robyn Horn, Dede & Karen Hutcheson Scholarship
Katelyn Salmeron – 3rd place, $3,000
Van Buren High School
Erika Fredricks – 4th place, $2,500
Cabot High School
Robin Orsi Family Scholarship
Ally Loter – 5th place, $2,000
Greenbrier High School
Olds Foundation Scholarship
Jackie James – 6th place, $2,000
Bryant High School
Janet & Glenn Davis Scholarship
Hadley Hooper – 7th place, $2,000
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
Munro Foundation Scholarship
Avery Wall – 8th place, $2,000
Joe T. Robinson High School
Murphy USA Scholarship
Zaida Guzman Acha – 9th place, $2,000
Lakeside High School
Rita Curtis Memorial Scholarship
Takoya Marks – 10th place, $2,000
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science, and the Arts
Performing Arts Winners
Clinton Family Foundation Scholarship
Mary McClellan – 1st Place, $4,000 (pictured above)
Pulaski Academy
Linda & Paul Leopoulos Scholarship
Jayna Glynn – 2nd place, $3,500
Bentonville High School
Hammonds/McDonald Scholarship
Will Porter – 3rd place, $3,000
Porterhouse Home School
Charles A. Frueauff Scholarship
Autumn Carson – 4th place, $2,500
Arkansas Arts Academy
Lawrence Hamilton Memorial Scholarship
Abigail Robertson- 5th place, $2,000
Hot Springs High School
Lindsey Robison East Memorial Scholarship
Shelby Cook- 6th place, $2,000
Huntsville High School
Charles Louis Cabe Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Tania Kelley- 7th place, $2,000
Little Rock Central High School
Heflin Family Foundation Scholarship
Makayla Shipe – 8th place, $2,000
Bryant High School
Wesley K. Clark, II Scholarship
Emmarie Wilson – 9th place, $2,000
Morrilton Senior High School
Robert T. & Elizabeth W. Seibert Scholarship
Cidney Gabbard – 10th place, $2,000
Conway High School
Spoken Word Winners
Jaden Wilber – 1st place, $4,000 (pictured above)
Episcopal Collegiate
Kasey Gonzalez – 2nd place, $3,500
Parkview Arts and Science Magnet
Victoria Nichols – 3rd place, $3,000
Nettleton High School
Isabella Herring – 4th place, $2,500
Bryant High School
Madison Popa – 5th place, $2,000
Fort Smith Southside High School
Creative Writing Winners
Elizabeth Wilkinson Scholarship
Muskaan Arshad – 1st place, $4,000 (pictured above)
Bentonville West High School
Dr. Ben Meade & Jane Hunt Scholarship
Madison Rotter – 2nd place, $3,500
Van Buren High School
Jack Clay – 3rd place, $3,000
Bryant High School
Anna Cay Vernon – 4th place, $2,500
Central High School
Hannah Henderson – 5th place, $2,000
Bryant High School
Fashion Design Winners
Jeanne McNeill Johansson Scholarship
Katie Castro – 1st place, $4,000 (pictured above on the left)
Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School
Carter Collins – 2nd place, $3,500
Little Rock Central High School
Film Winners
Note: All film scholarship are placed at the same level, receiving the same amount in scholarship money. All four winners are pictured above.
Dorothy and Walter Morris Foundation Scholarship
Ananya Vangoor – 1st Runner Up – Cinematography, $2,500
Bentonville West HS
Kye-Yak International Scholarship
Samantha Lewandowski – Directing, $2,500
Har-Ber High School
Natalie and Win Rockefeller Scholarship
Grant Cunningham – Cinematography, $2,500
Conway Christian High School
Perry Horton – Editing, $2,500
Conway Christian High School
Thea Foundation would like to sincerely thank all of the professionals who served as this year’s judges for our competition season.