Scholarships

Overview

History

In 1957, the Festival of Arts Scholarship Program was established to provide financial assistance for Laguna Beach High Schools students preparing for careers in various disciplines in the arts. Sally Dunn Reed, a senior graduating from Laguna Beach High, was awarded the very first scholarship of $1,000.

In 1989, the Festival of Arts with a $1.5 million endowment established the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, for the purpose of charitable giving in perpetuity in the form of art scholarships and/or grants in and about Laguna Beach, California. The Foundation operates independently from the Festival of Arts.

In 2007, the Festival of Arts assumed the financial responsibility of the art scholarships, enabling The Foundation to focus on its grant program for local non-profit art organizations. To date, the Festival of Arts along with the Foundation cumulatively has awarded over $2.6 million in college scholarships. Disciplines for which scholarships are awarded are Film, Performing Arts (Dance, Music, and Theater Arts, including Performance and Production), Visual Arts, and Writing.

In 2008, the Festival of Arts expanded the scholarship opportunity to include all graduating high school students residing in Laguna Beach, California.

The Scholarship Committee

The Glenn E. Vedder Scholarship Committee, chaired by Festival of Arts Board Secretary Pat Kollenda, administers the program. Other committee members include Tom Lamb, Steve Dicterow, Bob and Marge Earl, Jacquie Moffett, Jill Harris-Sturdy and Ann Webster. The committee meets on a regular basis.

Applications

Policies & Procedures

There are a number of policies and procedures that govern the Festival of Arts Scholarship program. The following policies are of direct concern to scholarship candidates:

Must attend an accredited community or 4-year college or university on a full-time basis and complete at least 12 academic units each term (quarter or semester). The 12 academic units must count for graduation.
To receive payment for a particular term (quarter or semester), the student must take a course during that term in the field for which the scholarship was granted. This course, or courses, must be for academic credit at an accredited community or 4-year college.
Maintain a grade point average per term (quarter or semester) of at least 2.5 in the freshman year and at least 3.0 for each subsequent year. The pass/fail method of grading is not acceptable; students must have their professors assign an alphabetic grade.
Immediately report any change of e-mail, address, course of study, or school to the Festival of Arts.

IMPORTANT! For a full listing of ALL policies and procedures (including details on scholarship availability, degree candidates scholarships, payment procedures, award renewal procedures, eligibility for forfeited awards and how to defer an award, please DOWNLOAD POLICIES and PROCEDURES NOW!

Applications

High School Seniors

Who May Apply

All graduating high school students residing in Laguna Beach, or attending Laguna Beach High School, are eligible for any or all of the categories but are only awarded a maximum of one scholarship. Scholarships will be awarded to Laguna Beach High School graduating seniors at the June Convocation. All other scholarship recipients will be notified by mail.

How to Apply

Minimum GPA of 2.5 (9-12 non-weighted) required for all applicants.
Due on or before 4:00pm on March 16, 2012:

Application (Download Application Now)
Agreement (signed by Student and Parent/Guardian) (Download Agreement Now)
Unofficial Transcripts, Printed by the Registrar (Not Aeries)
Resume
Work Samples: See application for instructions
Formal dated letter to the Scholarship Committee stating your goals
Optional letter of recommendation
Deliver or send to:

Glenn E. Vedder Scholarship Committee
Festival of Arts
650 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Resume, formal dated letter and letter of recommendation may be e-mailed to: scholarships@foapom.com
Download and carefully read all Policies & Procedures. (Download Policies & Procedures Now)

Scholarships are awarded in the following areas: Film, Performing Arts (Dance, Music, Theater Arts), Visual Arts and Writing. Freshman applicants may apply for any or all of the four categories, and are encouraged to do so, but will only be awarded one scholarship.

For additional information, please contact Michelle Reindl at 949-464-4201 or via e-mail. For your convenience, you may download the information on "How to Apply" for a scholarship. (Download How to Apply Now)

Audition and Interview Schedule

After March 19th, you will be notified regarding the date and time of your interview and/or audition. (Download Audition & Interview Schedule Now)

Applications

Renewal Students

Who May Apply

Available annually to previous recipients for a total of four years of undergraduate college education during a five-year period following graduation from high school. An application must be submitted each year to be considered for the following year.

How to Apply

Due on or before July 15, 2011

1. Complete application form (click here to download application now).

2. Please write a formal dated letter to the Scholarship Committee and include the following :

Summarize the work you have done in your chosen field and your plans for the coming year.
Describe extracurricular activities over the past year.
Discuss your current professional goals.
Provide any other information you would like to have committee members consider when they determine your qualifications for an award.

3. Download, carefully read and sign the Festival of Arts Scholarship Agreement. Be sure to remember to make a copy of the Agreement for your files. (click here to download agreement now)

4. An official transcript of your academic record for 2010-2011

5. (OPTIONAL) Provide the Scholarship Committee with a Letter of Recommendation.

Send all information to:

Glenn E. Vedder Scholarship Committee
Festival of Arts
650 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

or via e-mail

6. Work Samples (if applicable)
Be sure to carefully read the Instructions and Requirements for the Scholarship Fields in which you are renewing.

Fields of scholarships are:
Film, Performing Arts (Dance, Music, Theater Arts),
Visual Arts and Writing.

7. Download and carefully read all Policies and Procedures.
(click here to download Policies and Procedures now)

Applications are due at the Festival of Arts Administrative Offices by July 15, 2011. The office is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. For additional information, please contact Michelle Reindl at 949-464-4201 or via e-mail.

Student Testimonials

Below are some excerpts from letters that were sent to the Scholarship Committee from current or former scholarship recipients.

"Ever since I was very little, I wanted to be a performer and receiving this scholarship from you instills confidence in me that I can reach my goals and achieve my dreams."

- Noah Plomgren .:. 2008 Freshman Scholarship

"It means so much to me that someone else believes in my artistic abilities enough to award me money to help jumpstart my career. It really gives me confidence to think that others believe in me this much."

- Ginny Davis .:. 2008 Freshman Scholarship

"The valuable tools that I have gained through my theater studies have both encouraged my love for humanity and helped me to understand the ways in which positive human interaction can bring change. Thank you again for your unwavering support and I will forever be grateful for the scholarships that you have given me."

- Nathan Green .:. 2003-2006 Scholarships

"I owe you all thanks for your generosity and support. Whatever direction I take with my music, my education at Columbia has opened my eyes to possibilities and complexities in music that I never knew before, and I have become obsessed with exploring these at deeper levels."

- Coleman Moore .:. 2006-2008 Scholarships

"The Glenn E. Veddar Scholarship Committee's financial support has been enormously helpful to me, and I am grateful for their continuing contribution to the artist alumni of Laguna Beach High School."

- Jeremy Graves .:. 2004-2008 Scholarships

"Thank you all, so sincerely for being a part of my life and helping me create all the art I have been dreaming of making."

- Molly Bower .:. 2004-2007 Scholarships

Student Feature

Coming Soon! Where are they now?

Donations

Anyone interested in donating to the Scholarship Fund may contact Jill Harris-Sturdy at the Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.