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Department of Art and Design Scholarships

Each academic year the Department of Art and Design awards a series of scholarships to students who display outstanding artistic skills, an excellent academic record, and a sincere devotion to pursuing a career in art; whether it be as an art educator, studio artist or designer. 

2022 Calendar
Entry Deadline: February 28, 2022 by 4:00 pm
Scholarship Judging: March 4, 2022
Notification of winners: Departmental Awards, during the week of March 14 - 28

Contact the Department of Art and Design at 417-625-9563 for specific application and deadline information. Scholarship amounts may vary annually. To be eligible for any scholarship students must be declared art majors, enrolled full-time (12 hours) and maintain a 2.5 G.P.A. overall with a 3.0 G.P.A. in Art. Scholarships are cost waivers and no actual cash will be awarded. Other restrictions may apply.

Thomas Hart Benton Award


  • Established in 1981 in honor of the renowned painter and muralist who was born and raised in nearby Neosho, MO who started his artistic career at the Joplin American Newspaper.  Funded by the Thomas Hart Benton Fund, this scholarship is awarded to an incoming Freshman (hailing from a 300 mile radius of MSSU) based on a portfolio review of demonstrated artistic skills, above average academic record and a desire to pursue a career in art.   

Katherine L. Hyde Study Abroad Scholarships


Awarded in the early spring to art majors who are accepted into the annual Department of Art and Design Summer in Sweden study abroad program. Usually this award covers a significant amount of the cost of the five-week trip to Scandinavia.

Katherine L. Hyde Additional Scholarships in Art


  • Smaller, partial scholarships awarded to students demonstrating outstanding accomplishments in visual art studies while attending MSSU.

Darral A. Dishman Endowed Scholarship


  • Merit Award in honor of the memory of our former department head, Darral A. Dishman; an accomplished watercolorist, painter, and muralist who also served as the Curator of the Spiva Art Center. Awarded to an upper classman art major from the 4-states area and determined by a digital portfolio review process by the entire Department of Art and Design Faculty.

Mary Curtis Warten Endowed Scholarship


  • Scholarship award determined by a digital portfolio review process by the entire Department of Art and Design Faculty and given to an outstanding art major in honor of the memory of Mary Curtis Warten, a great friend of the arts in Joplin who was instrumental in the commissioning of the Thomas Hart Benton Mural to celebrate the city of Joplin’s Centennial.

Please note: Financial aid based on need is administered through the Financial Aid Office. There are also other non-art, merit based scholarships designed for all students also offered through the Financial Aid Office.