Financial Assistance for Undergraduates

Scholarships in Theatre for Undergraduates

Through the WIU Foundation, several scholarships are available to theatre students. An overview of scholarships available for undergraduates is listed below. Awards are made early in fall semester for the academic year based on faculty recommendations. Students interested in being considered for such scholarships should notify the Department Chairperson late in the fall semester. Visit the Scholarship Office website for more information.

COFAC New Student Scholarship
Incoming Students
 Students who receive these awards must be new entering students (graduate or undergraduate). If freshmen, they should have highly competitive GPAs and good ACT scores, and rank in the upper 15% of their class. If transfers, they should have highly competitive GPAs (competitive GPAs are usually a minimum of 3.0 to 4.0 as the high). Students should also possess some outstanding talent in the area of art, music, theatre, voice, or dance. This is a new award that is starting in the fall of 2007. The amount of the award for 2007 varies.
Frank J. Horn Memorial Scholarship
Freshman/Transfers
This scholarship is awarded to a promising freshman or transfer student majoring in theatre and regularly admissible. Regularly admissible is either an ACT of 22 (SAT I-1010) or above, regardless of class rank or an ACT of at least 18 (SAT I 850) if they rank in the upper 50% of their graduating class. This scholarship is usually $300.
The Pearl LeCompte Memorial Scholarship
Freshman/Transfers & Sophomores
Awarded to a freshman or sophomore or new student. The student must be a theatre major and show promise in the field. To qualify, an incoming freshman must have an ACT score of at least 25. Transfer students must have at least a 3.25 overall grade point average or a 3.5 grade point average in theatre classes taken at Western. This scholarship ranges from $500 to $2000.
The Ronald R. Maurer Scholarship in Theatre
Sophomores to Seniors
This scholarship is awarded to a student who is a theatre major, has financial need, and has proven to be responsible and show initiative. The student must be at least a sophomore at Western and have at least one semester to go at WIU at the time the award is granted. This scholarship is usually $300.
The Dorothy and Maughan McMurdie Musical Theatre Scholarship
Sophomore to Senior BFA Students
This scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in the BFA Musical Theatre Program who has attended WIU for at least two semesters, has a min. grade point average of 3.0, and has demonstrated outstanding service to the art of musical theatre at WIU and in the community. The faculty of the BFA in Musical Theatre selects the recipient for this scholarship. This scholarship is usually $500.
The Jerry L. Oitker & Debra S. Miller Scholarship
Sophomore to Senior Design/Technical Theatre Students
This $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a theatre major in production/design who is recognized for outstanding contributions to the design and/or technical theatre areas. Applicants must have completed 30 semester hours by the conclusion of the semester of application and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
The Harold F. Schory Award in Theatre
Juniors and Seniors
This is a scholarship for juniors or seniors at Western ranging from $200 to $500. Recipients must have attended WIU as a full-time student for at least two semesters, and must have at least one semester remaining when the scholarship is given. Students with a cumulative grade point average below 3.0 do not qualify.
The Mary Ewing Award in Theatre
Juniors/Seniors or Graduate Students
The student must be either an upper division theatre major or a second year graduate student. The upper division student must have a GPA of at least 3.0. This is a scholarship of $500 and preference will be given to a Macomb resident. If there is no candidate from Macomb, a McDonough County resident will be given second preference; if no McDonough County resident is eligible, a student with a permanent residence in West-Central Illinois will qualify.