scholarships

Medina County Arts Council’s Nancy Sprowls MCAC Student Scholarship Program

The Medina County Arts Council, Inc. (MCAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and building community excellence through the arts in Medina County. In alignment with our mission, we proudly established the MCAC Arts Scholarship Program in 2017 to support graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the arts.

Each year, MCAC awards scholarships to help emerging artists further their education and refine their craft. These scholarships are available to students continuing their studies at technical schools, two-year colleges, or four-year institutions.

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Scholarship Program Goals

  • Encourage students to pursue additional arts education.

  • Assist with tuition and related education expenses.

We are deeply grateful to the Sprowls family for their continued support. Their generosity allows us to honor the legacy of MCAC founding member Nancy Sprowls through this meaningful scholarship program.

2026 Scholarship Recipients

The Medina County Arts Council (MCAC), through funding from the Nancy Sprowls Memorial Fund, awarded nine $500 scholarships (totaling $4,500) to Medina County graduating seniors in 2026.

Congratulations to the following students:

  • Abigail  Demczyk (Black River HS) -  Music Education at the University of Akron

  • Caelyn  Holbert (Brunswick HS) - Music Education at Bowling Green State University

  • Devlin Synkowski (Brunswick HS) - Music Industry at Tiffin University, Baldwin Wallace University, Ohio University, or Kent State

  • Isaac Woofter (Buckeye HS) - Film & Business at Ohio University

  • Walker Smith (Cloverleaf HS) - Music Education at Ohio Northern University

  • Katherine Conley (Medina HS) - Arts Education at University of Akron

  • Alina Golieva (Medina HS) - Visual Communication Design at Cuyahoga Community Collage

  • Reese Goldmeier (Medina HS) - Acting and Performance at Point Park University

  • Carissa Napier (Wadsworth HS) - Media Production at Bowling Green State University

  • Applicants must be 2026 graduating high school senior who resides in Medina County, who has been actively involved in the arts during high school (this includes, but is not limited to, film, visual arts, writing, and performing arts - dance, music and theater arts) and who will continue their education at a technical school, a 2-year or 4-year institution, or training/certification for employment in an arts-related career.

  • This scholarship is to be used for continuing education in a technical school, a 2-year or 4-year institution, or training/certification for employment in an arts-related career.

    MCAC Scholarships are to be used toward tuition, books, or other school supplies.

    When proof of acceptance and enrollment have been verified by the selection committee, the money shall be paid directly to the institution.

    The scholarship must be used during the school year immediately following the award.

    • Submissions must be completed online. Only complete applications will be considered. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 15, 2026.

    • Declaration of a major in some form of the arts is required to be eligible for this scholarship this year.

    • Student must electronically submit a current transcript from their school. While submitting a transcript is required, a minimum GPA is not a criterion to be eligible for this scholarship. Rather than recognizing the best academic student, our intention is to support a student who has a passion for and excels in one or more area of the arts. MCAC will give special consideration to those applicants who explain how this funding will benefit their particular need.

    • An essay of 500 words or less detailing their experiences in the arts and how the arts have shaped their character. Also explain how this funding will benefit your particular need. Students must provide a header to their essay complete with their name, address, email address, and phone number.

    • A signed letter of recommendation from a teacher of the arts who is familiar with your experiences.

    • Application Window Closed on March 15, 2026

  • When proof of acceptance and enrollment have been verified by the selection committee, the money shall be paid directly to the institution.

    The scholarship must be used during the school year immediately following the award.

    Please email MedinaCoArtsCouncil@gmail.com with questions.

2025 Scholarship Recipients

The Medina County Arts Council (MCAC) awarded a total of $5,000 to Medina County graduating seniors in the year 2025.

Congratulations to the following students:

Reagan Aldridge (Brunswick HS) plans to attend Ohio State University to study Theater Arts.

Alyssa Bergman (Cloverleaf HS) plans to study Choral Education.

Hallie Bilek (Medina HS) plans to attend Baldwin Wallace to study Theater/Tech.

Kenna Brown (Wadsworth HS) plans to attend Kent State to study Fashion Design.

Samuel Haskell (Brunswick HS) plans to attend Oberlin to study Music Conservatory.

Ellianna Lappin (Medina Christian Academy) plans to attend Ohio Northern University to study Music/Theater.

Grace Mullen (Brunswick HS) plans to attend Cleveland State University to study Film & Media.

Madelyn Niksa (Buckeye HS) plans to attend Kent State to study Visual Communications.

Emma Walters (Buckeye HS) plans to attend Ohio State University to study Flute.

John Zilka (Highland HS) plans to attend Kent State to study Theater/Visual.

2024 Scholarship Recipients ~ $4,000 awarded

2023 Scholarship Recipients ~ $4,000 awarded

2022 Scholarship Recipients ~ $3,000 awarded

2021 Scholarship Recipients ~ $1,750 awarded

Ian Morgan, (Medina High School) - $1,000, Isabelle Hahn, (Archbishop Hoban) - $500, & Aaron Reising, (Medina High School) - $250

From left to right, 2020 Scholarship Recipient: Philip Alberts, Medina High School, 2019 Scholarship Recipient: Matthew Dietrich, Brunswick High School,2018 Scholarship Recipient: Alicia Badowski, Brunswick High School, and 2017 Scholarship Recipient: McKenzie Erne, Buckeye High School