Champion an Artist Scholarship Program Strengthens the Arts at Colorado State University
By Marilyn Bistline
The transformation of the old Fort Collins High School into the University Center for the Arts marked the beginning of the university and community’s initiative to invest in the arts at Colorado State University. Over five years after the University Center for the Arts’ grand opening, programs in the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance and the Department of Art and Art History have truly blossomed. The University Center for the Arts hosts over 40,000 patrons a year while the University Art Museum, housed inside the UCA, is expanding to accept the prestigious Hartford-Tandstad Collection. With a more prominent focus on the visual arts at CSU came the opportunity for the Department of Art and Art History to create the Digital Fabrication Lab, an innovative space for students and faculty to experiment with 3-D printing and laser cutting. These accomplishments among each department have translated into growing numbers of performance and visual arts majors at CSU. The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance alone has experienced a 175% increase in majors since 2008, while the Department of Art and Art History houses over 550 students pursuing degrees in Art.
The prominence of the arts at Colorado State University has ushered in a new era for the College of Liberal Arts, and the time has come for the College to focus on the recruitment of the highest caliber performing and visual arts students to CSU. By attracting highly talented students to campus, CSU continues to grow its reputation nationally and internationally as one of the best arts programs in the country.
The Champion an Artist Scholarship Program
The launch of the Champion an Artist Scholarship Program in the College of Liberal Arts is geared toward recruiting and retaining excellent student artists at CSU. Using the Champion an Artist Scholarship Program as a competitive recruitment and retainment tool, CSU can compete among other top arts schools in the country as its ability to offer significant financial aid increases.
The program is unique in the opportunities it provides donors to connect with Champion an Artist Scholarship recipients. With the option to choose student recipients that are involved in the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance or the Department of Art and Art History, donors are granted a peek into the life of a student artist that is pursuing a medium that the donor is passionate about. The connection between the donor and student will be cemented by opportunities to interact with students one-on-one at dress rehearsals, show openings, or at times designated by the donor.
Champion an Artist Scholarship donor Marla Trumper sees her investment in performing and visual arts students as an investment in the community.
“I am honored to have been given the opportunity to help champion an artist at Colorado State University. I’m looking forward to seeing this program grow. Without a doubt it will impact the lives of students and I am confident that enriching young talent will make a difference in the overall quality of the arts in our community, which we all have an opportunity to enjoy,” said Trumper.
By pairing meaningful financial aid and support from donors in the community, top arts students who are already at CSU will not only create connections in our community, but will have the ability to share their talents in surrounding arts communities, a spill over affect that strengthens the arts in Northern Colorado. Another impact of the Champion an Artist Scholarship Program will be illustrated in the quality of future arts students who will be attracted to CSU because of a robust financial aid package and the opportunity to connect with arts patrons in a community that values the arts.
Donor commitment is $10,000 per year, for four years, or the donor may choose to endow the scholarship with a one- time gift of $225,000 or a pledge of $45,000 over five years. However a donor chooses to give to the Champion an Artist Program, the impact is immediate and powerful.
“Student artists have such passion for their talent and contribute so much to the culture of Colorado State University and our community,” said Trumper. “I want students to know how grateful I am for their dedication to their academic work as well as all the time spent in practice, preparation and performing. This scholarship program will be what takes Colorado State University to another level of excellence in the arts.”
For more information about the Champion an Artist Program, please contact Assistant Director of Development Tonya Malik-Carson at tonya.malik-carson@colostate.edu or (970) 491-3558.