Department of Art, Design, and Communication: Scholarship
The 51st Annual Sister Angelica Cummings Art Scholarship Competition is based on eight to 12 digital images of the student's high school work. Images should be .jpg, .png, or .pdf format, no larger than 2 MB each, and delivered via the Sister Angelica Cummings Art Scholarship Submission Form.
Awards
- First Place: $10,000 per year
- Second Place: $8,000 per year
- Third Place: $6,000 per year
- Honorable Mention Award(s) of $2,500
Eligibility
The competition is open to high school seniors. Each student must submit eight to twelve digital images in any medium. A cross section of art forms is suggested. Award winners must have completed an application as an art major at Mercyhurst University.
Labeling
Digital images should be jpegs placed in a folder, labeled with your name, and zipped/compressed. Applicants should name their files with the first four letters of their last name and image number (e.g. Hopp1. jpg for the first image for an applicant named Hopper). Applicants may choose to place their digital images in a PowerPoint or PDF formatted document. All entries must include a separate Word document with the following information: name, home address, home telephone number, high school, art teacher’s name‚ artist’s name, and a numbered list of works, including full title, size of work, and medium. Entries may NOT exceed a total file size of 25 MB.
Jurors
Members of the Mercyhurst University Art Faculty will serve as jury for the contest. The jurors reserve the right not to award one or more scholarships if the submitted works do not comply with the expected standards of the competition.
Inquiries
Questions? Please contact Peter Stadtmueller at pstadtmueller@mercyhurst.edu or 814-824-3346.
Calendar
Portfolios are accepted through Jan. 31, 2026, and scholarships are announced in February. Should any winner choose not to accept the award, the scholarship can be awarded to the next person in rank. Awards are renewable yearly upon favorable review of the department.
Liability
Every precaution will be taken to protect submissions. However, the Department of Art, Design, and Communication and the university are not to be held responsible for any damage or loss that may occur.