OCTA Scholarships

 

Each year, OCTA accepts applications from undergraduate students for various college scholarships. To be eligible for these scholarships, students must be accepted into an accredited post-secondary program for that year, must be a member or child of a community theater member, or a theatre major. 

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Applications for the 2026 OCTA College Scholarship are officially open! Fill out the online application!

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Criteria to apply: ​

• Student must be accepted into an accredited post-secondary program for the 2026-2027 school year.

• Student must be a member or a child of a community theatre member, or a theatre major in school

 

What you will need before you submit: 

• Completed google application form

• Documentation of GPA from the last four (4) years of education. Transcript not required

• Two (2) letters of recommendation: 

  • One (1) from a teacher, drama director, religious leader, or other person in the education field​

  • One (1) from a person directly involved in an OCTA member theatre

• One (1) page paper answering the following three (3) questions: 

  • What are your future goals for involving theatre, including community theatre, in your life? ​

  • How will your education enable you to reach these goals? 

  • If your major is not theatre related, how will you use your major to benefit theatre? 

• Headshot of the student

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Deadline to submit is May 1, 2026.

Questions? Contact chair Machelle Miller: octagrants.scholarships@gmail.com

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The list of past scholarship winners is below:

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2025

• Jayden Cochran, Central Region

• Aubrey Herrera-Hess, Northwest Region

• Hayden Weck, East Region

• Amelia Wiggershaus, West Region

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2024

• Joshua Henwood, Central Region

• Abby Cox, East Region

• Rylie Kregel, Northwest Region

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2023

• Belle Fockler, East Region

• Samantha Ezell, North Region

• Cadence Hendershot, East Region

• James Covarrubias, Southwest Region

• Emma Mayes, Southeast Region

• Racheal Tingley, West Region

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2022

• Lilly Buck, Northwest Region

• Lizzy Sundstrom, Southwest Region

• Nicholas Garcia, Central Region

• Rachelle Snyder, East Region

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2021

• Abigail Hersman, Central Region

• Joshua Higgins, North Region

• Victoria Denike, Northwest Region

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2020

• Payton Van Nort, East Region

• Kayla Stroud, Southwest Region

• Ashley Doyle, Southeast Region

• Lily Franks, North Region

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2019

• Nick Adams, Northwest Region

• Parker Culp, Southwest Region

• Alexandra Lisa, Southwest Region

• Megan Maccariella, Northwest Region

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2018

• Rafael Pacheco, Northeast Region

• McCartney Betz, Northeast Region

• Morgan Reece, Southwest Region

• Rebecca Buck, Southeast Region

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2017

• Taylor Fox, Southwest Region     

• Sophia Friend, Central Region

• Shayla Thomas, Northwest Region

• Katherine Swartzbeck, Northwest Region

• Haley Stevens, Southwest Region

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2016

• Danielle Morey, Southwest Region            

• Ally Peebles, Southwest Region

• Sydney Higgins, Southwest Region

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2015

• Emily Meinerding, Southwest Region                  

• Jeffrey Holmes, Southeast Region

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2014

• David Henninger, Northwest Region

• Christina Tully, Southwest Region

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2013

• Alexina Marie Annette Hupp, Central Region

• Cassandra Bellerive, Southeast Region

• Marisa Riegle, Central Region

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2012

• Sarah Ann Miller, Northeast Region

• Dallas James Pritt, West Region

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2011

• Cole M. Mazaher, Southeast Region

• Nate Netzley, Southwest Region

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2010

• Jacob W. Plummer, Central Region

• Sarah R. McKibben, Southeast Region

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2009

• Brandy Alexander, Central Region

• Elizabeth Gray, Southeast Region

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2008

• Amanda Toth, Southwest Region

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2007

• Jamie Allen, Northwest Region

• Samantha Rosentrater, Southeast Region

• Lauren Sprauge, Northwest Region

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2006

• Jillian Von Gunten, Southeast Region

• Matthew Zwyer, Northwest Region

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2005

• Matthew Ames, Southeast Region

• Maire Kramer, Southwest Region

• Juli Snider, Northwest Region

• Teresa Zemechel, Northeast Region

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2004

• Will Brandstetter, Southwest Region

• Kelly Skidmore, Central Region

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2002

• Donny Kolakowski, Northeast Region

• Joel Shier, Northwest Region

• Benjamin Edward Rosebrock, Northwest Region

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2001

• Ashley Glenn (Babick), Southeast Region

• Benjamin James Reid, Southeast Region

• Nicholas Verina, Jr., Northeast Region

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2000

• Kristin E. Heller, Northwest Region

• Regina Kollparampil, Northwest Region

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1999

• Rachel Brown, Northeast Region

• Emily Von Stuckrad, West Region

• Matthew Simpkins, Northeast Region

• Amanda Lay, Central Region

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1998

• Justin L. Hall, Northeast Region

• Michelle Leong, West Region

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1997

• Seth David Stout, Southeast Region

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1996

• Allison Stine, Central Region

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1995

• Laura Deanna Farkas (Roth), Northeast Region

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1994

• Aara Wise, Central Region