Archibald Rutledge Scholarship

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship program, named for South Carolina’s first poet laureate, offers twelfth-grade students (enrolled in a public school in South Carolina) the opportunity to compete for a scholarship in creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts as well as encourages and recognizes academic and artistic excellence among South Carolina students.

What does the program include?

Students will mail or deliver original compositions, process folios, and other required documentation in one of the five arts disciplines (creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts) to the South Carolina Department of Education.

When does the program begin?

Applications will be available online in October 2024. The deadline to submit an entry is Wednesday, February 19, 2025, delivered to the South Carolina Department of Education by 5:00 p.m. or postmarked on or before Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Entries will not be accepted after the deadline. Entries should have been created during the 2024-25 school year.

How will the students be recognized?

Five scholarships (approximately $2,000 each) will be awarded in May 2025. The South Carolina Department of Education will make the necessary arrangements to transfer the scholarship funds directly to the South Carolina college or university of the student’s choice. Students planning to attend an out-of-state college or university are ineligible to apply. The recipients may also be recognized by their local schools/school districts.

Eligibility criteria:

• Students must currently be enrolled in twelfth grade in a public school in South Carolina.
• Students must plan to attend a South Carolina college or university.
• Students must be a U.S. citizen and have attended public school in South Carolina for the past two years.
• Students may only apply for one scholarship.

Creative Writing

An entry is defined as an original composition, created by the applicant, utilizing any form of creative writing including but not limited to journals, diaries, letters, memoirs, essays, poetry, storytelling, speeches, and free writing. The composition should not exceed two, double-spaced pages in length.

Dance

• An entry is defined as an original creation of dance choreography timed at three to six minutes created for solo dancer or ensemble in any appropriate movement style. The applicant must perform in the recording of his or her creation.

Music

An entry is defined as an original vocal or instrumental composition created by the applicant timed at four to ten minutes for solo performer or small ensemble (recommended no more than five parts) utilizing any appropriate compositional technique. Arrangements of existing works will not be permitted for this competition.

Theatre

• An entry is defined as an original one-act script created by the applicant with a runtime of eight to fifteen minutes.

Visual Arts

• An entry is defined as original artwork that must be a completed, rendered visual creation, produced by the applicant. Art is limited to two-dimensional work such as drawing, painting, mixed media, printmaking, and collage. Artwork must not be copies of master artworks or comic art.

Additional criteria that each applicant/composition must meet are included on the individual entry forms.

Additional Information:

• Entries produced in collaboration with others are not eligible for this competition.
• A panel of professionals in each of the five arts areas will select a recipient in each of the disciplines. The decision of the judges is final.
• Students may compete in one arts area only.
• Compositions/artworks and process folios each count 50 percent towards the total score.
• Do not place your name or other identifying information on the original work, copies, including process folio, and reflection statement.