News

The UA Department of Art and Art History is proud to announce our scholarship award recipients for the upcoming academic year, 2023-2024. Graduates, undergraduates and incoming freshmen in our degree programs in studio art, art history and in our news BFA degree in graphic design were awarded over $140,000 in scholarships, thanks to our generous donors. Following is a list of the recipients with a short bio on each donor.

Art Students Endowed Scholarship Fund established in 1981 by faculty, students and friends of the department to support academic excellence in art and art history at The University of Alabama.

• Madison Bray, from Moundville, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in drawing and photography and a minor in creative media.

The William Garnet Anderson Endowed Scholarship was established by Mr. William G. Anderson of Shreveport, Louisiana, a longtime supporter of the University, to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Anderson, a UA alumnus, has endowed scholarships and support funds in the departments of history, geology, art and art history, as well as other programs.

• Bella Guynes, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art. Bella is also part of the Blount Scholars and University Honors programs.

The Elizabeth B. Bashinsky Endowed Art Scholarship was created by Elizabeth Crump to honor her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Burford Bashinsky, and to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. For her lifetime of service, Mrs. Bashinsky was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame and was awarded the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award by both The University of Alabama and Judson College.

• Cecily Downey, from Dothan, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in drawing and printmaking. Cecily is also part of the University Honors program.
• Bella Guynes, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art. Bella is also part of the Blount Scholars and University Honors programs.
• SK Steen, from Nashville, Tennessee, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in drawing and printmaking. SK is also part of the University Honors program.

The Bradley Endowed Scholarship Fund was established by the late Mrs. Verne B. Henry (1903-1986) of Jefferson County, Ala., in the Bradley family name to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Verne Bradley Henry earned her bachelor’s degree from UA in 1925 and taught art for 23 years in the Birmingham city schools, serving as supervisor of art for eleven years. Mrs. Henry also held office in the Southeastern Art Association, the regional forerunner of the Art Education Department of the National Education Association.

• Emily Rabbideau, from Hoover, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art and creative media with a minor in Spanish. Emily is also part of the University Honors program.

The Marilyn Williams Elmore Endowed Art Scholarship was established by Mrs. Mildred E. Hulsey of Birmingham to honor the memory of her mother, Marilyn Williams Elmore, and to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Mrs. Elmore (1923-2005) earned a BA in sociology in 1944. She participated in and contributed to many civic organizations including serving as a board member and then president of the Children’s Aid Society Foundation and the Leadership Board in the College of Arts and Sciences.

• Cecily Downey, from Dothan, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in drawing and printmaking. Cecily is also part of the University Honors program.

The Farley Moody Galbraith Endowed Scholarship was established by Mrs. Farley Moody Galbraith, a generous donor with a long history as a friend of the department. She created this scholarship to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. The Moody and Galbraith families have been longtime patrons of the arts and loyal supporters of The University of Alabama. Mrs. Galbraith’s mother, Sarah McCorkle Moody, established The University of Alabama’s Permanent Collection in 1950, and in 1967, the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art was named in honor of her.

• Reese Yarbrough, from Athens, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design.
• Syiera Youngblood, from Enterprise, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art with a minor in Accounting. Syiera is also part of the Path to MBA and the University Honors programs.
• Carleigh Hall, from Huntsville, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and studio art.
• Sam Norris, from Hoover, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in ceramics and sculpture.
• Audrey Charlton, from Bentleyville, Ohio, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in digital media and drawing.
• Josha Charlery, from Naples, Florida, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in photography and a minor in news media.
• Gabriella Lopez, from Hoover, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in digital media and drawing.
• Zaria Jackson, from Birmingham, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio arts.

The Galbraith Endowed Art Scholarship was also established by Mrs. Farley Moody Galbraith to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA.

• Reese Yarbrough, from Athens, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design.
• Madison Bray, from Moundville, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in drawing and photography and a minor in creative media.
• Delaney Jack, from Milton, Georgia, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in dance and studio art with a minor in Spanish.
• Reagan Pappas, from McCalla, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in Photography and Digital Media.
• Alyssa Serena, from Trussville, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in painting and digital media. Alyssa is also part of the University Honors program.
• Sarah Wiser, from Hinesville, Georgia, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with a minor in art history.

The Barbara Ann Taylor Guthans Endowed Scholarship was established by C. Richard Wilkins and Jeanie Guthans Wilkins of Mobile, Alabama, to honor Mrs. Wilkins’ mother, Barbara Ann Taylor Guthans, and to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Mrs. Guthans received her BFA degree in fine and applied arts from UA in 1954 and made a career as a commercial artist. She has served in positions of leadership for numerous civic and charitable organizations in Mobile, as well as on the College of Arts and Sciences’ steering committee for UA’s “Campaign for Alabama” capital campaign for UA’s Blount Undergraduate Initiative, now the Blount Scholars Program.

• SK Steen, from Nashville, Tennessee, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in drawing and printmaking. SK is also part of the University Honors program.

The Julie Peake Holaday Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established by Dr. John W. Holaday to support the education of students studying art and art history and to honor the memory of his sister, Julie Peake Holaday (1942-1969). Julie Peake Holaday received her BFA in 1964 and her MFA in 1966 in art from The University of Alabama.

• Libby Morris, from Wadley, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art.
• Daphne Shearer, from Arlington, Tennessee, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in art history and studio art.
• Briley Johnston, from Fairhope, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in art history with a minor in general business.
• Abby Gourgues, from Mandeville, Louisiana, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art and psychology. Abby is also part of the University Honors program.

The Paul R. Jones Endowed Scholarship was established by Paul Raymond Jones (1928-2010), renowned for his art collection, his civil rights activism and his support for art education, to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. In 2008, Mr. Jones established the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art at The University of Alabama in order to share the works of these artists and their significance with the people of Alabama and beyond and to educate students on the importance of art in life. The Paul R. Jones Museum features exhibitions built around works from the collection, and, along with the lecture series Jones established, focuses on making art accessible to the University and the wider community.

• Camille Sealey, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design. Camille is also part of the University Honors program.
• Drew Merriweather, from Mobile, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in digital media.

The Ann D. Lary Scholarship Fund was established to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Mrs. Lary received her undergraduate degree from Wesleyan College and her graduate degree from UA. She was actively involved in the League of Women Voters, the Friends of the Library and the Tuscaloosa and University Women Painters.

• Camille Sealey, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design. Camille is also part of the University Honors program.
• Zaria Jackson, from Birmingham, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art.

The Carolyn Haddon “Julie” Matthews Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established by Carolyn M. Lowe of Birmingham, Ala., to honor the memory of her mother and to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Mrs. Matthews graduated from UA in 1961 with a BA in history and continued to be involved with the College of Arts and Sciences, most notably through her longtime support of the Society for the Fine Arts.

• Morgan Clayton, from Houma, Louisiana, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art with a minor in music. Morgan is also part of the University Honors program.
• Alex Yongue, from Bessemer, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design.

The Carol B. Merkle Endowed Scholarship was established to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Dr. Carol Merkle of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is a 1978 graduate of The University of Alabama. Both she and her husband Arthur graduated from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 1983. Carol Merkle serves on the executive council and Arthur Merkle serves on the leadership council for the UA School of Dentistry Alumni Association.

• Alexandra Woodham, from Headland, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art.
• Daphne Shearer, from Arlington, Tennessee, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in art history and studio art.
• Isabella Paredes-Radoslovich, from Mobile, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in art history with a minor in studio art.

The Myra and Jim Morgan Endowed Scholarship was established by Denise Morgan Milton, James P. Morgan, and Dennis Morgan, to promote academic excellence in art and art history at UA, to honor the memory of their parents, Myra and Jim Morgan, and, the children stated, “to recognize the contribution their parents made through art to the overall depth of life.” Jim and Myra Morgan founded the Morgan Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri, and were leaders in the art community, bringing artists from across the country to a growing audience of both corporate and private collectors in the Midwest. They collected both contemporary art and Americana. The Morgan Collection is held in the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art Permanent Collection and includes artists such as Robert Arneson, William Christenberry, Frank Fleming, Mel Ramos, Robert Stackhouse and William T. Wiley, among many others.

• Abby Gourgues, from Mandeville, Louisiana, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art and psychology. Abby is also part of the University Honors program.

The Mary M. Morgan Memorial Art Scholarship Fund was established by Niel C. Morgan in 1978 to honor the memory of his late wife Mary Murphy Morgan and to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Niel C. Morgan founded N.C. Morgan Construction Company in Tuscaloosa and built numerous 20th-century landmarks in west Alabama including the Stafford Hotel, NorthRiver Yacht Club, Greenetrack greyhound park, and Rose Towers, as well as buildings at UA and additions at DCH Regional Medical Center.

• Abi Brewer, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in international studies and studio art with a concentration in digital media and a minor in Chinese. Abi is also part of the CREATE Path to MBA and University Honors programs.
• Ella Burkhart, from Blairsville, Pennsylvania, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art.
• Aisley Walaitis, from Manchester, Missouri, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in painting and ceramics.

The Vernon Rutledge and Eugenia Otwell Rutledge Endowed Scholarship was established in 2009 by Jerry Otwell Rutledge to honor his parents, Vernon and Eugenia Otwell Rutledge, and to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Jerry Rutledge, a 1963 BFA graduate of the University, is a freelance artist and artistic director. He was the original creative director for the National Humanities Series of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation at Princeton University, among other honors. In addition to his artistic and business ventures, Rutledge is an art collector and supporter of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

• Alyssa Serena, from Trussville, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in painting and digital media. Alyssa is also part of the University Honors program.

The Windgate Charitable Foundation Endowed Studio Arts Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate or graduate students who excel in the area of fine arts. Recipients are known as Windgate Fellows.

• Ella Burkhart, from Blairsville, Pennsylvania, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art.
• Chloe Harrell, from Lagrange, Georgia, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design with a minor in biology.
• Andrea Maria Garay Aparicio, from Santa Tecla El Sa, El Salvador, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art. Andrea is also part of the University Honors program.
• Elizabeth Golembiewski, from Fenton, Michigan, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art. Elizabeth is also part of the University Honors program.
• Julie White, from Tallahassee, Florida, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a concentration in digital media and photography.
• Nghi Luu, from Glencoe, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with a minor in art history and advertising and public relations.
• Chloe Morgan, from Sylacauga, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art.
• Syiera Youngblood, from Enterprise, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art with a minor in accounting. Syiera is also part of the Path to MBA and the University Honors programs.

The Richard Zoellner Scholarship was established in 1963 by an anonymous donor in honor of Professor Richard Zoellner (1909-2003), who taught printmaking at UA for 33 years and to support academic excellence in art and art history at UA. Professor Zoellner’s works are in collections ranging from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Smithsonian Museum to North Carolina’s Mint Museum of Art. During President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal administration, Zoellner painted a number of commissions including murals for U.S. Post Offices in Ohio and West Virginia. Professor Zoellner founded UA’s fine art printmaking program in 1945, one of only two in the Southeast at the time.

• Sarah Wiser, from Hinesville, Georgia, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in studio art with a minor in art history.

For more information about giving to one of the department’s scholarship funds, please go to our Giving page.