At the April 9, 2026, meeting, The Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) awarded $24,000 in Arts Scholarships to twelve students. A panel of volunteer artists, arts professionals and educators evaluate each application according to the criteria and provide a score. The CMAB directors reviewed the panel’s recommendation and awarded funding to applicants with the highest scores.
The Student Arts Scholarship Program is designed to support individuals entering or enrolled in an accredited institution to pursue an undergraduate degree in the arts. Applicants are eligible to receive up to four Student Arts Scholarships in a lifetime. This program is made possible by funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature’s general fund.
The CMAB Student Arts Scholarship Award recipients are (listed alphabetically by city):
HAILEY HEMP
Big Lake, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Graphic Design at Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
AJ RAHM
Foley, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Music at University of
St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
MADELYN GALLAGHER
Hanover, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Digital Media Arts at University of
St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
ROSE URICK
Monticello, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Graphic & Interactive Design at
Minnesota State University, Moorhead, MN
ANIKA VAN VOOREN
Saint Cloud, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Art Education at Concordia
College, Moorhead, MN
KYLE HANES
Saint Cloud, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Studio Art at Saint Cloud
State University, Saint Cloud, MN
ELI POWELL
Saint Michael, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Musical Theatre at University of
Central Florida, Orlando, FL
ANN WEIGLE
Saitn Michael, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Acting at Ball State University, Muncie, IN
MARUEN PENSERGA
Saint Cloud, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Art Education at University
of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
JOSHUA LEFEBER
Sartell, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Performance and Music Theory at Lawrence University, Appleton, WI
WREN DAHL
Sauk Rapids, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Comics/Illustration at School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
STEPHANIE BOULKA
Zimmerman, MN
$2,000 Student Arts Scholarship
Arts & Music Education at
Concordia College, Moorhead, MN