Scholarships
ArtsFairfax partners with selected arts organizations in Fairfax County to award scholarships enabling students to pursue advanced studies in a variety of arts disciplines. Scholarships are funded by the Howard Uphoff Memorial Fund as well as private donors. Approximately four scholarships are awarded each year, and each scholarship ranges from $500 to $1,500.
Spotlight on The Arts Scholarship Winner
Scholarship Winner
Jared Simons
Portfolio: Short Film “Spring” and Spotlight on the Arts Essay
West Springfield High School
Jared’s $1000 scholarship award is for an original score for a short film entitled “Spring.” Jared attends Berklee College of Music where he will study film scoring.
2021 Congressional Art Awards
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.Â
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. ArtsFairfax partners with the 11th District Congressional Art Awards each year to help judge submissions and present the winner(s) with an award.
First Place Winner
Lena Song
“An Affinity Between”
Oakton High School
Second Place Winner
Heaven Nartey
“Imagine”
St. John Paul the Great High School
Third Place
Victoria Phinizy
“What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?”
Lake Braddock High School
2021 Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Award honorees were announced in March at the Scholastic Art Awards Ceremony, hosted annually by Fairfax County Public Schools. The event recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of secondary visual arts students in the Fairfax County Region. Artwork created by the student award winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges from 2500 submissions to receive gold key and silver key awards. Visit the Scholastic Art Exhibition website to learn more about the talented students in our community.
Scholastic Art Awardee, Gold Key
Sojung Pak
Portfolio Title: A War Untold
Centreville High School
Scholastic Writing Awardee, Gold Key
ArtsFairfax Poetry Awardee
Yasmine Bolden
Poetry Title: “For Black Girls When the Loving Looks Like Leaving”
Home School, Alexandria, VA
2021 Cappies Scholarship Winner
The Cappies (Critics and Awards Program) is an international program which was launched in FCPS. It recognizes, celebrates, and provides learning experiences for high school theater and journalism students, and teenage playwrights. In the National Capital Area, a Gala awards ceremony is held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. every June.
Cappies Awardee 1st Place
Jack Child
Read his review of Murder at the Old Keene Mill
Falls Church High School
Jack’s $500 scholarship award is for his work as the lead theatre critic at Falls Church High School Cappies. Jack attends the University of South Carolina.
2020 Scholarship Winners
- Emma Meeks, Metropolitan School of Arts – Virginia Dance Coalition
- Jasmin Yoon – Scholastic Award
- Due to the COVID-19 crisis, only 2 scholarships were awarded in 2020
2020 Scholarship Partners
- Fairfax County Public Schools for a visual arts scholarship
- Virginia Dance Coalition for a dance scholarship
- Cappies for a theatre scholarship
- Congressional Arts Awards for a visual arts scholarship
Arts Education Manager