Vivian “Bish” Edwards Theatre Education Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by California Educational Theatre Association
Overview
The scholarship supports a high school senior from Southern California who intends to major or minor in theatre and aspires to become a theatre educator. It targets students preparing for post-secondary study at a college, university, or conservatory with a focus on theatre and educational theatre. Selection involves application materials and an in-person interview at the CETA High School Theatre Festival for finalists. The award is presented at the festival awards ceremony.
Description: A regional scholarship for Southern California high school seniors committed to theatre study and a career in theatre education.
- Supports students pursuing theatre as a major or minor with educator goals.
- Finalists interview in person at the CETA High School Theatre Festival.
- Award announced at the festival awards ceremony.
Student requirements
Applicants must meet specific eligibility conditions related to school enrollment and program intent. Eligibility centers on California residency, current high school senior status, and enrollment at a school with an active CETA member theatre advisor. The candidate must intend to declare a theatre major or minor and pursue a career in theatre education. Meeting these requirements is mandatory to be considered for the scholarship.
Eligibility: Applicant must be a California high school senior at a school with a current CETA member theatre advisor and plan to study theatre with the goal of working in theatre education.
- High school senior in the state of California.
- Attends a high school with a current CETA member theatre advisor.
- Plans to declare a major or minor in theatre with the goal of working in theatre education.
Submission Requirements
Applications require written materials that articulate the applicant’s perspective on theatre and educational arts. The primary written component is an essay addressing theatre’s role, the value of arts in education, and the applicant’s goals. A recommendation letter from a high school teacher on school letterhead is also required. The essay has a maximum length of 1,000 words.
Application Requirements: Submit an essay (max 1,000 words) about the role of theatre and arts in education, plus a teacher recommendation on school letterhead.
- Essay discussing theatre, educational theatre, and the value of arts in education (1,000-word maximum).
- Letter of recommendation from a high school teacher on official school letterhead.
Award Procedure
The award committee is composed of three CETA members who are theatre teachers at the high school or post-secondary level. The committee reviews applications and selects up to ten finalists for interview. Finalists will be notified by email and must attend the CETA High School Theatre Festival to interview with the committee on festival Saturday. The scholarship recipient is announced at the festival awards ceremony on Sunday.
Award Process: Committee review narrows applicants to finalists who interview in person at the festival; the winner is presented during the awards ceremony.
- Committee of three CETA theatre educators conducts review and interviews.
- Up to ten finalists are selected and notified by email.
- Finalists must attend the CETA High School Theatre Festival for interviews; award presented at the festival ceremony.