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NPAA SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION APPLICATION

Over the course of twenty years the Northwestern Pennsylvania Artists Association has awarded more than $112,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors in the Erie region pursuing art at the collegiate level.

We were joined in our efforts in 2019 by Erie Insurance, which raised funds to honor the memory of a beloved colleague, friend and family member.

about

The Robert Sajewski Memorial Scholarship recognizes Bob’s career as a graphic designer at Erie Insurance and his championing of the local arts community. The NPAA is honored to partner with the family of Bob Sajewski and to share Bob’s legacy with the next generation of artists. This year we shall award a number of Robert Sajewski Memorial Scholarships and additional NPAA Scholarships.

**The NPAA serves the following region: Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, Venango, Warren, Forrest, Clarion, and McKean. Applicants must reside in one of these counties**

To be considered for these scholarships, you must submit:

  • 10 digital files of original artwork
    • Requirements for students’ digital images:
      • All images must be submitted in JPEG format
      • File naming: “last name-art title-medium-size.jpg”; example: “Jones-Sunrise-acrylic-11x14.jpg”
        • ***ART MEDIUM AND SIZE MUST BE LISTED FOR EACH WORK***
      • RGB color mode; 3.0 MB per image maximum 
      • 2,000 pixels maximum for the longest side of the artwork
      • File must be no smaller than 800 x 800 pixels
  • Two recommendations from an art teacher, guidance counselor or NPAA member
  • A 300–word essay that includes: 
    • What college you will be attending and what course of study you’ve chosen
    • what your aspirations are for your pursuit of an arts major; and what art means to you.
  • A panel of NPAA members will decide scholarship recipients based on the above criteria. If no applicants are considered worthy of scholarship awards, the monies will be carried forward for presentation next year.
  • If an applicant is awarded a scholarship, Verification of attendance to an art school must be sent to the Scholarship Chair prior to check distribution.  Verification of attendance includes letters of acceptance accompanied by class schedule and/or valid school ID.

 

Apply for submission 2025 CLOSED

Complete the online submission form in full: 
Questions can be addressed to our scholarship chair, email below.
Scholarship Chair or tshannon@eriesd.org 


Apply for submission 2026 TBD
Awardees will be notified by TBD

NPAA Scholarship Application Form

* Indicates required field

Two recommendations are required. They can come from an art teacher, guidance counselor, or NPAA member

Requirements for students’ digital images:

  • All images must be submitted in JPEG format
  • File naming: “last name-art title-medium-size.jpg”;                                example: “Jones-Sunrise-acrylic-11x14.jpg”
  • RGB color mode; 3.0 MB per image maximum 
  • 2,000 pixels maximum for the longest side of the artwork
  • File must be no smaller than 800 x 800 pixels

2025 NPAA SCHOLARSHIP VIDEO

NPAA Scholarship Recipients

2025 Recipients

  • Isabella Muir - Robert Sajewski Scholarship -American University of Rome  - Fine Arts - $2,000
  • Nathaniel Woodring - Robert Sajewski Scholarship - college undecided- Graphic Arts / Architecture - $2,000
  • Gracie Andersen - NPAA Scholarship - School of Art at Kent State University- $1,000
  • Natalia Van Epps - NPAA Scholarship - PennWest Edinboro - Fine Arts - $1,000

2024 Recipients

  • Olivia Anthony - Robert Sajewski Memorial Scholarship - Cleveland Institute of Art - Animation $3,000
  • Braiden Douds - Robert Sajewski Memorial Scholarship - Pennwest Edinboro - Graphic Design $3,000
  • Massai Jackson - Robert Sajewski Memorial Scholarship - Chicago Institute of the Arts - Fine Arts $3,000
  • Grace Bennett – The NPAA Scholarship - College undecided - Game Design $1,000
  • Journey Gray-Lewanas - The NPAA Scholarship - Rhode Island School of Design - Architecture $1,000

2023 Recipients

  • Anirudh Jasti - Robert Sajewski Memorial Scholarship - Fairview High School - California Institute of the Arts - Illustration/Storytelling $2,500
  • Helen Kang - Robert Sajewski Memorial Scholarship - Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy – The New School in New York or Cooper Union in New York – Fine Arts $2,500
  • John Lynch - Robert Sajewski Memorial Scholarship - Crawford County CTC, Meadville High School - Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida - Computer Animation $2,500
  • Cyrus Shelatz – The Sundberg Memorial NPAA Scholarship - Cambridge Springs High School – College of Creative Studies in Detroit - Game Design $2,000
  • Stella Valenti - The Kaiser Memorial NPAA Scholarship - Erie High School – PennWest Edinboro – Graphic Design $2,000

2021 Recipients

  • Eryn Conley, The Robert Sajewski Erie Insurance Memorial Scholarship, Saegertown High School, Crawford County Career Technical Center
  • Mia Larkin, The Robert Sajewski Erie Insurance Memorial Scholarship, Mercyhurst Preparatory School

2020 Recipients

  • Morgan Murphy, The Robert Sajewski Erie Insurance Memorial Scholarship, Saegertown High School, Crawford County Career Technical Center
  • Sophia Bakken, The Robert Sajewski Erie Insurance Memorial Scholarship, Saegertown High School, Crawford County Career Technical Center
  • Grayson Ticer, The NPAA Scholarship, Fairview High School

2019 Recipients

  • Shawnee Geletka, The Robert Sajewski Erie Insurance Memorial Scholarship, Maplewood High School, Crawford County Career Technical Center
  • Miranda Sepúlveda, The Robert Sajewski Erie Insurance Memorial Scholarship, Meadville High School, Crawford County Career Technical Center
  • Perry Knickerbocker, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Cochranton High School, Crawford County Career Technical Center
  • Ben Farbo, The Sundberg Scholarship, McDowell High School
  • Zachary Lafaro, The Kaiser Scholarship, Fairview High School

2018 Recipients

  • Grace Brow, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Villa Maria Academy
  • Quincey Baloga, The Sundberg Scholarship, Mercyhurst Preparatory School
  • Olivia English, The Kaiser Scholarship, Crawford County Career Technical Center

2017 Recipients

  • Garrett Stroupe, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Cathedral Preparatory School
  • Courtlynn Stuckey, The Sundberg Scholarship, Mercyhurst Preparatory School
  • Freya Zhang, The Kaiser Scholarship, Mercyhurst Preparatory School

2016 Recipients

  • Rachel Maly, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Villa Maria Academy
  • Brooke Caldwell, The Sundberg Scholarship, Cambridge Springs High School
  • Cyelowyn Willey, The Kaiser Scholarship, Crawford County Career Technical Center

2015 Recipients

  • Shana Theuret, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Erie County Technical School, Edinboro University
  • John O'Laughlin, The Sundberg Scholarship, Crawford County Career Center, College for Creative Studies - Detroit
  • Josh Yochim, The Kaiser Scholarship, Mercyhurst Preparatory, Kent State University

2014 Recipients

  • Rachel Frame, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Iroquois High School, Savannah College of Art
  • Adelle Hixenbaugh, The Sundberg Scholarship, Crawford County Career Center, Cleveland Institute of Art
  • Megan McCollum, The Kaiser Scholarship, Crawford County Career Center, Cleveland Institute of Art

2013 Recipients

  • Caleb Payne, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Mercyhurst Preparatory School
  • Deni Lance, The Sundberg Scholarship, Saegertown High School
  • Taryn Leiter, The Kaiser Scholarship, Mercyhurst Preparatory School

2012 Recipients

  • Caitlin Gleason, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Collegiate Academy
  • Cheyenne Cohen, The Sundberg Scholarship, Collegiate Academy
  • Jakob Rhoades, The Kaiser Scholarship, Maplewood High School

2011 Recipients

  • Brenna Thummler, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Meadville Area High School
  • Amy Paddock, The Sundberg Scholarship, Cranberry High School
  • Brandon Lipchik, The Kaiser Scholarship, McDowell High School

2010 Recipients

  • Alex Kendzior, The Krider Memorial Scholarship, Mercyhurst Preparatory School
  • Jamey Hart, The Sundberg Scholarship, McDowell High School
  • Ashley Laufer, The Kaiser Scholarship, Collegiate Academy