Scholarships and Awards
THEATRE ALUMNI DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP FOR EMERGING BIPOC ARTISTS
The Theatre Alumni Diversity Scholarship for Emerging BIPOC Artists provides financial assistance to help bridge the gap between opportunity and talent for BIPOC theatre makers. This scholarship will contribute to establishing a sustainable legacy of equality, diversity, and inclusion in the Department of Theatre and Dance. We envision a thriving theatre arts program rooted in empowering BIPOC theatre artists, and representative of the community it creates for and the world its artists will enter. The scholarship will be awarded to a current, incoming, or transfer student who identifies as Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC), Latinx or Asian. The applicant must be a theatre major who exhibits an exceptional desire to pursue a career in theatre arts. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need. Contact THEATREBIPOC@wcupa.edu for more information.
J.PETER ADLER PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN THEATRE
The J. Peter Adler Prize for Excellence in Theatre is an annual award endowed by the family and friends of J. Peter Adler and West Chester University. The J. Peter Adler Prize will be awarded each spring to a current West Chester University Senior, regardless of undergraduate major, who has participated in the theatre arts while at West Chester University and will use the scholarship associated with the prize to attend graduate school or work in professional theatre. The winner of the J. Peter Adler Prize may take up to three years from graduation to initially use the scholarship funds associated with this award.
J.PETER ADLER SCHOLARSHIP
The J. Peter Adler Scholarship is a $1000 renewable scholarship awarded to a first year student who demonstrates high academic and creative potential. The award is based on a review of grades, community, extra and/or co-curricular, or volunteer activities, performance audition/portfolio, and an interview. Applications can be obtained by calling the theatre office. This scholarship is renewable for four years based on the recipient maintaining an overall 2.5 GPA and a 3.0 GPA in theatre courses. Contact Thomas Haughey for more information.
THE BARBARA J. LAPPANO DANCE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Barbara J. Lappano ’67, M ’73 Dance Scholarship honors Barbara Lappano who taught dance at WCU from 1970-2004. This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student who has declared a dance minor and completed at least 60 credits. Selection is based upon academic record and active involvement in the university dance program. Other factors include involvement in the field of dance outside the university and a personal statement. Applications are due in April, contact Gretchen Studlien-Webb for more information.
DANCE ALUMNI AWARDS FOR CHOREOGRAPHY
The Dance Alumni Chapter, started by Barbara Lappano, WCU dance faculty from 1970 -2004 and founder of Dance Production Workshop, honors current University Dance Company students for their excellence in choreography. Recipients receive an award stipend. The fall awardee is invited to perform their work in the Winter Alumni Dance Festival. Contact Gretchen Studlien-Webb for more information.
EMERGING DANCE MINOR SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is awarded to eligible full-time dance minor who has successfully completed 15 credits and a maximum of 55 credits at West Chester University (transfer students must have completed 15 credits at WCU). Selection is based upon an academic record of minimum 3.0 GPA and involvement in the field of dance, primarily within the WCU dance program. Applications are due in January, contact Gretchen Studlien-Webb for more information.
LILA BERKOVICH ACHUFF MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is given to a student who is an Education major with a Dance/Dance Performance minor. Additional requirements include having financial need and being a Pennsylvania resident with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
CAH OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARD
This award is given each spring to a graduating senior who is majoring in a College of Arts & Humanities (CAH) discipline and who demonstrates exceptional intellectual or creative achievement and strong extracurricular and service activities. Students must be nominated by a CAH faculty member and hold a minimum GPA of 3.5; nominees then submit an application form, personal statement, resume, and two faculty letters of recommendation. Nomination and application deadlines are usually announced by the CAH dean’s office early in the spring semester and typically fall in late March or early April. For more information, please contact the CAH dean's office.
Current Scholarship and Award Recipients
J. Peter Adler Prize Scholarship
2023-2024 | Mickey Ahern ’26 (Performance concentration)
Barbara J. Lappano '67, M'73 Dance Scholarship Fund
2024-2025 | Laura Whittaker ‘25 (Dance minor)
2024-2025 | Cole Bell ‘25 (Dance minor)
2023-2024 | Emily Gilligan ‘25 (Dance minor)
2023-2024 | Molly Thorpe ‘24 (Dance minor)
Emerging Dance Minor Scholarship
2023-2024 | Regina Byrne ’25 (Dance minor)
Lila Berkovich Achuff Memorial Scholarship
2024-2025 | Morgan Rudisill ‘27 (Dance minor)
J. Peter Adler Prize For Excellence In Theatre
2023-2024 | Sloane Duzy '24 (B.A Theatre and B.A. Communication Studies)
Alumni Awards For Choreography
2023-2024 | Mary Lynch ’24 (Dance minor)
2023-2024 | Sara Magrino ‘24