Thea Foundation is excited to announce the winners of the 2025/2026 scholarship competition. With no theme to hold them back, we had a record number of students from across Arkansas apply for a chance at part of $219,000 worth of scholarships. This year also brought several new judges from across the country including professors at SCAD, Columbia University, Northwestern University and University of Southern California.
“This was my first year serving as a judge for the Thea Foundation, and I was truly struck by the level of talent, care, and awareness that breathed through each and every entry. I hope that every participant knows that simply applying makes you a winner in your own right. Choosing just ten artists from such a strong group was incredibly challenging. The chosen works demonstrated a clear and compelling vision, evident in both the artist statements and the works themselves. Altogether, I was deeply inspired and moved by what the next generation of artists has to offer,” stated Adama Delphine Fawundu, Assistant Professor of Visual Art, Columbia University.
The following 36 Arkansas seniors were awarded scholarships in five different categories:
Performing Arts
- $10,000 – Hayley Eaton – Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Clinton Family Foundation
- $9,000 – Brookelyn Gibson – Har-Ber High School, Springdale – Endowed by Linda and Paul Leopoulos
- $8,000 – Reagan Foley – Pulaski Academy, Little Rock – Endowed by Ken Hammonds
- $7,000 – Anderson Goldthorpe – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, Benton – Endowed by The Frueauff Family Foundation
- $6,000 – Eve Summers – Bryant High School, Alexander – Endowed in Memory of Lawrence Hamilton by Chip and Cindy Murphy
- $3,000 – Andre’ Davis – Bryant High School, Benton – Endowed in Memory of Lindsey Robison Eastby Michelle Browning
- $3,000 – Jordyn Lane – Mount St. Mary Academy, Lonoke – Endowed in Memory of Charles L. Cabe by Anita Cabe
- $3,000 – Ayana Harris – Bentonville High School, Bentonville – Endowed by Heflin Family Foundation
- $3,000 – Anabel Flores – Hot Springs World Class High School, Percy – Endowed by Gert and Gen. (ret.) Wesley Clark
- $3,000 – Elyse Young – North Little Rock High School, Maumelle – Endowed in Memory of Robert T. and Elizabeth W. Seibert Robert and Joanna Seibert
Visual Arts
- $10,000 – Zechariah Haynes – North Little Rock Center of Excellence, North Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation Board of Directors
- $9,000 – Camille Alford – Homeschool, Cabot – Endowed by Windgate Charitable Foundation
- $8,000 – Katelynn Cavin – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, Mount Vernon – Endowed by Robyn Horn & Dede and Karen Hutcheson
- $7,000 – Lorenzo Lopez – North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $6,000 – Madison Bosquez – Bentonville West High School, Centerton – Endowed by The Robin Orsi Family
- $3,000 – McKelle Ross – North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock – Endowed by the Olds Foundation
- $3,000 – Yenuli Wickramasinghe – Bentonville West High School, Bentonville – Endowed by Janet and Glenn Davis
- $3,000 – Emily Liu – Little Rock Central High School, Maumelle – Endowed by The Munro Foundation
- $3,000 – Ruthika Matapathi – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Murphy USA
- $3,000 – Campbell Leak – Pottsville Highschool, Russellville – Endowed in Memory of Rita Curtis by George and Irene Davis
Creative Writing
- $10,000 – Isabelle Lunsford – Mount St. Mary Academy, White Hall – Endowed by Betty Wilkinson
- $9,000 – Kaitlyn Earnest – West Side Christian School, El Dorado – Endowed by Dr. Ben Meade and Jane Hunt
- $8,000 – Maria Barnett – Forrest City High School, Widener – Endowed Nancy Dunaway & Tom Drewes
- $7,000 – Mia Bonifazi – Bentonville West High School, Bentonville – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $6,000 – Ruby Smith – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $3,000 – Srinitya Bhrugubanda – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $3,000 – Maddie Melhorn – Glen Rose High School, Malvern – Endowed by The Rebsamen Fund
- $3,000 – Adelaide Droste – Pulaski Academy, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $3,000 – Dylan Ware – Rogers Academy of Leadership & Innovation, Lowell – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $3,000 – Kinley Little – Bryant High School, Benton – Endowed by Thea Foundation
Film
- $10,000 – Christianne Cain – Bryant High School, Alexander – Endowed by Natalie and Win Rockefeller
- $9,000 – Priya James – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts Mountainburg – Endowed by Morris Foundation
- $8,000 – Irelyn Kutzschebauch – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, Benton – Endowed by Kye-Yak International
Fashion
- $10,000 – Kira Donn – North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock – Endowed in Honor of Jeanne McNeill Johansson by Linda and Rush Harding
- $9,000 – Loren Honeysuckle – Bryant High School, Alexander – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $8,000 – Az Minden – Pulaski Academy, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
Thea Foundation is thrilled to announce the upcoming deadline for the 2026/2027 scholarship competition. The Foundation will not limit applicants with a specific theme again for 2026/2027. Students are encouraged to submit work that best reflects their unique talents and creativity.
Rising seniors interested in applying must submit their applications and artwork by January 10, 2027. For detailed guidelines and additional information, please visit theafoundation.org/scholarships.
The annual competitions are for Arkansas graduating high school seniors, and remain a key resource for helping young people across the state receive financial support for higher education. Each of the five arts-based competitions provide Arkansas seniors with an opportunity to secure funding for college based on their talent alone. The organization’s first scholarship was awarded in 2002. The program is endowed and has awarded more than $3.7 million in scholarships to Arkansas students since its inception.