Scholarships

ELIGIBILITY: You are eligible to apply if you are:

• Undergraduate and graduate art education students pursuing licensure;

• Full-time student in the 2026 - 2027 school year; 

• Currently enrolled as a third-year, fourth-year, or graduate student;

• Current member of OAEA.

Winners will receive complimentary conference registration and up to $750 for travel expenses to be used for the Greater Cincinnati OAEA Annual State Conference, November 19-21, 2026 (in Covington, KY). You will be honored during the Awards Ceremony.

If you are not an OAEA member, visit our membership page for more information.

TO APPLY: Use the linked https://forms.gle/9r5N76R9zvkC7fh38 to complete the application and upload the required items listed below under “Application Requirements”. Note: Some university email accounts may restrict document uploads. If you encounter issues, please follow the alternative submission instructions provided within the form. You may need to create a Google Folder that contains all required documents and paste that link into the application form.

Timeline

June 1 Application Deadline

June/July Reviewing & Judging of Applications 

August 31 Winners notified

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS  

Please upload application documents in Word Document (.docx or .doc) or PDF format unless otherwise specified. If the Google Form does not allow you to upload docs, follow directions within to submit your documents. Only complete applications will be considered.

• COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM https://forms.gle/9r5N76R9zvkC7fh38

ESSAY (1200-1500 words): The theme for the 2026 conference is all about the “team” effort. Your essay should describe how you contribute to your school's 'team' and how you plan to advocate for your visual art students within the broader field of education. Use this information and the following prompts to develop your essay.

Art teaching can sometimes be considered an ancillary or elective on the educational landscape. How are you going to work to make sure the “special teams” are recognized and highlighted?  Write an essay on how you will design your curriculum, instruction, and advocacy plan to make sure your students are recognized for their contributions to the school. What opportunities and challenges might you encounter in creating a place for students to have their talents and art made public?  How do you plan to adapt from preservice educator to art educator in your own classroom while continuing being an advocate for art education in and outside the classroom walls?

• Double-spaced

• 12-point font

• APA (latest version) style 

• Although Internet references are permitted, primary sources (books and journals) are encouraged. 

• e-PORTFOLIO (8-10 images): Images of your original works of art that show evidence of contemporary artistic practice. Choose one of the following formats:

You may create a PDF, Word Document (.doc or .docx format), or PowerPoint file with titles, years, media, and dimensions with each image (file size less than 10 megabytes). 

OR

Website links accepted. Please upload a PDF or Word Document (doc or docx format) file containing the link to your website. Web-based portfolios must include titles, years, media, and dimensions with each image.

• TWO (2) LETTERS OF SUPPORT, with at least one being from an Art Education faculty member, must be emailed directly by the authors to highereddiv@ohioarted.com

• COPY OF TRANSCRIPT Graduate students must submit undergrad and graduate transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are okay.

• ART TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: One-page, double-spaced, personal art teaching philosophy.

• RESUME: List education, honors, awards, exhibitions, professional experience with young people, and other relevant professional activities. 

• HEAD SHOT which may appear on the OAEA website and conference publications, if selected as a winner. (Format: .jpg)

JUDGING RUBRIC: 25% essay, 25% artwork, 15% philosophy, 15% letters, 10% resume, and 10% transcripts; Judges are from the OAEA Leadership Assembly Divisions Committee.

Questions? Contact Carolyn Althoff at highereddiv@ohioarted.com