SANDPIPER ART GALLERY & GIFTS
2024 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
This year the Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts takes great pleasure in announcing that four deserving students were recently awarded scholarships ranging from $500 to $2000 each. Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has been in existence for over 50 years in Polson, MT. Sandpiper Art Gallery & Gifts places emphasis in making art available to people and to promote art as a career. Every year the Sandpiper has an art festival on the Courthouse lawn in Polson. Funds raised from that festival are used to award scholarships. This year the Flathead Lake Art Festival is scheduled July 20 & 21, 2024; the Courthouse Art Festival will be held on August 10, 2024.
Megan Hamilton
Megan Hamilton is currently a major in Fine Arts at Salish Kootenai College. She has been accepted as an intern at SKC in the Art Department. Megan assisted in painting a mural at Cal Poly College in July 2022, and has published poetry. Upon graduation, Megan plans on enrolling in an institution offering a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.
Beva Rae Finley
Beva Rae Finley is a member of the Two Eagle River High School graduating class of 2024. She has been accepted at Salish Kootenai College and intends to major in Fine Arts/Tribal Historic Preservation. Beva has received awards in Photography and Poetry from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in 2023 and is taking steps to one day land her dream job, working for National Geographic.
Danny Obrecht
Danny Obrecht, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, is currently a student majoring in Digital Arts and Design at Salish Kootenai College. He has earned two Google certifications, one in marketing and another in design. Danny is in the process of starting a business that includes logo design, graphic design, and web design. He recently created logos for a local business.
Sydney Taylor
Sydney Taylor is a member of the Ronan High School graduating class of 2024. She has been accepted at Montana State University into the BA program in Art, Art Education with a K-12 Broadfield emphasis. Sydney has been taking art classes for four years in Ronan, and has participated in Band, 4H, 4H mentoring and the National Honor Society.
~ Danny Obrecht
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.
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 and need, a portfolio, and a transcript.
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.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
When the committee does not have a viable student submission for the scholarship or chooses to give only a portion of the funds allotted, the scholarship committee can choose to fund students or non-profit art groups who sponsor art education, and/ or reduce the cost of local workshops for SAG members. All must submit an application and meet with the board for approval.
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BENEFITS
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Scholarship award recipients may request to have their artwork included in the member section of any new Art Show in the Gallery during that scholarship year.
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The winner(s) may also request complimentary Gallery membership for that scholarship year.
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The winner(s) may have selling space at the Gallery booth during the Courthouse Festival in Polson in August of that scholarship year.