Awards & Scholarships
Academic Recognition & Funding
Art
- William H. and Susan B. Irwin Fund
- Established in 1986, this fund supports visual arts students at the University of California, Santa Cruz. It offers scholarships for undergraduates (Irwin Scholars) and fellowships for graduates (Irwin Fellows), with a minimum award of $2,500 per year for tuition, materials, and books. Recipients are chosen based on financial need and merit across various visual arts disciplines.
- Eduardo Carillo Memorial Scholarship
- Established in memory of Professor Eduardo Carrillo, a dedicated artist and advocate for education, this scholarship supports UC Santa Cruz art majors excelling in painting, drawing, or sculpture. Recipients receive need-based funds to pursue their academic and artistic ambitions.
- The Virginia Rose “Ginny” Kleker Memorial Endowment
- Established in 2010, this Endowment aids first and second-year undergraduates passionate about electronic arts, photography, digital arts, and new media. It assists talented students in pursuing their goals, focusing on financial needs excluding tuition costs.
Learn more on the Art Department website.
Music
Dora Binder Skolnick Memorial
Established in 1982, the UCSC Endowment for Classical Music administers the Dora Binder Skolnick Prize. This annual award supports undergraduate or graduate music students with financial need who exhibit exceptional musical performance and promising potential for future accomplishments.
Grosvenor Cooper Memorial Scholarship
Established in 1992, this scholarship prioritizes merit (with financial need considered secondarily) for second and third-year UC Santa Cruz students who embody Dr. Cooper’s ethos of embracing music with joyful enthusiasm beyond academic requirements. While the recipient doesn’t need to major in music, enrollment in a music class is required.
Ernest and Jean Kretschmer Music Scholarship
Established in 1992, this scholarship is a merit-based scholarship awarded to students declared as music majors, preferably studying piano or keyboard instruments.
Eltinge Music Endowment Established
Established in 1997, this endowment supports the Music Department at UC Santa Cruz, offering scholarships to deserving students and assisting in areas of critical need. Additionally, it funds instrumental and vocal instruction programs crucial to enhancing students’ UC Santa Cruz experience.
Resident String Quartet
Your gift supports scholarships for students to participate in many public concerts with the Resident String Quartet Program.
George Barati Cello Scholarship
Established in 1998 in memory of George Barati (1913-96), a versatile musician from Hungary, this scholarship is granted by UC Santa Cruz’s Music Department to a talented music major specializing in the cello. It aims to attract and retain freshmen cellists for the Resident String Quartet Ensemble as part of its financial aid package.
Nicole Auclair Memorial Scholarship
Established in 2003 in memory of Nicole Auclair, a student majoring in Music at UC Santa Cruz, the Nicole Auclair Memorial Scholarship Fund provides need-based scholarships for talented and deserving students majoring in Music.
Learn more on our Music Department’s website.
Performance, Play, and Design
UCSC African American Theater Arts Troupe Scholarship – CADRC
The African American Theater Arts Troupe at UC Santa Cruz enriches campus and community diversity by recruiting, recognizing, and retaining underrepresented students of color. The troupe fosters belonging and solidarity through productions, performances, and workshops while celebrating cultural diversity. Additionally, as an academic entity, it actively raises funds for the UCSC Annual African American Theater Arts Troupe Scholarship Fund, having awarded over $100,000 in scholarships based on merit, financial need, and dedication to theater arts. Your support through sponsorship, donation, or purchasing ads contributes directly to these students’ educational pursuits, furthering our mission of empowerment and service within the community. Learn More!
Dharma-Grace Foundation Creative Writing Award
Established in 2005, this endowed fund awards an outstanding script written by a third or fourth-year undergraduate student in need of financial aid, majoring in Theater Arts and good academic standing. This award supports funding for a full production of the script for the Chautauqua Festival of works written, directed, designed, managed, and produced by students.
Priscilla Newton Undergraduate Scholarship
Founded in 1991, the Priscilla Newton Theater Arts Scholarship is a merit and financial need-based award, given annually to an undergraduate student showing great promise and theatrical performance abilities. Strong preference is given to women students majoring in Theater Arts.
Learn more on our Performance, Play, and Design Department’s website.
History of Art and Visual Culture
HAVC/Porter College Scholarship
This scholarship is now available to students majoring or minoring in history of art & visual culture (HAVC) regardless of college affiliation. Funding is provided by the Porter College Provost. Eligible students are invited to submit proposals to enhance their intellectual and educational experience. Grants can be used to support research, travel, and other disciplinary-related projects. Depending on the number of applicants and the amount of funding available, awards typically range from $200 to $1,000. Learn more!
Clare Wedding Student Enrichment Endowment
The Clare Wedding Student Enrichment Endowment, generously established by Randy and Celia Wedding, supports undergraduates in UC Santa Cruz’s History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC) Department. Administered by the department chair, the fund aids students in two key areas: studying art of the Pacific Rim countries and communities, including Oceania, and pursuing practical experiences in curating and displaying art and visual culture. Eligible uses of the endowment include internships, course support, independent research projects, field trips, guest speakers, and research assistantships, with application rounds held in winter and spring. Priority is given to HAVC majors, with applications evaluated based on project quality, budget rationale, and alignment with primary themes. Learn more!
Patricia and Rowland Rebele Grant
These grants, generously funded by Patricia and Rowland Rebele, are available to the History of Art & Visual Culture majors and minors regardless of college affiliation. Students may request research support, travel for study purposes, costs related to accepting an internship, or expenses that aid the successful completion of their studies. Learn more!
Learn more on our History of Art and Visual Culture department website.
Film and Digital Media
Eli Hollander Aspiring Filmmaker Award
This award encourages young filmmakers to creatively push the boundaries of expression and challenge the art of change. It honors, encourages, and brings notice to outstanding students in production, giving a platform to promising filmmakers, who are deeply engaged in finding an original and personal “voice” through their work. It also honors Professor Emeritus Eli Hollander who helped pioneer the production concentration within the major and was deeply inspirational to those students who studied with him over four decades.
Korduner Family Scholarship
No description is available, please reach out to our Arts Development office.
Learn more on our Film and Digital Media department website.
Faculty
Board of Opportunity Fund
The UC Santa Cruz Foundation’s Board Opportunity Fund (BOF), established in January 2008, offers seed funds for short-term campus projects. Proposals from faculty and staff are welcomed to seize unique opportunities aligned with academic priorities, serving as incentives for further fundraising or raising campus visibility. Learn more!
Art Research Institute
The Arts Research Institute at UC Santa Cruz backs faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students in creative research, scholarship, and publicly engaged practice. We prioritize fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and engagement with off-campus partners. Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we elevate arts visibility, manage strategic planning and fundraising, and administer faculty grants to support innovative exploration and meaningful impact. Learn more!
Divisional Awards and Scholarships
Porter College Fellowships, Awards, & Student Projects
Porter College offers various opportunities for student funding and recognition, including fellowships, scholarships, grants, and prizes. The Undergraduate Fellowships and Student Project Funds support research, scholarly work, and artistic projects for Porter undergraduates, while the Research Fellowships provide paid jobs and independent study opportunities for current Porter students. Additionally, the Hitchcock Modern Poetry Fund supports poetry projects for UCSC faculty, and the Foley-Mendelssohn Travel Scholarship aids undergraduates in pursuing educational opportunities abroad. Porter also provides grants for student projects through the Student Senate Grants and Creative and Innovative (C&I) Grants, along with recognition through the James B. Hall Prize for Outstanding Creative Project. Learn more!
Lakas Scholarship
Lakas Shimizu remembered for his inclusive nature and leadership potential, inspired a scholarship at UC Santa Cruz funded by his family. The scholarship supports arts students engaged in creative scholarly practice and community organizing for inclusion and equity. Lakas’s family aims to ensure equal access to education, reflecting his values of unity and opportunity. Through this scholarship, they honor his legacy and encourage students to embrace their strengths and contribute meaningfully to the world. Learn more!
Deans and Chancellors Undergraduate Research Award
The Deans and Chancellor of UC Santa Cruz celebrate excellence in undergraduate research and creativity through the annual Deans’ and Chancellor’s Undergraduate Awards. These awards recognize outstanding theses or projects completed during the academic year, with winners announced in April and May. Additionally, the prestigious Steck Award honors the most outstanding research project, offering substantial monetary rewards and recognition during Student Achievement Week in June. Application guidelines require a letter of recommendation, project description, and confirmation of project completion, ensuring a rigorous selection process. Learn more!
Florence J. French Scholarship
Supports scholarships in art for students in need of financial aid to be administered by the Dean of Arts in consultation with the visual art faculty.
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Non-Affiliated UCSC Arts Funding Opportunities
Ars Council Santa Cruz County Grant
Artistic Scholarship Against the Grain
Pat MacKay Diversity in Design Scholarship
National Endowments for the Arts
The Rick Hooper Scholarship Fund
If you would like to learn more about our scholarships and award opportunities please contact our Arts Development Office and we will be happy to help you.