Thea Foundation is excited to announce the winners of the 2023/2024 scholarship competition. Inspired by the theme “Individual and Beautiful,” 332 students from across Arkansas applied for a chance at part of the $219,000 worth of scholarships.
“It’s an honor to be a small part of this amazing organization. There is so much joy in recognizing these gifted students and supporting them as they take their next steps in life. Talent abounds in this state! I have the highest regard for the Thea Foundation and am awed by the impact it has made on the lives of so many young people,” stated performing arts judge Amy Herzberg, head of the MFA acting program at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville.
The following 36 Arkansas seniors were awarded scholarships in five different categories:
Performing Arts
- $10,000 – Jon Loveless – Bentonville High School, Bentonville – Endowed by Clinton Family Foundation
- $9,000 – Kampbell Davis – Central Arkansas Christian, Mabelvale – Endowed by Linda and Paul Leopoulos
- $8,000 – Marionna Parker- Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Ken Hammonds
- $7,000 – Gracie Kennett – Har-Ber High School, Springdale – Endowed by The Frueauff Family Foundation
- $6,000 – Aidan Eslinger- Conway High School, Mayflower – Endowed in Memory of Lawrence Hamilton by Chip and Cindy Murphy
- $3,000 – Lauren Lewis- Lakeside High School, Hot Springs – Endowed in Memory of Lindsey Robison Eastby Michelle Browning
- $3,000 – Claire Hudnell- Lakeside High School, Hot Springs – Endowed in Memory of Charles L. Cabe by Anita Cabe
- $3,000 – Anna Britt- Conway High School, Conway – Endowed by Heflin Family Foundation
- $3,000 – Hope People- Sylvan Hills High School, Sherwood – Endowed by Gert and Gen. (ret.) Wesley Clark
- $3,000 – Jordan Craig – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed in Memory of Robert T. and Elizabeth W. Seibert Robert and Joanna Seibert
Visual Arts
- $10,000 – Shiney You – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation Board of Directors
- $9,000 – Jordan Rosso – Bentonville West High School, Centerton – Endowed by Windgate Charitable Foundation
- $8,000 – Avery Binuya – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, Lamar – Endowed by Robyn Horn & Dede and Karen Hutcheson
- $7,000 – Jared Holt – North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $6,000 – Erin Elder – Little Rock Central High School, North Little Rock – Endowed by The Robin Orsi Family
- $3,000 – Avery Anderson -Har-Ber High School, Springdale – Endowed by the Olds Foundation
- $3,000 – Dominic Solis – Siloam Springs High School, Siloam Springs – Endowed by Janet and Glenn Davis
- $3,000 – Winnifred Formby- Lakeside High School, Hot Springs – Endowed by The Munro Foundation
- $3,000 – Gabriella Dover- Mountain Home High School, Mountain Home – Endowed by Murphy USA
- $3,000 – Adam Dandridge – North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock – Endowed in Memory of Rita Curtis by George and Irene Davis
Creative Writing
- $10,000 – Ananya Uddanti – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Betty Wilkinson
- $9,000 – Devin Hemphill – Conway High School, Conway – Endowed by Dr. Ben Meade and Jane Hunt
- $8,000 – Caroline Buxtonl – Siloam Springs High School, Siloam Springs – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $7,000 – Noah Pennington- Pulaski Academy, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $6,000 – Noah Cawich – Pulaski Academy, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $3,000 – Lucy Burks- Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $3,000 -Brooke DeLong- Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, Little Rock – Endowed by The Rebsamen Fund
- $3,000 – Elliott Bond – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $3,000 – Jennifer Gilmore – Bentonville High School, Cave Springs – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $3,000 – Avery Walker – Baptist Preparatory School, Paron – Endowed by Thea Foundation
Film
- $10,000 – Corbin Pitts – North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock – Endowed by Natalie and Win Rockefeller
- $9,000 – Nova Anderson – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed by Morris Foundation
- $8,000 -Jamie McKuin – Lakeside High School, Hot Springs – Endowed by Kye-Yak International
Fashion
- $10,000 – Isaac Bristow – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock – Endowed in Honor of Jeanne McNeill Johansson by Linda and Rush Harding
- $9,000 – Taylor Honeysuckle- Joe T. Robinson High School, Perryville – Endowed by Thea Foundation
- $8,000 – Malia Anderson – Pulaski Academy, Little Rock – Endowed by Thea Foundation
Thea Foundation is excited to also announce the theme and deadline for the 2024/2025 competition. For students eager to get started, the theme for the 2024/2025 competition will be “Fluidity.” All rising seniors will need to submit their applications and work by January 5, 2025.
The annual competitions are for Arkansas graduating high school seniors, and remain a key resource for helping young people across the state receive financial help 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 now endowed and has awarded more than $2.8 million in scholarships to Arkansas students since then.