College of Fine Arts Student Scholarships and Awards

The College of Fine Arts provides more than $150,000 per year in scholarships, grants, and tuition waivers to undergraduate and graduate students. Most are performance and/or merit based and many are available to incoming freshmen and transfer students.

Much of this support comes from generous alumni and friends. For information about contributing to scholarships in the College of Fine Arts, go the Supporting the College link on the College of Fine Arts homepage. Each School has its own scholarship programs and unique application processes and requirements. Please visit the links below to find out more about scholarship opportunities in each of our programs.

Scholarship information for

Dean Scholars

Dean Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen who will major in one of the College of Fine Arts' academic programs. Recipients are selected by the College from Presidential Scholar applicants. For more information on the Presidential Scholars program, visit Illinois State University's Financial Aid Web site.

College of Fine Arts Dean's Scholars for 2004-2005 are:

Katherine Vasel comes to the School of Music as a graduate of Bloomington High School, Bloomington, Illinois. Katherine graduated in the top 5% of her class. While at BHS she played the flute in the band and ensemble group and served as drum major for the marching band. Katherine was also active in theatre and youth groups. She plans to pursue a degree in Music Education.

Stefanie Wycislak, a graduate of Harold L. Richards High School, Oak Lawn, Illinois, will embark on a plan of study in the School of Art. Stefanie graduated in the top 1% of her class while also serving as a peer tutor, where she enjoyed extra curricular activities as a mathlete, in the environmental and art clubs, as well as participating in the jazz and marching bands.

The College of Fine Arts is pleased to welcome both Katherine Vasel and Stephanie Wycislak to Illinois State University and to recognize them as this year's incoming freshman recipients of the Dean's Scholarship.

Baber Scholarships

Eric Baber Scholarships are granted to graduate students in the College of Fine Arts who show exemplary promise in performance or studio work. Applicants are nominated by academic units in the College and awards are reserved for incoming students.

Baber Scholarship recipients for 2004-2005 are:

Ulrich Eigner, Art

Ivory Sebastian, Music

Christopher Tice, Arts Technology

Bone Scholars

The designation of Bone Scholar is the highest academic distinction that can be achieved by undergraduate students at Illinois State University.

Several students are designated annually as Bone Student Scholars, in honor of former President Robert G. Bone. Bone Scholars are students who combine superior academic records with full personal development through campus and community activities. Nominations are made by faculty members, and selection of new Bone Scholars is conducted under the aegis of the Honors Program.

2004-2005 College of Fine Arts Bone Scholars are:

Julia Ferguson is pursuing a double major in Geology and Theatre and was nominated for the Bone Scholarship by both departments. As a Geology major, she has done research on Granitic Rocks in St. Francois Mountains, and has analyzed fossil samples from Canada. As a Theatre major, she is focusing on design and production. She has served as Costume Designer for the Dance Concert, as a props artisan and as the Stage Manager for the Madrigal Dinners. She has also helped construct sets for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. She is active in the Student Environmental Action Coalition and spent her spring break building trails in the Appalachian Mountains.

Roy Magnuson is majoring in Instrumental Music and in Music Composition. He has served as a Judges Assistant for the Illinois Music Educators Association and as President of the School of Music Association. Roy has served on the Illinois State University Orchestra Committee and as Librarian for the Orchestra. When State Budget cuts eliminated the position of the Recording Technician, he helped by serving as the Undergraduate Recording Technician. Roy has also served as a Camp Counselor at the Illinois State University Junior High Band Camp and as a Teacher in the Quad Cities Metro Arts Program. One of Roy 's compositions, Harvest Moon, has the distinction of being the only undergraduate student composition publicly performed by the Illinois State Symphonic Band.