Department of Theatre Arts Scholarships

There are currently a number of theatre arts scholarships that are awarded annually by the Department of Theatre Arts to continuing students. Each scholarship has separate criteria which can be found on the Ithaca College Giving website as well as listed below.

NOTE: All endowed scholarships will be awarded to students with demonstrated need. Therefore in order to qualify for Theatre Arts scholarships, students must have filed a FAFSA form with the Ithaca College financial aid office by March 1st each year and have been found eligible for assistance. No additional application is required beyond the completion of a current FAFSA by March 1st.

Scholarship Name	Description
George Hoerner '47 Memorial Scholarship	Awarded to talented and dedicated technical theatre and scenic design students. Established by family and friends of the late George Hoerner, professor emeritus and former department chair.
Peter Bergstrom Scholarship	Awarded to an acting or musical theatre major whose talent and academic ability demonstrate potential for achievement in the performing arts. Established by the friends of Peter Bergstrom '81 in his memory.
Katherine B. "Toby" Clarey '31 Memorial Scholarship	Awarded to talented acting or musical theatre majors who have demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American (ALANA) students. Created by family and friends to honor Katherine B. "Toby" Clarey, a theatre arts graduate well known for her activities in Ithaca regional theatre.
Richard M. Clark Memorial Scholarship	Awarded to outstanding theatre arts majors. Established in memory of Richard M. Clark, chair of the Ithaca College Department of Theatre Arts from 1981 to 1987, by friends, colleagues, alumni, and family.
Jane Woods Werly '27 Endowed Scholarship	Awarded to students in a theatre arts degree program, with preference given to those students majoring in musical theatre. Established by Jane Woods Werly.
Cissy Cheskis Scholarship	Awarded to a student in the Department of Theatre Arts, with preference given to acting majors. Recipients must demonstrate progressive academic achievement. Established in memory of Cissy Cheskis by her son, Robert Saxner '88.
Clarence Straight Award	Awarded to an outstanding newly graduated theatre arts major(s) who is attempting to establish a professional career.
Theatre Arts Alumni Memorial Scholarship	Awarded to a junior or senior majoring in theatre arts. Created by alumni and friends to honor the unique educational experience provided in the Department of Theatre Arts, while establishing a permanent memorial to deceased alumni, faculty, and others.
Laura Hinkley Hauer '23 Scholarship in Theatre Arts	Awarded to a theatre major whose talent and academic ability show potential for achievement in the performing arts and who has demonstrated financial need. Established through a generous bequest from Laura Hinkley Hauer, who majored in drama and public speaking and taught these subjects for many years.
Douglas '78 and Julie Weisman Professional Development Scholarship	Awarded to a theatre arts major to support professional development activities. To be eligible, students must be a junior or senior and have demonstrated financial need. Established by Douglas and Julie Weisman.
Roberta Barnett Endowed Scholarship	Awarded to a theatre arts student who has clear promise and demonstrated financial need. Established by John Bartholomew Tucker '52 in honor of his teacher Professor Roberta Barnett.
Frances Noble Newell '32 Memorial Scholarship	Awarded to a student with demonstrated financial need who is majoring in theatre arts or English and has a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Preference is given to students from Pennsylvania. Established in memory of Frances Noble Newell by her daughter, Debbie Duffield.
Lillian Speakman Vail '21 Scholarship	Awarded annually to juniors and seniors with established records of academic achievement and community service. Preference is given to students in music, theatre arts, or communication studies. Established by the family and friends of Lillian Speakman Vail to honor her lifelong friendship with, service to, and support of Ithaca College.
Florence Marro Gallagher Memorial Scholarship	Awarded to a deserving and committed student in the School of Music or in one of the following majors: acting, art, art education, art history, drama, musical theatre, theatre arts management, or theatrical production & design. The student must have demonstrated financial need. Established in memory of Florence Marro Gallagher by her son, John E. Gallagher Jr. '69.
Patricia Stevens Musical Theatre Scholarship	Awarded to a musical theatre major in good academic standing. Preference is for a student who has demonstrated financial need.
Dr. John Oblak Scholarship Theatre Arts	Awarded to students in the Department of Theatre Arts with demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American (ALANA) students. Established in memory of John B. Oblak by his friends and family.
Larry Hirschhorn '80 Scholarship for Theatre Arts	Awarded to theatre arts students with demonstrated financial need.