Pictured above (from left to right): 2020-2021 Windgate Foundation Scholarship recipients, Kayla Morrow, Estelle Ramage, Jordan Scrivner, and Chanda Nail.
Supporting contemporary craft and visual arts since 1993, Windgate Foundation has provided over $890 million in grants to charities in the United States. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Windgate Foundation has provided grants for many higher education institutions, including Southern Arkansas University.
A $20,000 grant was awarded to the SAU Foundation for Studio Art scholarships in the 2020-2021 academic year. Four scholarships were awarded to Kayla Morrow, Estelle Ramage, Jordan Scrivner, and Chanda Nail. All four students were brought to tears when they received word that they were selected as recipients of the Windgate Foundation Scholarship.
“With this scholarship, I am one step closer to achieving my dream of making a career out of art and I am overwhelmed with excitement,” said Kayla Morrow, a senior from Texarkana, Texas. With the Windgate Foundation Scholarship, Kayla will complete her undergraduate degree debt-free. After graduating, she plans to continue her education by pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Estelle Ramage is a senior from Atlanta, TX. Following graduation, Estelle plans to pursue a teaching certification so that she can share her love for art with younger generations. She also wishes to be a practicing artist outside of the classroom. Before receiving this scholarship, she and her husband had financed her education out of pocket. Estelle shared, “This is such a blessing to my family and me. I do not know if there are any words to say exactly how thankful we are.”
“Art, to me, is the ultimate form of catharsis. Since I was a child, art has always been my outlet for expression. My goal, as an educator, is to teach others that the process is just as important as the product,” said Jordan Scrivner, a senior from Gepp, Arkansas. She is an intern for Art Feeds, a non-profit organization in Fayetteville, Arkansas that creates an art curriculum for children globally. Following graduation, she plans to become a middle school/high school art teacher. Jordan also plans to continue her education by pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching and eventually plans to teach at the collegiate level.
Chanda Nail is a junior from Springhill, Louisiana. She is a non-traditional student who is starting her second career. Chanda shared, “After years of working to support my family, I am excited to follow my dream of working in the field of art, publishing my work, and teaching younger people to see and help create beauty in the world around them.” Following graduation, she plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching.
“As the son of a studio art professor, I have seen first-hand through my mother the impact of art education,” Dr. Trey Berry, SAU President. “So many of our students are first generation college students, and grant funds for scholarships have a deep impact.”
This spring, SAU introduced a new Pre-Art Therapy major which unites mental health with the creative process. With a growing Art and Design program, the Mulerider family is especially grateful to have received support from Windgate Foundation for SAU students.
The Windgate Foundation has recently funded an additional grant of $25,000 expanding the annual scholarships available next fall from four to five.
This grant was a part of the University’s Love and Loyalty Campaign, an effort that is in its fifth and final year seeking to raise $22.275 million. Increasing the number of scholarship endowments available through the SAU Foundation is a major focus of the campaign. For more information on the Love and Loyalty Campaign, please visit www.sauloveandloyalty.com or contact the Division of Advancement at 870-235-4078.
