EIU Department of
Theatre

Scholarships

The Department of Theatre awards several types of scholarships. Applicants may receive other financial aid through the University, but the entire amount of financial aid (including scholarships) cannot exceed the cost of attendance established by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

All scholarship applications and deadlines can be found on the EIU Scholarship search. Applicants will be contacted after each deadline and interviews scheduled specific to each scholarship.

Excellence in Fine Arts Award (EFA)

The EFA scholarship (in the form of tuition assistance) is awarded only to outstanding and promising incoming freshmen who declare a major in Theatre and register for a minimum of 12 semester hours. It is renewable for the recipient's entire four years, assuming he/she retains the theatre major and maintains a cumulative 2.00 GPA overall and a 2.75 GPA in the department. EFA's are awarded to promising and dedicated students in one of the following areas: Performance, Musical Theatre Performance, Tech/Design, Generalist or undecided. Those interested in applying should go to https://eiu.academicworks.com/. You will be asked to answer a variety of questions and provide a YouTube link that will have these answers as well as an audition piece (if your interest is in performance). Performance applicants will present two one-minute monologues of contrasting nature along with 16 bars of music if they would like to include that talent. If you are interested in the technical aspect of the program, please submit a YouTube link with photos of your technical work with an explanation of the photos. Please discuss the part you had in the production: did you work back stage? Did you help build the set or costumes? Did you work on lights or makeup? The award is paid in increments at the beginning of each semester. Please have a saved resume of theatre and work history and a headshot saved to upload to the application form.

Gerald E. Sullivan Memorial Scholarship

Awarded to junior or senior declared Theatre majors on the basis of outstanding contributions to the Department of Theatre and potential for success in a theatre career. Must be an Illinois resident enrolled as a full-time student. Awards are determined on the basis of applications and recommendations in the spring prior to the awarding of the scholarship. The awards committee may elect to grant two awards (pending availability of funds). Please have a saved resume of theatre and work history and a headshot saved to upload to the application form. Those interested in applying should go to https://eiu.academicworks.com/.

Glendon Gabbard Theatre Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student accepted to Eastern Illinois University as a declared Theatre major. The recipient shall have an overall 3.0 GPA. Award amounts are determined by the value of interest received from the scholarship endowment. The recipient shall be eligible for, and receive, the award again provided they continue to meet the stated criteria. Recipient is selected in the spring prior to the starting of the scholarship for fall semester. *The student must be enrolled in the Fall the scholarship is set for distribution. No application, recommendations or interview is needed. Department will determine who is eligible for the award. Those interested in applying should go to https://eiu.academicworks.com/.

Marjorie Ingram Griffin Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student accepted to Eastern Illinois University as a declared Theatre major seeking teacher certification. The recipient shall have an overall 2.5 GPA and a class standing of freshman, sophomore, junior or senior at the time the scholarship is paid. The scholarship may be received more than once as long as the criteria is met. Award amounts are determined by the value of interest received from the scholarship endowment, and the recipient is selected on the basis of application and recommendations received in the spring prior to the starting of the scholarship for fall semester. Please have a saved resume of theatre and work history and a headshot saved to upload to the application form. Those interested in applying should go to https://eiu.academicworks.com/.

Grant in Aid (GIA)

The GIA scholarships (in the form of tuition, service fees and/or room and board assistance) are awarded to promising and dedicated students who agree to work in the department office. The award is made as a block grant at the beginning of each semester. Recipient must be enrolled at EIU as a full-time Theatre major or minor with a 3.0 GPA in Theatre and an overall GPA of 2.5. Recipient must be actively working in the department and remain academically eligible under grant-in-aid rules of the academic area in which the award is given. The GIA is renewable from one year to the next as long as recipients maintain their grades and the quality of contributions to the department. Contact the Theatre Office Manager at (217) 581-5918 for more information on the award. Those interested in applying should go to https://eiu.academicworks.com/.

Muchmore Family Theatre Scholarship

The following criteria must be met:
1. The recipient must be a full-time undergraduate student majoring in Theatre Arts and accepted to Eastern Illinois University.
2. The recipient must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
3. Financial need is a consideration.
4. Preference will be given to student-athletes who are not receiving full-tuition scholarships.
5. Preference also is given to students who have graduated from a high school in Coles County, IL.
6. The recipient(s) may be eligible to apply for the award again provided he/she continues to meet criteria.

Talented Student Award (TSA)

TSA scholarships (in the form of tuition assistance) are awarded to promising and dedicated students. The student must be a declared Theatre major or minor. The award is made as a block grant at the beginning of each semester. Although a TSA is seldom awarded to entering freshman, exceptions are possible for outstanding individuals. TSA candidates must have at least a 2.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 or higher Theatre GPA. TSA's are awarded to promising and dedicated students in one of the following areas: Performance, Musical Theatre Performance, Tech/Design, Generalist or undecided. Those interested in applying should go to https://eiu.academicworks.com/.

Watson Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, in Memory of Dallas, Hazel and Leland Watson

Established in 2001, this scholarship serves as a memorial for Charleston residents Dallas and Hazel Watson, and their son, Leland. It recognizes the Watson family's lifetime interests and careers in business (Dallas), Republican politics at the local, state, and national levels (Hazel) and theatrical lighting including technical lighting for 42 Broadway productions (Leland). This is a traveling award with Theatre allowed to give the award every 3 years. Recipients must be a full-time or part-time student at EIU majoring in Theatre with a preference to the area of lighting, their overall GPA must be 2.5 or higher, they must display a financial need, they must demonstrate a high quality of character, they must be an Illinois resident with priority given to a Coles County resident who qualifies. You will be asked to provide a one page personal letter setting forth the reason for applying and stating future career goals, as well as a brief essay that demonstrates how you are an active member in a student academic organization or community activities. Those interested in applying should go to https://eiu.academicworks.com/.

General Instructions and Forms

To receive most of these awards, applicants must be full-time students with a declared major or minor in Theater. Auditions/interviews for awards are normally held in the spring semester for the following fall semester awards. For more information, applicants are encouraged to call 217-581-3121; email theatre@eiu.edu or write: Department of Theatre, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920.

Applicants for multiple scholarships should ask recommenders to send a separate recommendation form/letter of recommendation for each award. Wording changes are not required.

All scholarship applications and deadlines can be found on the EIU Scholarship search. Applicants will be contacted after each deadline and interviews scheduled specific to each scholarship.

Deadlines for application will be March 15th. Please go to https://eiu.academicworks.com/ to apply.