Scholarships
Each spring, Newtown Arts Company proudly awards scholarships to area high school seniors pursuing post-secondary study in the fine or performing arts. To date, Newtown Arts Company has awarded over $260,000 to talented, dedicated students throughout Bucks County and the surrounding area.
Eligible applicants must be high school seniors who have applied to, or been accepted by, an accredited institution of post-secondary education. Upon receipt of the written application, students will be invited to schedule an interview and audition with the scholarship committee. Newtown Arts Company members who are pursuing non-arts related majors are eligible for service-based scholarships using the same application process.
Check back for scholarship information for 2027.
Newtown Arts Company is committed to investing in the next generation of artists. TWENTY-FIVE percent of proceeds from our shows and 100% of proceeds from special fundraising initiatives and raffle baskets, go directly toward funding these scholarships. In addition, our membership in the Newtown Community Foundation helps ensure that our mission of supporting young artists will continue for years to come, keeping the arts vibrant and accessible for future generations.
Donations to the Scholarship Program may be made by visiting the Donate page or by mailing a check to: Newtown Arts Company, P.O. Box 635, Newtown, PA 18940.
2026 Scholarship Winners
The 2026 Newtown Arts Company Joe McKernan Scholarship Award recipient is Claire Barber, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who plans to attend Savannah College of Art and Design, pursuing a BFA in writing with a minor in Costume Design.
The 2026 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of Jane DeKorte was presented to Adalae Howe, also a graduate of Council Rock North, who will be attending the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a BFA in Acting.
The 2026 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of Glen L. Hall was presented to Darren Lee, a graduate of Council Rock High School North. Darren will be attending the University of North Carolina School of Arts, majoring in Music Performance on Cello.
Isabelle Plakyda, a graduate of Bucks County Technical High School, was awarded a 2026 Newtown Arts Company Scholarship and will be attending the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, majoring in Graphic Design.
Simone Shvarts, a graduate of Council Rock High School South received a 2026 Newtown Arts Company Scholarship and will be attending the University of Pittsburgh to double major in Theatre Arts and Biology (Pre Dental).
The 2026 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of Shirley S. Milnor was presented to Ian Stone, a graduate of Council Rock High School North. Ian will attend Ryder University to major in Theater Arts.
The 2026 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of R. David Mahler was presented to Holden Sysler, a graduate of Council Rock High School North. Holden will attend University of North Carolina School of Arts to major in Lighting Design.
Past Scholarship Recipients
2025 Scholarship Winners
This year’s Newtown Arts Company Joe McKernan Scholarship Award recipient is Grace Seamans, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who plans to attend Penn State University to major in Stage Management.
The 2025 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of Shirley S. Milnor was presented to Genevieve Nicholson, a graduate of Council Rock High School North. Genevieve will attend SCAD to major in Animation.
A second 2025 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of Leonard Pittler was presented to Sage Ondik, a graduate of Council Rock High School North. Sage will be attending Colgate University to triple major in Music/Theatre and Neuroscience.
A third 2025 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of R. David Mahler was presented to Ryan Coughlin, a graduate of Archbishop Wood High School. Ryan will be attending SCAD to major in Animation.
A fourth 2025 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of Glen L. Hall was presented to Elizabeth Luczak, a graduate of Council Rock High School North. Elizabeth will be attending The Fashion Institute of Technology to major in Fashion Design.
Newtown Arts Company 2025 Scholarships also were awarded to Katelyn Carroll, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who will attend Penn State University to major in Architecture; Emerson Gottlieb, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Oberlin College to major in Musical Theatre; and Lucy Giacourt, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Moore College of Art and Design to major in Fine Arts.
2024 Scholarship Winners
This year’s Newtown Arts Company Joe McKernan Scholarship Award recipient is Ethan Hinshaw of Bensalem. A graduate of Bensalem High School, Ethan will attend Mansfield University a campus of Commonwealth University to major in Music Education Vocalist.
The 2024 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of the late Shirley Stackhouse Milnor was presented to Eva Akselrad of Richboro. Eva, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, plans to attend the Arcadia University where she will major in Computer Science and Music Theatre.
A second 2024 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of R. David Mahler was presented to Taylor Wichterman of Churchville. Taylor, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, plans to attend Monmouth University with a dual major in Music and Business.
Newtown Arts Company 2024 Scholarships also were awarded to Eden Bloom of Newtown, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Wesleyan University, CT, to major in Studio Art (Photography) and Psychology; Bethany Conover of Holland, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who will attend Edinborough University-Commonwealth University West with a major in Illustration; Sarah Nelson of Washington Crossing, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Pennsylvania State University to major in Fine Arts, Painting; and Liv Phelan of Feasterville, a graduate of Neshaminy High School, who will attend Kutztown University to major in Communication Design.
In addition, awards were presented to Jacob Cruz of Newtown, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Lipscomb University to major in Film and TV Production; Isabella Genuardi of New Hope, a graduate of New Hope-Solebury High School, who will attend UMD School of Music to major in Vocal Performance and Linguistics/Psychology; Noah Schneider of Richboro, a graduate of Holy Ghost Preparatory School, who will attend DeSales University to major in Theatre and a minor in Film; and Allison Spinelli of Holland, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who will attend Monmouth University to major in either Music Industry or Music Production/Songwriting.
2023 Scholarship Winners
This year’s Newtown Arts Company Joe McKernan Scholarship Award recipient is Sabrina Daniele Cancelliere of Churchville. A graduate of Council Rock High School South, Cancelliere will attend Temple University Tyler College of Art to major in Art Education.
The 2023 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of the late Shirley Stackhouse Milnor was presented to Samantha Rosinski of Doylestown. Rosinski, a graduate of Central Bucks High School South, plans to attend the Chapman University where she will major in Film and Television Production.
Newtown Arts Company 2023 Scholarships also were awarded to Alexandra Haviken of New Hope, a graduate of Council Rock High School North who will attend Clemson University to major in the Performing Arts – Theater; Gianna Marini of Newtown, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Wagner College with a major in Theatre Performance; and Macey Webber of Yardley, a graduate of Pennsbury High School, who will attend Bucknell University with majors in Vocal Performance, Dance, and Marketing.
In addition, awards were presented to Logan Smith of Newtown, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Northeastern University to major in Media Arts and Computer Science; India Profitt of Washington Crossing, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend DeSales University to major in Theater Performance; and Olivia Bissol of Washington Crossing, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend West Chester University to major in Dance and Computer Science.
2022 Scholarship Winners
This year’s Newtown Arts Company Joe McKernan Scholarship Award recipient is Marissa Cohen of Newtown. A rising sophomore at Muhlenberg College, Marissa will be continuing her college career in Theater Dance Education.
The 2022 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of the late R. David Mahler was presented to Erin Stone of Newtown. A graduate of Council Rock High School North, she plans to attend Ohio University to major in Theater Design with an emphasis on props.
Newtown Arts Company 2022 Scholarships were awarded to Kathryn Dina, a graduate of Council Rock High School South who plans to attend James Madison University to major in Musical Theater; Kylie Gregory, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who will be attending Duke University to double major in Dance and Engineering Pre Med with the plan to work on creating prosthetic limbs for dancers; Madison Russell of Yardley, a graduate of Pennsbury High School, who will attend Ohio University to major in Musical Theater; and Mikaila Miller, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who will attend Wagner College to pursue a degree in Theater Performance.
2021 Scholarship Winners
This year’s Newtown Arts Company Joe McKernan Scholarship Award recipient is Robyn Kerachsky of Yardley. A graduate of Pennsbury High School, Kerachsky plans to attend Temple University to major in Theater studies with an Acting Concentration.
The 2021 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of the late Shirley Stackhouse Milnor was presented to Cameron Flurry of Newtown. A graduate of Council Rock High School North, Flurry plans to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she aims to major in Drama and Acting.
Newtown Arts Company 2021 Scholarships also were awarded to Zach Albuck of Holland, a graduate of Council Rock High School South who plans to attend Wagner College to major in Theatre Performance; Sydney Black of Holland, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who plans to attend University of Maryland to major in Music Education; Camille D’Amico of Richboro, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who plans to attend Virginia Tech University’s Calhoun Honors Discovery Program with a major in Industrial Design; Renee Gilmore of Yardley, a graduate of Pennsbury High School, who plans to attend Thomas Jefferson University to major in Fashion Merchandising and Management; Cody Lewandkowski of Feasterville, a graduate of Neshaminy High School, who plans to attend Coastal Carolina College to major in Musical Theater; Kylie Mitchell of Bensalem, a graduate of Bensalem High School, who plans to attend Temple University to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts; Matt Sandman of Newtown, a graduate of Council Rock High School North whose goal is to attend Rochester Institute of Technology to major in Animation; and Melanie Wilson of Yardley, a graduate of Pennsbury High School, who plans to attend PRATT Institute as a Fine Arts Major.
2020 Scholarship Winners
This year’s Newtown Arts Company Joe McKernan Scholarship Award recipients are Gianna DiFebbo, a graduate of Council Rock High School South who will attend Shenandoah Conservatory to major in Musical Theater, and Ryan Young, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, for Community Service, who will be attending the University of Pittsburgh to major in Computer Science & Mathematics.
The 2020 Newtown Arts Company Legacy Scholarship in honor of Ray Fristchy was presented to Paige Suthard, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend University of Arizona Tucson with the goal of BFA in Stage Management.
Newtown Arts Company 2020 Scholarships also were awarded to Gabrielle DeSena, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, to major in Fine Arts; Nikolaj Folmer, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, who will attend Fordham University to major in New Media Design & Digital Design; Keli Ganey, a graduate of Calvary Christian Academy, who will attend Messiah University to double major in History and Theater Arts; Kennedy Heinrichs, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who will attend Rhode Island School of Design to major in Illustration; and Shane Stoltz, a graduate of Council Rock High School South, who will attend Indiana University to major in Musical Theater.