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SANDPIPER ART GALLERY & GIFTS
2025 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 $3000. 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 19-20, 2025; the Courthouse Art Festival will be held on August 9, 2025.
Katie Medicine Bull
Katie Medicine Bull will be completing her AA in Fine Arts at Salish Kootenai College by Spring 2026, after which time she intends to apply to University of Montana School of Visual and Media Arts Department. Katie is currently employed part-time as an intern/photography assistant. While a high school sophomore in Ronan, Katie was recognized with a national award when one of her photographs was show at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and in 2024 two of Katie's photographs were shown at the 2024 Photoville Expo in New York City.
Trendon Butterfly
Trendon Butterfly is a graduate in Business Management from Blackfeet Community College in Browning, MT, and is currently enrolled in the Digital Design/Fine Arts Program at Salish Kootenai College. His artworks range from traditional imagery in ledger art to incorporating contemporary design in digital works. Trendon utilizes various media, including watercolor, colored pencils, and acrylic paint while practicing photography as well. Trendon's goal is to enroll in the University of Montana's Visual and Media Arts Program with a focus in Online Design.
Kianna Hensley
Kianna Hensley is currently a major in The Fine Arts Program at Salish Kootenai College. Kianna is a contemporary artist who specializes in the human form, surrealism, and incorporates concepts of art history, and mythology while using mediums such as charcoal and acrylic paint. She has been instrumental in starting a campus-wide Tribal Flag Mural Project. Upon graduation with her AA in Fine Arts, Kianna intends to enroll in an institution offering both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Fine Arts.
Tina Maughan
Tina Maughan is enrolled in the Salish Kootenai College Tribal Historic Preservation Associate of Arts degree program. Tina has also attended the Fashion Design Program at Brooks College in California. She has sold jewelry in Bigfork, MT at "Creative and Native". Tina has taken many courses in Flathead Reservation Arts and her goal is to attend a program in Museum Studies with emphasis on artifact preservation and reconstruction.
Kianna Hensley
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Trendon Butterfly
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, 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.
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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".
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For more information on art shows, gallery receptions, workshops, and memberships, please visit our website: SandpiperArtGalleryandGifts.com