Visual Art Incoming Freshmen Scholarship Competition
2025-26 Art Scholarship Competition
The Department of Media and Visual Arts at West Liberty University is pleased to announce a four-year scholarship opportunity for graduating high school seniors who plan to major in Studio Art, Art Education, Graphic Design, Illustration, Digital Media Design, or Art Therapy. This competition is open to all graduating seniors, regardless of residency, and applicants must have applied 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
A WLU four-year scholarship equals approximately $3,200 per year for an in-state student or $ 4,000 per year for an out-of-state student. The value of the WLU Housing Grant is approximately $4,000 per year. Award amounts are subject to change.
Portfolio Submission Schedule
- Submission Period: Digital portfolios will be accepted from December 2nd to December 3rd, 2024.
- Submission Deadline: All portfolios must be received via email by 6:00 p.m. on December 3rd, 2024.
- Submission Email: Send portfolios to Prof. Martyna Matusiak at martyna.matusiak@westliberty.edu.
Review and Judging:
- Faculty Review: Judging will occur on December 6, 2024.
- Finalist Notification: Finalists will be notified by the end of the day on December 8, 2024.
Finalist Interviews:
- Interview Dates: Finalists must be available for online Zoom interviews on December 11 & 12, 2024 (afternoon/evening).
Final Decision:
- The judges’ decision will be announced by December 17, 2024
Portfolio Submission Guidelines
- Presentation Matters: Treat your portfolio presentation like a personal interview; making a strong impression is crucial.
- Content & Mediums: Feel free to showcase your unique talents and skills while expressing your passion. We welcome submissions of any creative concepts, whether using traditional art
mediums like paints or clay, or multimedia platforms such as websites and
animation/film. Both subjective and commercial themes are encouraged. - Labeling: Ensure your first slide includes your name, the name of the high school you attend, your telephone number, and your email address. The rest of your slides should be labeled with the artwork’s title, medium, year, and size.
- Quality Documentation: Include only high-quality images of your artwork, paying attention to proper lighting, cropping, and color balance.
- Submission Format: Digital portfolios should be submitted by email for the initial round of judging. Finalists will be required to participate in either face-to-face or online interviews. Portfolios should be presented as PDF files created using PowerPoint, Keynote, or similar programs.
- Artwork Condition: Do not submit torn or poorly maintained artwork.
- Best Work Only: Include your most recent and strongest pieces. Seek feedback from teachers, parents, and friends. Remember, the jurors prioritize the quality of the work over the quantity. Unfinished pieces that demonstrate potential are acceptable.
- Sketchbook/Progress Work: Students must show evidence of their creative process in
the form of a sketchbook, in-progress screenshots, iterations, moodboards, original
photography, script, storyboard, or any other format that visually documents how they
work and think creatively.
Current Student Work
