Privately Funded Scholarships

Donald R. and Virginia Minx Memorial Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be junior music or non-music majors, have strong musical and academic skills, be active in community service and service to music at A-State.

L.H. Sternheimer Family Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be graduating seniors from Jonesboro High School with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 who plan on attending A-State, demonstrate sound moral character and social-emotional adjustment, and participate in extracurricular activities. Preference is given first, to a double major in keyboard and vocal music; second, to a major in keyboard; third, to a major in vocal music; fourth, to any music major. Students must maintain a 3.0 or higher as a full time student of A-State.

John H. and Irene N. Neeley Memorial Music Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be junior or senior music majors with a minimum 3.0 GPA, from the Jonesboro or Western Poinsett County area, and demonstrate scholastic achievement, musical talent, dedication to the study of music, citizenship, and financial need. 

Dan Ross Memorial Scholarship

• One annual award will be given each each year.  To qualify for this scholarship a student must be a music major with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must be of a sophomore classification or higher. The current recipient is eligible to receive the award multiple times but they must reapply. The award is chosen by the CoLAC Scholarship Committee.

Steward Family Scholarship

• One variable award will be given each year, payable half in the fall and half in the spring. In the event funds are sufficient, two students may be chosen to receive the scholarship award. To qualify for this scholarship a student must be a full-time students at Arkansas State University. Preference will be given to music majors in this order: 1. Strings Music Majors, 2. Composition Majors, 3. Vocal Music Education Majors. Renewal is available to the current recipient but they must reapply, and no preference is given. The award is chosen by a selection committee at a spring audition.

Dr. Thomas Miles O'Connor Award for Jazz Performance 

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be sophomores or higher with previous jazz band membership, be committed to the A-State jazz music program through exemplary rehearsal and performance attendance, demonstrate excellence or improvement in jazz performance, instrumental proficiency, improvisation skills, and jazz music literacy, and demonstrate outstanding ensemble and solo performance in jazz and a commitment to the preservation and future of the medium. 

Billy Bell Jazz

• Award is made annually to a full-time student who is a sophomore or higher with previous jazz band membership. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to the A-State Jazz music program including exemplary rehearsal and performance attendance. Excellence in and/or most improved performance in the A-State jazz music program; demonstrated instrumental proficiency, improvisation skills, and jazz music literacy (e.g. familiarity w/jazz artists, composers, recordings, and jazz music history) is preferred as well as demonstrated ensemble and solo performance; commitment to the preservation and future of jazz music.
  

Lily Peter Keyboard Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be keyboard majors, maintain satisfactory progress in their keyboard studies, provide service in the form of accompanying or other duties as assigned in the music department, and demonstrate talent and performance in audition.

W. J. Beard Memorial Music Scholarship 

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be entering freshmen majoring in piano or organ or a current piano or organ majors, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and provide service in the form of accompanying or other duties as assigned in the music department. In the event an otherwise qualified student applies but does not have a 3.0, he or she may still be considered if there is visible potential for academic improvement. 

Dr. J. D. Kelly Piano Scholarship Fund

• First awarded in 2022, the J. D. Kelly Piano Scholarship was created by Dr. Kelly and many other friends and family in memory of his generous and gracious support of A-State and his dedication to excellence in piano performance in the region. To qualify for this scholarship students must be an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in piano and perform an audition for the keyboard faculty. The recipient may be renewed if they continue satisfactory progress in academics and in their area of performance.
  

Janna Lambert Memorial Keyboard Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be incoming freshmen majoring in music on piano or organ, have an ACT score of at least 20, perform a memorized audition for the keyboard faculty, and provide service in the form of accompanying or other duties as assigned in the music department. Memorized audition music should be at least equal to the difficulty level of the Sonata in G major, Op. 79 by Beethoven.

L.H. Sternheimer Family Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be graduating seniors from Jonesboro High School with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 who plan on attending A-State, demonstrate sound moral character and social-emotional adjustment, and participate in extracurricular activities. Preference is given first, to a double major in keyboard and vocal music; second, to a major in keyboard; third, to a major in vocal music; fourth, to any music major. Students must maintain a 3.0 or higher as a full time student of A-State.

Ian Thomas Memorial Annual Instrumental Music Education Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be a full-time upper level Instrumental Music Education major, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, a member of the Honors College, and demonstrate a passion for their field and lead others to that passion.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and full-time status at the end of the fall semester to receive the remainder of the award for the spring semester.

Ann and Albert Swaty Strings Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be full-time or incoming full-time students at A-State, participate in A-State Orchestra and take string lessons from A-State faculty, and have a 2.5 GPA or higher.

Ian Thomas Memorial Annual Instrumental Music Education Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be a full-time upper level vocal Music Education major, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, a member of the Honors College, and demonstrate a passion for their field and lead others to that passion.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and full-time status at the end of the fall semester to receive the remainder of the award for the spring semester.

Steward Family Scholarship

• One variable award will be given each year, payable half in the fall and half in the spring. In the event funds are sufficient, two students may be chosen to receive the scholarship award. To qualify for this scholarship a student must be a full-time students at Arkansas State University. Preference will be given to music majors in this order: 1. Strings Music Majors, 2. Composition Majors, 3. Vocal Music Education Majors. Renewal is available to the current recipient but they must reapply, and no preference is given. The award is chosen by a selection committee at a spring audition.

L.H. Sternheimer Family Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be graduating seniors from Jonesboro High School with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 who plan on attending A-State, demonstrate sound moral character and social-emotional adjustment, and participate in extracurricular activities. Preference is given first, to a double major in keyboard and vocal music; second, to a major in keyboard; third, to a major in vocal music; fourth, to any music major. Students must maintain a 3.0 or higher as a full time student of A-State.

Julia Lansford Vocal Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be junior or senior level vocal music majors, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be pursuing a Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music Education degree. Finalists for this award will perform for a committee where a winner will be selected.

Alfred R. Skoog Choral Alumni Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be pursuing a Master of Choral Conducting or a Master of Music Education degree and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Preference will be given to former students of Mr. Alfred Skoog or A-State graduates.

Foust Family Scholarship

• An award will be given to a full-time student who is a graduate of Harrisburg, Cross County, Wynne, or Forrest City High School.  To qualify for this scholarship students must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, be a junior or senior level A-State student, and be majoring in Agriculture, Business, or Vocal Music Performance or Vocal Music Education.  If the recipient is a vocal music major, he or she must be enrolled in at least one choral ensemble. This scholarship rotates annually between the three major areas listed above. 

Robin Martin Yates Vocal Scholarship

• An award will be given to a full-time upper level A-State student with at least 30 hours completed. To qualify for this scholarship students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and be a vocal music major. First priority will be given to vocal music education students and further consideration will be given to those that have exhibited exemplary participation in A-State choral and vocal activities. This scholarship is renewed automatically for recipients who continue to meet the qualifications. 

The Jeffrey Steward Memorial Vocal Music Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship a student must be a vocal performance major and in their junior or senior year. This is a one-time award but recipients may reapply each year they meet the qualifications. The award is chosen by voice faculty at a spring audition.

Steward Family Scholarship

• One variable award will be given each year, payable half in the fall and half in the spring. In the event funds are sufficient, two students may be chosen to receive the scholarship award. To qualify for this scholarship a student must be a full-time students at Arkansas State University. Preference will be given to music majors in this order: 1. Strings Music Majors, 2. Composition Majors, 3. Vocal Music Education Majors. Renewal is available to the current recipient but they must reapply, and no preference is given. The award is chosen by a selection committee at a spring audition.
  

Ian Thomas Memorial Annual Vocal Music Education Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be a full-time upper level vocal Music Education major, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, a member of the Honors College, and demonstrate a passion for their field and lead others to that passion.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and full-time status at the end of the fall semester to receive the remainder of the award for the spring semester.
  

Ann Slaughter Smith Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be members of the Sound of the Natural State Marching Band, full-time students of any major and be in good academic standing with the university.

Ian Thomas Memorial Annual Instrumental Music Education Scholarship

• To qualify for this scholarship students must be a full-time upper level Instrumental Music Education major, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, a member of the Honors College, and demonstrate a passion for their field and lead others to that passion.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and full-time status at the end of the fall semester to receive the remainder of the award for the spring semester.