Coladarci and Ehlers Arts Scholarships

Morris Arts is offering the Elaine Ehlers ($5,000) and Eugenie Coladarci ($1,500) Arts Scholarships to recognize graduating high school seniors who has  exhibited artistic excellence in dance, drama, visual arts or music.

Eligibility:

Applications will be accepted from high school seniors graduating in June 2024 who are currently attending public, private, or parochial school in New Jersey. Applicants must be Morris County residents who plan to pursue post-secondary studies at an accredited institution or acknowledged arts school or fine arts program, and who have demonstrated artistic excellence. Your completed application automatically qualifies you for consideration for either scholarship. Children of Morris Arts trustees, staff, and panelists are not eligible.

Application Requirements:

To apply, you will be required to submit artistic work samples, two brief essays, a list of artistic activities and/or special awards and recognitions within your online application form. Two letters of recommendation are to be submitted separately via email to Cyndall Brice at cbrice@morrisarts.org.  

Apply Online. Important dates:

March 1st : Application deadline

March 22nd: Deadline for optional updates from applicants

June 22nd: Scholarships will be awarded at our 40th Annual Giralda Music & Arts Festival 

Evaluation Process:

Applicants will be judged by a panel of professionals with a high level of expertise in college arts education and/or professional experience. Each artistic discipline will be represented on the panel. Selection of scholarship winners will be based on artistic excellence as demonstrated by the quality of the work samples and application submitted to the panel. Dedication and character will also be considered. Each scholarship will be paid directly to the student’s selected college/arts program to assist with tuition.

History:

The Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship was first awarded in 1999 in memory of Eugenie R. Coladarci, who was Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations at Chase Manhattan Bank and an active member of Morris Arts for eleven years. She was completing her first term as Board Chair when she passed away in 1997. As a statewide champion of the arts, Genie encouraged the development of young artists and believed in the value of the arts to the quality of life. The idea of a scholarship to assist talented young people wishing to continue their study in the arts was very important to her.

The Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship was established in 2002 in memory of Elaine Ehlers (1953-2001), a health-care administrator by profession, who had a voracious appetite for all things artistic and musical. She derived intellectual and emotional sustenance from the arts and supported programs at many museums and musical institutions. By establishing this scholarship, an enduring legacy has been created to reward those who possess artistic talent and who plan to further their arts education.