Scholarship Policy

Change Summary

  • Board Sign-off: 6/16/98
  • Initial inclusion in P&P Manual: 6/16/98
  • Revised: 12/08/09

Objective or Purpose

The Williamsburg Players established the McCulley-Scammon Scholarship program in order to award each year at least one new scholarship. The Board of Directors shall establish an independent committee to issue invitations to apply, conduct auditions, determine the awards and announce the results to the Board.

Policies and Procedures

  1. Eligiblity:
    1. The Scholarship is applicable only to students majoring in theater arts (including music, dance, lighting, production, or any other studies within a Theater Arts program.)
    2. Applicants must have a “B” average or better in high school (Sept 27, 1989).
    3. Applicant must be attending an accredited college, university, or professional school with a theater arts major (Sept 27, 1989).
    4. A scholarship shall be awarded to an applicant or applicants based on an application, essay, 2 recommendations, a high school transcript and an audition.
    5. There shall be no limitation to the to the area or region served, the high schools served, or accredited institutions of higher learning within the other requirements contained in this section.
    6. Scholarship applies only to undergraduate work (Sept 23, 1990).
    7. Applicant must have graduated high school within the previous three (3) years (Sept 23, 1990).
    8. Immediate family members of members of the Scholarship Committee shall not be eligible for an award.
  2. Retention of a Scholarship award:
    1. Recipients must maintain a “B” average or better overall, with minimum “B” in the theater arts classes (Jan 18, 1989).
    2. Recipients must provide grades for previousgrading period prior to receiving next scholarship payment.
    3. Scholarship may be renewed for three additional years for a total of 4 years total if grades and major remain within qualification.
    4. With the exception of the final payment, graduation from undergraduate work shall terminate the scholarship with any unclaimed funds reverting to the Scholarship Program.
    5. Recepient shall maintain a clear criminal record during award payments. Any criminal convictions (misdemeanor/felony) shall disqualify the recipient from future award payments.
    6. Falsification of documentation shall result in disqualification and repayment of all award monies paid to date.
  3. Endowment Funding:
    1. The Williamsburg Players will manage the funds as an account or accounts separate from operating and capital expense accounts.
    2. Any funds donated and earmarked as “Scholarship Fund Donation” will be deposited into the Scholarship account (August 10, 1989).
    3. The Endowment will retain all of the interest it generates (August 10. 1989).
    4. The theater will manage the funds, the number of active awards, and level of support to make the scholarship endowment self supporting (August 10, 1989).
    5. In the event of either a financial emergency or major capital expense, the Board may vote to encumber or utilize the scholarship funds. The Board has the responsibility to replace the funds at the earliest opportunity, including interest that would have been earned (as best estimated).
  4. Scholarship Committee:
    1. The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chair early in the season for a term of one season.
    2. The Chair will establish a committee of five to seven (5-7) members for that season including members drawn from the community.
  5. Audition process:
    1. The committee will establish a date or dates for auditions at the earliest convenience based on the Players production schedule. The date or dates shall be announced and published no less than thirty days prior to the first audition.
    2. Persons who are auditioning shall be scheduled in order as drawn by lot.
    3. Each person auditioning shall have the same time opportunity that shall be a maximum of 15 minutes to complete performance/demonstration, not to include interview.
    4. The committee will take every measure to ensure equal opportunity to each auditioner to result in a transparent award of the scholarship.
    5. Auditioners who fail to show up when required without prior substitute arrangements shall not be eligible for an award.
    6. Alternate audition dates may be established but are still bound by the requirements of 30 day public disclosure.
  6. Awards:
    1. An award is currently set at $2000, one-fourth payable annually for a period of up to 4 years.
    2. In the event of multiple qualified applicants, the Scholarship committee may appeal to the Board for the authority to issue multiple awards.
    3. The Board shall decide depending on the size of the Scholarship Fund and its current interest earnings.
    4. All applications must be completed and received by the deadline established by the Williamsburg Players, Inc and/or the Scholarship Committee. Late applications will be rejected.
    5. The Board of Directors retains the right to resolve all questions, conflicts, and interpretations related to the Scholarship program.
  7. Miscellaneous
    1. All materials submitted as part of the application or renewal process become the property of the Williamsburg Players.
    2. Rule changes shall not be applied to past recipients retroactively.