DFPA Scholarships
Margaret Dagenais Award
The Margaret Dagenais Award is named in honor of the first chairperson of the Fine Arts Program. It recognizes any Fine Arts major at Loyola University Chicago, who demonstrates artistic accomplishments, future potential interaction with faculty and peers, and a strong work ethic in the furthering of their applied Fine Arts study.
Eligibility: Must maintain full-time student status at Loyola University Chicago with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0, demonstrate financial need, and must demonstrate their Fine Arts skills.
Applications and Auditions: Applications are due by March 15 every year. Interviews and auditions are by appointments between March 20 and April 20. All Recipients are announced before June 1 of each year.
Monetary Value: Prize of $100
Louise Gonska Scholarship
Helen Gonska established this scholarship in 1989 at the former Mundelein College, in order to honor her sister Louise Gonska. This award grants $1,000 annually toward tuition for any recognized sophomore, junior, or senior who majors in Fine Arts at Loyola University Chicago.
Applications: Applications are judged by faculty, and all recipients will be announced by faculty of Department of Fine and Performing Arts.
Eligibility: Must maintain full-time student status at Loyola University Chicago and major in Fine Arts with minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Monetary Value: Prize of $1,000
Mellon Awards
Mellon Awards are designated to any Seniors who major in Fine Arts at Loyola University Chicago. Eligibilty is based on participation in Senior Exhibition and Senior Art History papers. These awards will be given based on voting at the Senior Exhibit opening and announced by faculty of Department of Fine and Performing Arts.
Applications: Applications are judged by faculty to be the "best" in Fine Arts major.
Monetary Value: First, Second, and Third Place are given by Loyola University Chicago
Helmuth H. Fuchs Scholarship in Piano Performance
Composer Helmuth H. Fuchs earned his Bachelor's degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1962. He vowed to give back by endowing a music scholarship at Loyola University Chicago.
This award is to provide financial assistance annually to a talented sophomore, junior, or senior pianist music major or minor at Loyola University Chicago.
Eligibility: Must maintain full-time student status at Loyola University Chicago with minimum G.P.A. of 3.0. Must demonstrate financial need or qualification for need.
Requirements: Declared Music major or minor who demonstrates strong keyboard talent.
Applications and Auditions: No application or audition. Recipient is announced before June 1st of each year.
Monetary Value: Up to $1,000; determined by the number and quality of applicants.
Terms of Renewal: Maintenance of full-time student status with minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 at Loyola University Chicago major or minor in Music, with successful performance in piano including an original composition of Helmuth H. Fuchs.
The Walter Zanozik Scholarship
This award is available annually to provide financial assistance to talented Singers, Guitarists, Pianists, and Accompanists who are Music majors at Loyola University Chicago.
Eligibility: Full-time students status at Loyola University Chicago with minimum G.P.A. of 3.0; financial need or qualification for need
Requirements: Must be declared as a Music major and demonstrate vocal, guitar, keyboard, or accompaniment talent.
Applications and Auditions: No application or audition. Recipient is announced before June 1 of each year.
Monetary Value: Up to $2,000; determined by the number and quality of applications.
Terms of Renewal: Maintenance of full-time student status with minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 at Loyola University Chicago and major in Music with successful performance in principal applied area, as demonstrated in musicales, recitals, or rehearsals/performances (accompanists only).
John T. Trahey Mustard Seed Scholarship for Theatre Arts
John T. Trahey Mustard Seed Scholarships are tuition awards that enable talented students to train in all areas of Theatre. For the application, click here.
Details of the Saturday, February 13, 2010 auditions/interview, click here.
Eligibility: Must maintain full-time students status at Loyola University Chicago and major in Theatre.
Requirements: Students must demonstrate financial need with minimum G.P.A. of 3.0
Applications and Auditions: Applications must be postmarked by February 1st each year. Auditions and interviews are by appointments or on the above posted date. All recipients are announced before April 1st of each year.
Monetary Value: Varied; determined by the annual contributions from subscribers and friends toward the Theatre program, the student's need, number of applications for the scholarship, and amount of money available.
Terms for Renewal: Maintenance of full-Time student status with minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 in theatre courses at Loyola University Chicago, continued demonstration of financial need, and participation in successful performance in theatre. Renewal deadline is Friday, April 16th for those students who received the scholarship for the 2010-2011 academic year. For more information, click here.
J. Pat Miller Scholarship
This award provides financial assistance annually to needy and talented juniors that major in Theatre and demonstrate acting potential.
Eligibility: Must maintain full-time student status at Loyola University Chicago and major in Theatre.
Requirements: Juniors who demonstrated financial need with a minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
Applications and Auditions: Applications must be postmarked by February 16. Auditions and interviews are by appointments or on February 24 of each year. Recipients are announced before April 1st of each year.
Monetary Value: Varied; determined by the student's need, number of applications for the scholarship, and amount of money available.
Past Recipients
James Wesley White, Jr. Scholarship
The James Wesley White, Jr. Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 by the family of James "Jay" Wesley White, Jr., who left this physical world in early 2006. The creation of the Fund celebrates his life and provides a lasting memory in his name for those close to him, and even for those who were not. The mission of this fund is to provide deserving students with an opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming an actor.
Eligibility: Must be either Sophomore or Junior majoring in Theatre at Loyola University Chicago.
Applications and Auditions: All applicants must submit the applications by March 31, 2009. You may contact Angele White for more information at jwwjscholarship@yahoo.com or download this application link.
Monetary Value: $1,500 for the academic year.
Raoul "Doc" Johnson Scholarship
Dr. Johnson was a member of the Loyola Theatre Department from 1970 until he retired in 2003. At Loyola, he taught Stagecraft, Theatre Technology, Scene Design, Acting, Stage and Film Make-Up, and Stage Combat. In the production program, he designed and built stage scenery, directed, and occasionally acted. Professionally, he has designed scenery for numerous local and national television commercials, SESAME STREET segments, and industrial films. He has acted professionally in Chicago at Victory Gardens, Touchstone, Organic, and Piccolo Theatres. This award is designated to provide financial assistance annually throughout the academic year to needy and talented Theatre majors with junior status that demonstrate design potential to support their applied theatre study at Loyola University Chicago.
Eligibility: Must maintain full-time student status at Loyola University Chicago and major in Theatre.
Requirement: Juniors who demonstrated financial need with a minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
Applications and Auditions: Applications must be postmarked by February 16. Auditions and interviews are by appointments or on February 24. Recipients are announced before April 1st of each year.
Monetary Value: Varied; determined by the student's need, number of applications for the scholarship, and amount of money available.
Mary Angela Schoen Scholarship
Mary Angela Schoen earned her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree from Mundelein College in Theater and her Masters degree in Public Speaking from Northwestern University. She returned to Mundelein to teach Theatre and Public Speaking, retiring in 1991. In recognition of her love of teaching and commitment to education, her husband Alan, a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, has established this scholarship. This award is provided annually for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and major in Theatre with a 2nd major or minor in the Fine Arts (i.e. music or visual arts).
Term of Scholarship: The entire fund balance shall be used to provide annual tuition assistance to qualified students. The scholarship shall be annual in duration. Recipient(s) shall be selected and announced in the spring of 2008. The scholarship shall be awarded to the recipient(s) in the fall of 2008 for the upcoming 2008-2009 academic calendar year.
Applications: In order to apply for the scholarship, students are required to submit an application to the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. As part of the application process, the Chairperson of the DFPA may require students to interview with the Director of the Theatre or his/her designee(s).
Eligibility and Requirements: Full-time undergraduate student(s) at Loyola University Chicago who have declared a major in Theatre and have declared either a 2nd major or minor in the Fine Arts (i.e. music or visual arts) and who maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent. Students must also show a demonstrated interest or involvement in Women's issues.
Monetary Value: Partial scholarship(s) of up to $2,500, with the exact amount of each scholarship and the total number of scholarships to be determined at the discretion of the Chairperson of the Theatre Department.
Initial Award: By the Chairperson of the Theatre Department in consultation with the Department of Musica or Visual Arts.
Subsequent Awards: By the Chairperson of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts in consultation with the Director of Theatre and Directors of Music or Fine Arts.


