At the April 12, 2023 meeting, the Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) awarded $30,000 in Arts Scholarships to twenty students. The Student Arts Scholarship Program is designed to support individuals entering or enrolled in an accredited institution and who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in the arts. Applicants are eligible to receive up to four Student Arts Scholarships in a lifetime.

A volunteer panel of artists, arts professionals and educators evaluate each applicant according to established criteria. The CMAB directors received the recommendation from the panel and awarded scholarships to applicants that scored the highest.

The CMAB Student Arts Scholarship Award recipients are (listed alphabetically by city):

MEGAN MCDOWELL
Albertville, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Animation and Digital Media at
University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI

SYDNEY MATTSON
Big Lake, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Illustration at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, MN

JONAH OVERBY
Big Lake, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Music Education at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

TRENT LAMBERT
Buffalo, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Music Theatre at Columbia Collage, Chicago, IL

AUGUST CARLSON
Buffalo, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Illustration at University of
Wisconsin Eau Claire, WI

ERICA O’BORSKY
Buffalo, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Graphic/Interior Design at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

SARAH WARREN
Clear Lake, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Studio Art at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, WI

CULLEN BROWN
Elk River, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Music at University of Wisconsin, Superior, WI

JAN CHRISTOPHERSON
Elk River, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Fine Art at Lake Superior College, Duluth, MN

ELLA OVALL
Elk River, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Animation at University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI

PEYTON HAGEN
Elk River, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Studio Art & Psychology at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, WI

ANDREW RAHM
Foley, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Music Performance University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, MN

CHRISTOPHER MATHESON
Otsego, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Vocal Music Education at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

KATHRYN BLOMMEL
Saint Cloud, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Fine Arts at University of MN, Minneapolis, MN

LAINA BURRIS
Saint Cloud, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Music at Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio

LEAH DONNELLY
Saint Cloud, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Media Arts & Sciences at
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

CASSANDRA BLACKWOOD
Saint Cloud, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Studio Art at University of MN, Saint Cloud, MN

KAZMER BEAUDRY
Saint Cloud, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Music Education at Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN

JACKSON GERADS
Saint Joseph, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Fine Arts at University of MN, Minneapolis, MN

SAMANTHA BROWN
Saint Michael, MN
$1,500 Student Arts Scholarship
Technical Theatre at University of MN, Duluth, MN

The Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) strives to enhance appreciation of the essential economic and social roles the arts play in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties by providing grants and professional development services to arts and community organizations, schools, government units and individuals.

For more information about the Central MN Arts Board grant opportunities and services go to www.centralmnartsboard.org or call 320-968-4290 or toll free at 1-866-825-1471. For print resolution photos of students, contact Melissa at media@centralmnartsboard.org, 320-968-4290 ext. 4.