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SANDPIPER ART GALLERY & GIFTS
2026 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts takes great pleasure in announcing that $5000 worth of scholarship money has been awarded to seven deserving students. Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been a mainstay in the Polson, MT community for over 50 years. Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts places emphasis in making art available to people and to promote art as a career. Every year the Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts has local art festival events in Polson to raise funds to award scholarships. This year the Flathead Lake Festival of Art is scheduled for July 18-19, 2026; the Courthouse Art Festival will be held on August 8, 2026.
Dine' Warriors-Pistolbullet
Dine Warriors Pistol Bullett is a dual major. She is working on her AA degrees in both Tribal Historic Preservation and in Fine Arts at Salish Kootenai College. Her goal is to pursue a career as an educator in the cultural arts, or work as a Museum Technician. Dine's work includes quillwork, beading, weaving, dance outfit construction, drawing, painting, mixed media and digital design. Dine's artwork was featured twice in the February 2026 issue of the Tribal College Journal, she completed an internship at Ninepipes Museum in Charlo, MT, and was an intern for two quarters with the Salish Kootenai College Art Department.
Mia Armijo
Mia Armijo is attending the Fine Arts Program at Salish Kootenai College and will be graduating in 2027. Mia has had a small business in creating and selling handmade jewelry, and paints custom banners for birthdays and special events. In addition, she helps with logo designs and murals. Mia won first place with a piece of artwork at the most recent meeting of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium in North Dakota this year.
Vivika Rae Finley
Vivika Rae Finley will graduate in 2026 with her AA degree from the Fine Arts Program at Salish Kootenai College. Her work focuses primarily on nature photography. Vivica has experimented with portraiture, but growing up in Perma, MT, she was constantly surrounded by inspiring landscapes. Vivica would like to work for a publication like National Geographic to combine her love of photography and nature on a professional level.
Keithetta Quequesah
Keithetta Quequesah is a Digital Design Major at Salish Kootenai College. Keithetta's objective is to develop a strong foundation in visual communication by combining traditional craftsmanship with modern digital tools. She uses her skills in beadwork, sewing, and photography to advance towards her goal of becoming a fashion related designer, merging her background in tactile arts with digital platforms.
Seattle Adams
Seattle Adams is a first year student in the Associate of Arts degree Fine Arts Program at Salish Kootenai College. Seattle has gained experience in acrylic, watercolor, goache, markers, sculpture, and oil pastels as well as digital arts. Seattle would like to continue her art education and is currently exploring where to pursue her Master's degree in Fine Arts.
Tina Maughan
Tina Maughan is enrolled in the Salish Kootenai College Tribal Historic Preservation Bachelor of Arts degree program and will graduate June 2026. Tina has applied to Masters/PhD programs with emphasis on artifact preservation and reconstruction. Tina attended the Fashion Design Program at Brooks College in California and has sold jewelry in Bigfork, MT at "Creative and Native".
Darris Lopez
Daris Lopez is a first year student in both the Digital Design and Fine Arts Programs at Salish Kootenai College. Daris creates high precision graphics using quality software applications. His interest lies in web design; creating visuals, concepts and graphics. Daris is learning more about design in order to make interactive web sites for individuals and companies.
REQUIREMENTS
(Click HERE for PDF of Application Info & Guidelines)
Students applying must be either enrolled at an institution of higher learning, or a high school senior accepted by a college, university, or specialized school offering degrees in the arts. Applicants must generally be full-time students although we will recognize those applicants who have special situations, which limit full-time attendance. Applicants must reside in Lake County or Sanders County. The student must fill out the Scholarship Application Form, including a statement of interest, a portfolio, and a transcript.
Dine' Warriors-Pistolbullet
PURPOSE OF OUR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
To encourage, support and mentor students who reside in Lake and Sanders Counties interested in studying any of the fine arts. Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts promotes participation in the arts, and provides educational opportunities through workshops, scholarships, exhibits, a library and other resources. We believe that the inherent value of the Fine Arts enhances the quality of life and merits our attention.
Each year Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts offers art scholarships to deserving students from Lake and Sanders Counties interested in studying any of the fine arts. The award amount may vary.
In developing criteria for their scholarship the Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts recognizes the wide range and application of the art field. For scholarship eligibility purposes we define "art" as any form practices mainly for its aesthetic value and beauty. These art forms include: painting, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, jewelry, photography and film, fiber and graphic art. We further expand the criteria to include professional careers in art. These include art education, history of art, restoration, scientific/medical art illustration, digital art and design, art verification and authentication, art archeology, and museum curatorship.
Seattle Adams
ACCEPTANCE
The student’s completed Scholarship Application Form must be submitted by March 31st of the year applying. The Scholarship Committee will review it, schedule an interview, and present their selection to the Board of Directors. The Committee will suggest the monetary amount to be awarded; this may vary from year to year. To qualify, the applicant must meet all obligations of the application process. No exceptions are made, unless by Board approval. The scholarship is paid to the school directly.
BENEFITS
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A Gallery Student Membership may be offered to the scholarship recipients for that scholarship year
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The recipient will have artwork space at the Gallery for every new art show
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The recipient will also be able to sell their art at the gallery's booth during both summer art festivals - the "Flathead Lake Festival of Art" and the "Courthouse Festival".
For more information on art shows, gallery receptions, workshops, and memberships, please visit our website: SandpiperArtGalleryandGifts.com