The School of Art awards over $180,000 to incoming and returning students in addition to university level scholarships.

Returning Students

Current Students who will have a sophomore standing during first semester of the next academic year who want to apply for scholarships must follow these steps by February 1:

  1. Log into MyRED and select the Scholarship Application for Current Undergraduate Students. Submission of this online application allows you to be considered for scholarships awarded by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and to have your information made available to your college and department/school.

Incoming Freshmen & Transfer Students

As an incoming freshman or transfer student admitted to the School of Art, Art History & Design, you are automatically considered for scholarships awarded by the school. If you would like to be considered for need-based scholarships, you will need to complete the FAFSA.

To apply for additional Hixson-Lied Scholarship opportunities, submit your application online at go.unl.edu/artscholarships. The scholarship application is open starting August 1st. Scholarship applications will be considered on February 3rd, and on a rolling basis after that until the funds have been distributed.

Returning majors in the School of Art, Art History & Design may be eligible for the following scholarships. Apply via MyRed. Application due February 1. Funds may only be awarded to full-time students.

ELGAS PROJECT GRANT

The Elgas Projects Grants support degree-seeking undergraduate fine art and graphic design majors by providing financial support to independent creative research projects. Supported projects will receive funding up to $700.00 based on the quality of applications submitted and funding available. All work supported by an Elgas Project Grant must be exhibited in a public gallery. Acceptable venues include the Medici Gallery, the Rotunda Gallery or the Eisentrager•Howard Gallery; alternative spaces are also acceptable. Elgas Project Grants are awarded twice per year- once in the fall and once in the spring.


MARGARET FORMAN WOODBRIDGE ERNY SCHOLARSHIP

Emphasis on painting or sculpture with financial need. Graduate of a Nebraska high school.


JEAN R. FAULKNER FRESHMAN ART SCHOLARSHIPS
Three awards of $200 each, applied to the next academic year’s first semester. Students must have completed at least one semester of Studio Art and one of the two Art History survey courses (AHIS 101 or 102) but have no more than 21 credit hours in the School. Submission of a portfolio of six works of art is required. Awards are based on the quality of artwork in the portfolio. Click here for application procedures. (PDF)


NELLIS POLLY HILLS and JOHN WILLARD HILLS SCHOLARSHIP
Based on scholastic achievement, financial need and professional potential.


OLIVE M. KIER LA BOUNTY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Recipients are to be regularly enrolled students in the School of Art, Art History & Design.


LOUISE ESTERDAY MUNDY FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS
Recipients are to be regularly enrolled undergraduate students in the School of Art, Art History & Design -- “worthy of financial assistance and of good moral character and reputation.”


BETS FREDRICK SCHOLARSHIP
Recipients are to be regularly enrolled undergraduate students in the School of Art, Art History & Design, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art.


VADA KINMANN OLDFIELD FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP (College Wide)
Recipient(s) must be a regularly enrolled junior or senior at UNL who is successfully pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in art, music, drama to related fine arts fields; shows potential promise or talent and is worthy of financial assistance. College of Fine and Performing Arts selects the award winners. An additional college form, available in the Dean's Office, College of Fine and Performing Arts, must be filled out for this scholarship. Students apply simultaneously for the Donald Walters Miller Scholarship, a University-wide award.


E. EVELYN PETERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarships for art, music and theater. The considerations are to be "talent and need" and the students are to have achieved at least sophomore standing.


RUTH ANN SACK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarships for juniors and seniors. First priority is to be given to majors in photography and second priority to majors in painting. Among the criteria to be considered are artistic talent and financial need.


RONALD N. SCHEERER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Emphasis on graphic design. Must demonstrate scholastic ability and financial need.


SHELLY ARNOLD WAGGONER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Awarded for exceptional talent and pursuit of attaining recognition as an outstanding artist. However, this is not to be secondary to scholastic achievement. Students must be juniors or seniors, a United States citizen and preferably a Nebraskan. Scholarships to equal $600.00 each.


JEANNE L. TRABOLD SCHOLARSHIP
$500 annual award to a graduate or undergraduate major in Art History.


NELLIE MAY SCHLEE VANCE MEMORIAL FUND
Recipients are to be regularly enrolled undergraduate students in the School of Art, Art History & Design.


KAREN ONETH JANOVY SCHOLARSHIP
Recipients are to be regularly enrolled undergraduate students in the School of Art, Art History & Design, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with preference given to those emphasizing in Sculpture.


Students do not apply for the following scholarships and awards. These are selected by the faculty:

Myers B. and Martha H. Cather Excellence Awards:
Funded by the Cather Endowment, one award is given to an undergraduate student in their second or third year of the program who shows excellence in their field, and one award to a graduate student who created notable work chosen by the faculty.


Thomas P. Coleman Memorial Printmaking Award
Two annual awards for students who have demonstrated creative ability in the field of printmaking, with particular emphasis on intaglio and/or lithography. One award is to be made to an undergraduate student and one to a graduate student. These awards are recommended by the professors in printmaking.


Jean R. Faulkner Memorial Art Exhibition Awards
Four awards of $250 each. Awarded by the juror of the Annual Undergraduate Student Exhibition to students who are studio art majors.


Dan and Barbara Howard Creative Achievment Award
Two awards to total $4,500, to be divided between one undergraduate and one graduate student at the discretion of the selecting faculty. Undergraduate awards must be a minimum of $1,500 and graduate awards must be a minimum of $3,000 per awardee. These awards are determined by a vote of the faculty.


Trickey Memorial Fellowship in the Studio Arts
Recipients must be regularly enrolled full–time graduate students. A minimum $500 annual award, Artistic creativity is the only criterion for this scholarship. It is selected by the faculty based on student portfolio submissions.


The Francis William Vreeland Scholarship Award
Awarded to the art student in advanced standing (senior, or graduate) in regular attendance for the most meritorious and original work, or collected works - demonstrating exceptional creative ability in graphic and plastic art in painting and sculpture or any other medium or mediums of like creative expression that may or shall have superseded painting and sculpture in the fine arts. Faculty nominate students, finalists display works and awards are determined by a vote of all of art faculty members.


Perry Family Award
Awarded to one or two undergraduate students in senior standing during the Fall and Spring Capstone Exhibitions. These awards are determined by the faculty and decided based on the quality of work that is presented in the capstone exhibition.


Gomez Art Supply Award
Awarded twice annually following the Capstone Exhibition that occurs in the Fall and Spring. This award is determined by the faculty and given to a student majoring in Studio Art who has shown exceptional creative ability in their work presented in the exhibition.