MAD Scholars Program 2026-27
Incoming Freshman Scholarship Competition
The Department of Media and Visual Arts at West Liberty University is excited to announce the MAD Scholars Program — a competitive four-year scholarship opportunity for graduating high school seniors planning to pursue a Visual Communication degree in:
- Studio Art
- Art Education
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Digital Media Design
- Creative Arts Therapy
This competition is open to all graduating high school seniors, regardless of residency. Applicants must also submit an application for admission to West Liberty University.
Students must submit a portfolio of at least eight (8) pieces of original artwork. As determined by the art faculty, the winner will receive a four-year renewable art scholarship and a Housing Grant to study art, art education, graphic design, illustration, digital media, or art therapy at West Liberty University. Housing grants cover at least 80% of the total room cost and pay nothing to the board. Second and third-place awards of tuition scholarships and housing waivers may be granted if available and appropriate.
Scholarship
- Four-Year Renewable Scholarship → Awarded to the top applicant as determined by the art faculty.
- Housing Grant → Covers at least 80% of on-campus housing costs (meal plans not included).
- Additional Awards → Second- and third-place awards may include tuition scholarships and/or housing waivers, if available.
- Annual Scholarship Value → Awards typically range from $1,000 to $4,700 per year, renewable for up to four years, based on continued academic and creative excellence.
Eligibility
- Must be a graduating high school senior entering college in Fall 2026
- Must apply for admission to West Liberty University
- Must submit a portfolio by the stated deadline
Portfolio Submission Schedule
- Submission Period: Digital portfolios will be accepted from December 1st to December 2nd, 2025.
- Submission Deadline: All portfolios must be received via email by 6:00 p.m. on December 2nd, 2025.
- Submission Email: Send portfolios to Prof. Martyna Matusiak at martyna.matusiak@westliberty.edu.
Review and Judging:
- Finalist Notification: Finalists will be notified by the end of the day on December 8, 2025.
Finalist Interviews:
- Interview Dates: Finalists must be available for online Zoom interviews on December 10th & 11th, 2025 (afternoon/evening).
Note: Not all applicants are guaranteed interviews. Finalists are selected based on the initial portfolio review.
Final Decision:
- The judges’ decision will be announced by December 17, 2025
Portfolio Submission Guidelines
- Presentation Matters Treat your portfolio like a personal interview—make a strong, professional impression.
- Content & Mediums Your portfolio should represent your strongest creative work. We welcome a variety of mediums and concepts:
- Traditional Art → painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics
- Digital Work → animation, video, websites, motion graphics
- Graphic Design → posters, branding, logos, layouts
- Illustration → traditional, digital, character design, concept art
- Labeling Requirements First slide: Include your full name, high school, phone number, and email address. Each artwork slide: Include the title, medium, year, and size of the work.
- Quality Documentation Submit high-quality images of your work. Pay close attention to lighting, cropping, and color accuracy.
- Best Work Only Include your most recent and strongest pieces. Unfinished works showing potential are acceptable.
- Sketchbook & Process Work Applicants must include evidence of their creative process. This could be shown through:
- Sketchbook pages
- In-progress screenshots
- Moodboards and iterations
- Storyboards, scripts, or original photography
- Any material that demonstrates how you think and create.
You don’t need to submit work from every area—choose the categories that best highlight your strengths:
- Graphic Design → posters, branding, logos, layouts
- Digital Media → video, animation, motion graphics, interactive/web
- Studio Arts → painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics
- Illustration → traditional, digital, character design, concept art
Portfolio Examples from Accepted Students
High School Student Gallery
We’re excited to showcase selected work from local high school students. These examples will be displayed in a gallery to highlight the diversity of talent among future MAD Scholars.
