CETA provides high school and college student scholarships, as well as funds to assist teachers to participate in CETA events. CETA scholarships are made possible by individual donations to the CETA Scholarship Fund. Monies available determine the amount of each scholarship.

College Scholarships for High School Seniors

Applications open December 1- Due December 31- Awards announced at the High School Theatre Festival each January.

The grant is given to a high school senior from southern California who plans to major or minor in theatre in their post-secondary education with the goal of becoming a theatre educator. The student must be present at the CETA High School Theatre Festival to interview for the scholarship.

Student requirements

  • Must be a high school senior in the state of California.

  • Must attend a high school with a current CETA member theatre advisor.

  • Must plan to declare a major or minor in theatre at a college, university or conservatory with the goal of working in theatre education.

Submission Requirements   

  • An essay about the applicant’s view on the role of theatre, educational theatre, the value of arts in education, and their goals. 

  • Please limit the essay to 1,000 word maximum.

  • A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher on school letterhead.           

Award Procedure

  • Award committee will consist of three CETA members who are either high school theatre teachers or college/university theatre teachers.

  • Applicants will be narrowed by the committee to no more than ten finalists.

  • These finalists will be notified by email and must attend the CETA High School Theatre Festival to be interviewed by the committee on the Saturday of the festival.

  • The Scholarship Award will be presented at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday of the festival.

Email Amanda Swann with questions. ASwannie@aol.com 

Applications open March 1- Due March 15  -Awards announced on May 1

The BIPOC Youth Scholarship seeks to support applicants from groups traditionally underrepresented in the theatre industry, such as those who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color in the state of CA.

Student requirements

  • Must be a high school senior in the state of California.

  • Must attend a high school with a current CETA member theatre advisor.

  • Must identify as black, indigenous, or a person of color.

  • Plan to declare a major or minor in theatre at a college, university or conservatory with the goal of working in theatre.

Submission Requirements   

  • Student-written essay detailing how a theatre degree will help you to elevate racial equality in theatre.

  • The essay should  have a 500-word  maximum.  

  • A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher on school letterhead.  

  • You may view the rubric here.

Email Jerald Bolden with questions Jerald_Bolden@yahoo.com 

High school seniors specializing in acting in the state of CA may submit a video audition for college scholarship money. 

Student requirements

  • Must be a high school senior in the state of California.

  • Must attend a high school with a current CETA member theatre advisor.

Submission Requirements   

  • This is a digital audition.

  • Choose two contrasting pieces totaling no longer than two minutes.

  • The two pieces may be two contrasting monologues or one monologue and one song.

  • Songs should NOT be acapella.

  • Begin your video by stating both pieces (character/show). Your 2-minute time limit starts when you begin speaking/singing your first piece.

  • Do not edit your video.

  • You may review the rubric here.  

High school seniors specializing in theatre design and/or technical theatre in the state of CA may submit a narrated digital portfolio for college scholarship money. 

Student requirements

  • Must be a high school senior in the state of California.

  • Must attend a high school with a current CETA member theatre advisor.

Submission Requirements   

  • Please prepare a Google Slideshow, Prezi, or other digital tool showcasing the student's design and/or technical work. This presentation should be screen captured/recorded with narration from the applicant. 

  • Each applicant has a 10-12 minute time limit for the presentation.

  • The presentation may include examples of costume, hair and makeup, lighting, set/props, graphic and/or sound design, stage management and/or technical director artifacts. Each applicant's portfolio will be unique depending on the type of design/technical theatre student they identify as being.

  • You may view the rubric here.

Digital Portfolio Guidelines

Introduction- 1 min

Name, school, type of design/tech student 

Portfolio Tour- 1-3 min       

Scroll through some example pieces of your work (photos, drawings, artifacts) as you discuss your participation in class or in after-school theatre making. Pause briefly on each piece and explain so that judges may understand the scope of your work. Please label all pieces for clarification.

Highlight 2 Portfolio Pieces- 5-7 min

Following the tour of your work, choose 2 key pieces to explain in detail, including but not limited to:

- Context of piece (show, type of work, was it a class project or realized for a production, etc.)

- Your process (creative, theatrical, etc.)

- What was challenging and how did you overcome the challenge?

- Why did you choose this piece/what was successful?

(Applicants may include multiple images in order to explain one key piece if needed)

Closing- 1 min 

Wrap up/Thank you

Future plans                          

This scholarship is for a high school senior in the state of CA who plans to pursue a degree in Theatre with an emphasis in costume design.

Student requirements

  • Must be a high school senior in the state of California.

  • Must attend a high school with a current CETA member theatre advisor.

  • Must plan to declare a major or minor in theatre at a college, university or conservatory with the goal of working in theatrical costume design.

Submission Requirements   

  • Letter of intent written by student outlining future goals in acquiring theatre degree with a focus on theatrical costume design (not fashion design).

  • Please limit the letter to 500 words maximum.

  • A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher on school letterhead.  

This scholarship is for a high school senior in the state of CA who plans a career in theatre education.

Student requirements

  • Must be a high school senior in the state of California.

  • Must attend a high school with a current CETA member theatre advisor.

  • Must plan to declare a major or minor in theatre at a college, university or conservatory with the goal of working in theatre education.

Submission Requirements   

  • An essay about the applicant’s view on the role of theatre, educational theatre, the value of arts in education, and their goals. 

  • Please limit the essay to 500 word maximum.

  • A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher on school letterhead.     

Email Annie Simons with questions. Annie.Simons@me.com 

In partnership with the Drama Teachers of Southern California (DTASC), this scholarship has been created for an outstanding student participant of the CETA High School Theatre Festival and DTASC Festivals.

Festival Registration Scholarships for Teachers and Students

These scholarships serve as a financial support for teachers to attend CETA events and bring students. Deadlines vary.

  • High School Theatre Festival Registration Scholarship

    • This scholarship funds 50% of festival adjudication registration fee for teacher applying for their school.

    • Applications open August 1- September 1

    • Criteria- essay describing need for funding

    • Email Amanda Swann ASwannie@aol.com for information.

  • Stand up for Arts Education (formerly CYIT) Scholarship

    • This scholarship helps to defray the costs (i.e. travel, food) of participating in Stand up for Arts in Education Day.

    •  Criteria- essay describing need for funding

    • Applications open January 1- Close February 1

    • Email Amanda Swann ASwannie@aol.com for information.

  • Middle Stage Theatre Festival Scholarship

  • This scholarship funds 50% of festival registration fee for teacher applying for their school.

  • Applications open January 1 to February 1

  • Criteria- describing need for funding 

  • Email Carol Hovey CarolWHovey@yahoo.com for information.

Scholarships for College Students

Application open March 1- Due March 15  -Award announced on May 1

  • Kaleta Brown Community College Scholarship

This scholarship is offered to a community college student who is transferring to a theatre program at an institution of higher learning.

Email Amanda Swann ASwannie@aol.com for information.

Application open August 1- Due September 1  -Award announced on September 15

  • CETA College Student Conference Registration Scholarship 

This scholarship is for CETA’s annual conference registration and goes to a college senior whose goal is to teach theatre. CLICK HERE for CETA Conference information.

Email Carol Hovey CarolWHovey@yahoo.com for information.

Donations
Donations to any of these scholarships are greatly appreciated. Please make your tax-deductible check payable to CETA. Be sure to designate the specific scholarship to which you want to contribute. Send your contribution to California Educational Theatre Association, 8033 Sunset Blvd, #440, Los Angeles, CA, 90046.