Scholarships + Awards
In addition to scholarships offered by the university and the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design we offer program-specific scholarships in performing arts.
Each candidate for admission to the University as a music major is required to perform an audition. In the 2022-2023 academic year, we will accept video auditions from all applicants.
Only audition videos submitted before February 1, 2023 will be considered for a scholarship. Audition results after February 1, 2023 will not be included in these decisions.
Arts Scholarship Program
Each year, Theatre & Cinema awards two (2) scholarships in the amount of $2000 each to talented freshman or transfer students who have been admitted to the university as Theatre & Cinema majors. In addition, the program awards two (2) $2,000 scholarships to rising sophomore Theatre & Cinema majors, two (2) $2,000 scholarships to rising junior Theatre & Cinema majors, and two (2) $2,000 scholarships to rising senior Theatre & Cinema majors annually.
Conditions of Application for First-Year Theatre & Cinema Scholarships
- Student must apply for admission to Virginia Tech through the University’s Office of Admissions.
- Students must complete the scholarship application procedures outlined below.
**Note: The Scholarship Audition/Interview date for students entering in the 2020-2021 year will be Saturday, February 1, 2020.
Application Procedures
- Obtain a copy of your secondary school transcripts.
- Obtain two (2) letters of recommendation/evaluation from individuals who can speak directly of your abilities and work in the theatre.
- Complete the Scholarship Application form.
- Interview/audition with approved Virginia Tech Theatre & Cinema faculty on the campus of Virginia Tech or at an approved audition location (i.e. state or national Thespian conference, state theatre festival, etc.).
You may either bring the materials in 1-3 above with you to your audition, or you may mail them by February 1 to:
Arts Scholarship Program
School of Performing Arts (0141)
195 Alumni Mall
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
To receive application materials and/or make an appointment for an interview/audition please contact:
Dee Hopkins
theatreandcinema@vt.edu
(540) 231-6456
Other Scholarships Awarded by Theatre & Cinema
In addition to the Arts Scholarships, the following scholarships are awarded to continuing students each year. To be eligible for consideration, a student must submit a scholarship application to the department. A Call for Application will go out during the spring semester and the deadline for application must be met.
The Samuel Robert Cox Memorial Scholarship is an annual award, given to an undergraduate Theatre & Cinema major who has made significant contributions in multiple areas of theatre, earned a GPA of 3.0 or above, and is a Virginia resident. The recipient may not also be on any other scholarship offered by the School of Performing Arts. Award amount: $500.
The Donald A. Drapeau Academic Scholarship is an annual award, given in honor of the man who for some thirty-seven years led the Department of Theatre & Cinema and fostered the development of its faculty, staff and students. The award is intended for a freshman, sophomore or junior, whose GPA is 3.0 or above and has demonstrated excellence in one or more areas of theatre. Award amount: $500.
The Box/Buxton Scholarship is an annual award, intended for a rising junior or rising senior Theatre & Cinema major (having completed at least 45 hours of course work) with a GPAof 2.5 or higher. This student must have demonstrated financial need and/or made significant contribution to the non-performance area of the Department’s production activities. Award amount: $2,000.
The Servant Leadership Award is an annual award (presented on behalf of Amy Luce & Vince DeGeorge, 2014 MFA graduates). This award honors the student who, in the judgment of the faculty and staff, has contributed significantly to the innovation of servant leadership by way of stage management, outreach, house management, direction and/or public dialogue. The Servant Leadership Award is intended for an undergraduate Theatre Arts major whose GPA is 3.0 or above, and may be received by the same student multiple years if he/she continues to meet the eligibility requirements. Award amount: $1,000.
Assistantships & Tuition Waiver:
Each student accepted into the program receives a full tuition scholarship and out-of-state fee waiver. Each student accepted also receives an assistantship of approximately $18,700 for the first academic year, with increasing amounts in the second and third years. To maintain assistantship support, students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each semester. No separate application required. Generally, All accepted students receive an assistantship and full tuition waiver.
The Assistantship Work:
Students in the program will be assigned to work in specific production shops - the scene shop, the costume shop, or the management office. Students in the Arts Leadership program may be assigned to work at the Moss Arts Center (typically in the second year of the program), and students in the Directing and Public Dialogue program and the Stage Management program may be assigned to teach the Intro to Acting for non-majors or the Stage Management course to undergraduate majors, under the guidance of an experienced faculty member.