Eight Rhinelander-area students are among recipients of scholarships for the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of the Arts at Rhinelander currently underway at James Williams Middle School and Rhinelander High School.

The scholarships are funded by Friends of the School of the Arts (SOA), the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation (WROF), and the Northern Arts Council (NAC). A total of $3,000 in financial aid was awarded this year through the scholarship program.

Scholarship awards were based on an application process, according to School of the Arts Registration Coordinator Jan Severson. “Anyone who takes 15 hours of workshops is eligible for a $200 credit toward instructional fees,” she said.
“The applicant must provide a narrative about commitment to the arts and why they seek financial support. A committee reviews the applications and makes the awards.”

This year 14 applicants were considered for scholarships, and all were granted scholarship awards. “We had fewer applications than in previous years,” Severson said. “We could have funded more.”

Some recipients received half of their award from SOA and NAC or half from SOA and WROF.

Rhinelander-area scholarship recipients include Kira Benz, Diane DeiRossi, Nicole Jernigan, Audrey Kissinger, Arlene Loehrke, Lucile Palm, Susan Schneider-Bogusz, and Norman Stellick. Other recipients include Carol Baker, Three Lakes; Rebecca Gehrke, Madison; Angela Haynie, Star Prairie; Linda Lee Konichek, Eagle; Josette Spangenberg, Eagle River; and Judith Wrolstad, Stoughton.