Arts, Digital Media and Communication Scholarships
You can receive funding for college while gaining valuable experience through our scholarships! You are not required to major in the field for which the scholarship is granted. Your first step is to fill out this general registration form, then follow the steps listed below for each respective program.
Audition Details
Activity scholarships pay for in-state tuition and textbooks. Interested students could receive scholarships in the areas of Mass Communications (Radio/TV/Newspaper/Magazine/Sports Media), Music (Vocal or Instrumental), Theatre (Performance or Technical), and Visual Arts. Each department has different requirements for the audition and interview process. It is possible to audition for multiple departments, though you can only accept one scholarship. To learn how to prepare for your audition or interview, select from the appropriate department in the tabs below. Upon completion of the registration form, please make sure to follow the submission instructions for each department.
Art Scholarship Submission Guidelines
Art scholarships are available in a variety of amounts as cash endowed scholarships payable toward your tuition. Students applying for Art Scholarships must have earned at least a 2.0 GPA in their most recent semester.
The Butler Community College Art Department will be reviewing digital portfolios and awarding scholarships based on the strength of the artworks presented. A “portfolio” simply means you need to choose 10-20 of your best artworks works to share with art faculty using one of the following formats: a PowerPoint slideshow, Google Drive folder, or link to an artist website. Please email the link to your digital portfolio to visualart@butlercc.edu.
When assembling images for your portfolio, please keep these tips in mind:
- Your portfolio should have 10-20 images of what you consider to be your best works.
- Please include a variety of mediums and subject matters. Diversity of materials and ideas is preferable to works that just showcase the mastery of a specific "style."
- Include the following information for each artwork: Title, Material, Dimensions.
- Take good photos of your work. Take your photos in bright, diffused natural lighting. Crop your photos so that the artwork is the only thing in the photo. For two-dimensional works, don’t take photos at an angle, and make sure no shadows are falling across your work. Three-dimensional works should be photographed against a plain background...a wrinkle-free sheet works great for this.
Box Office Scholarship Interview Guidelines
Our fine arts performances and events are only as strong as our front-of-house team. In-state tuition and books scholarships are available for students involved in Theatre Performance, Technical Theatre and Front of House management.
Box Office scholars gain real-life experience in customer service and computerized ticketing.
Applicants should be good with people, have strong organizational skills and be willing to learn new things. For your interview please provide the following:
- Résumé
- If possible, present a portfolio of his/her work including one or more of the following: Art projects, lobby displays, flyers, posters, graphic design, etc.
- A cover letter introducing yourself and your interest in theatre
- A recent photograph
To schedule an interview, inquire and submit materials, email our team at theatre@butlercc.edu.
Frequently Asked Question: Can I audition for more than one activity?
Answer: Students may audition for multiple activities, but only one on any given audition date. If you wish to audition for multiple departments, select your "primary" interest for the official audition date, and submit audition requests for the others on different dates or request to be contacted. Students may only receive one Activity Scholarship.
Leslie Coates
Performance Faculty
Caden Runnalls
Technical Staff
Mass Communication Scholarship Interview Guidelines
Radio/TV Production
Butler Radio (KBTL-FM) is operated by scholarship students who broadcast music, sports, and campus news throughout Butler County. Scholarship students appear on air, produce, and direct programs for our YouTube channel through Arktos Moving Images. Feel free to reach out to us with questions at masscomm@butlercc.edu.
For Your Interview
Submit a short resume, a sample of your work (link to on-line portfolio containing audio/video projects and written work preferred), and a letter of recommendation from a high school counselor or teacher.
Submit your samples to:
Dr. Keith West
Mass Communication Chair
KBTL-FM General Manager
316.322.3194
Sports Media
Students broadcast live coverage, write news stories, and take photos of athletic events. Feel free to reach out to us with questions at masscomm@butlercc.edu.
For Your Interview
Submit a short resume, a sample of your work, and a letter of recommendation from a high school counselor or teacher.
Schedule an interview by contacting:
Dr. Keith West
Mass Communication Chair
KBTL-FM General Manager
316.322.3194
Newspaper
Maintaining a tradition of state and national honors, the biweekly Lantern is published by and for students. Scholarship journalists write, edit, and produce the newspaper in modern journalism facilities. Feel free to reach out to us with questions at masscomm@butlercc.edu.
For Your Interview
Submit a short resume, a sample of writing (or photography), and a letter of recommendation from a high school counselor or journalism teacher.
Schedule an interview by contacting:
Amy Chastain
Assistant Professor
316.323.6894
Magazine
The student full-color magazine, The Grizzly, serves as a history of the academic, social, and athletic activities of Butler students while they attend college. Publication is in the hands of scholarship journalists and the faculty advisor. Feel free to reach out to us with questions at masscomm@butlercc.edu.
For Your Interview
Submit a short resume, a sample of writing (or photography), and a letter of recommendation from a high school counselor or journalism teacher.
Schedule an interview by contacting:
Dr. Keith West
Mass Communication Chair
KBTL-FM General Manager
316.322.3194
Instrumental Music Scholarship Audition Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in the Instrumental Music Department. Auditions for Instrumental Music Scholarships may be completed in person or online!
Our preference is to see you audition and get to meet you in person. However, we understand that not all prospective students are available on the same day. If you cannot attend one of our in-person auditions for any reason, please submit a virtual audition following the instructions below.
The Instrumental Music Department offers a wide variety of opportunities to perform. Our in-state tuition and books scholarships are in high demand and we encourage all interested students to submit audition materials as soon as possible. Students do not need to be music majors to receive in-state tuition and books scholarships.
To Prepare for an In-Person Audition
A letter of recommendation from a high school music instructor or private teacher (phone calls accepted) is due at the time of your audition. Students should also fill out the Instrumental Music Student Information Form and bring it to their audition.
Prospective students will need to prepare the following material:
Brass and Woodwinds
- Play a chromatic scale across the range of your instrument (ascending and descending)
- Solo, etude, or excerpts from ensemble music (at least one lyrical and one technical excerpt of student’s choice). Approximately three minutes of music.
Percussionists and Drumline
- For Drumline, please be prepared to play this percussion audition excerpt.
- Prepare excerpts (of the student’s choice) on any two instruments – Snare Drum, Mallets, Timpani
Strings
- Violin: one three-octave scale of your choice and two minutes of a solo
- Viola, cello, and bass: the two-octave scale of your choice and two minutes of a solo
Jazz Ensembles
- Jazz etude or transcribed jazz solo (student’s choice)
- Optional improvisation on B flat Blues
Students who register for an in-person audition will be sent a schedule approximately one week prior to their chosen audition date. Please plan to keep the day open for the audition and interview process. If you have questions about your audition or what to prepare, send an email to bmartinez11@butlercc.edu.
To Prepare for Your Virtual Audition:
1) All students must register for their audition by filling out the online registration form on the Fine Arts and Communication Scholarships page.
2) A letter of recommendation from a high school music instructor or private teacher (phone calls accepted) is due with your audition submission.
3) Students should also fill out the Instrumental Music Student Information Form and send it with their audition submission.
4) Please complete your audition in one video instead of multiple videos spliced together. Your video should include the following:
Everyone
Start by stating your name, high school, and career/college major/goals
Brass and Woodwinds
- Play a chromatic scale across the range of your instrument (ascending and descending)
- Solo, etude, or excerpts from ensemble music (at least one lyrical and one technical excerpt of student’s choice). Approximately three minutes of music.
Percussionists and Drumline
- For Drumline, please be prepared to play this percussion audition excerpt.
- Prepare excerpts (of the student’s choice) on any two instruments – Snare Drum, Mallets, Timpani
Strings
- Violin: one three-octave scale of your choice and two minutes of a solo
- Viola, cello, and bass: the two-octave scale of your choice and two minutes of a solo
Jazz Ensembles
- Jazz etude or transcribed jazz solo (student’s choice)
- Optional improvisation on B flat Blues
Submitting Your Virtual Audition
When your video is completed, please upload your audition to YouTube as an "unlisted" video, and email the link and any other audition materials (listed above) to bmartinez11@butlercc.edu. If needed, you may be contacted to schedule a Zoom video conference with the instrumental music faculty to ask and answer any questions.
Keyboard Scholarship Audition Guidelines
For Your Virtual Audition
Prepare two selections of contrasting styles (ie. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary). A letter of recommendation from a high school or private music teacher is due at the time of audition. Be prepared to play an accompaniment from a vocal or instrumental score (soloist not required). Students may be asked to sight-read an example of three-part of four-part staff reading.
For more information, contact:
Amanda Pfenninger
Assistant Professor of Music
316.323.6924
apfenninger@butlercc.edu
Vocal Music Scholarship Audition Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in the Vocal Music Department. Auditions for Vocal Music Scholarships may be completed in person or online! Our preference is to see you audition and get to meet you in person. However, we understand that not all prospective students are available on the same day. If you cannot attend our in-person auditions for any reason, please let us know at vocalmusic@butlercc.edu!
The Vocal Music Department offers a wide variety of opportunities to sing. Our in-state tuition and books scholarships are in high demand and we encourage all interested students to submit audition materials as soon as possible. Students do not need to be music majors to receive in-state tuition and books scholarships.
To Prepare for an In-Person Audition
Prospective students will need to prepare the following musical selections:
- Short segments of two (2) songs that show off your range and ability in contrasting styles. This is your opportunity to show us your best singing in any style. Sing something you love! Students are encouraged to sing one song “a cappella” and one with an accompanist or accompaniment track. Students may also accompany themselves.
- Sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" or "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" in any key, a cappella.
- All students will be asked to participate in a short dance audition at their audition. It is fun and accessible for all levels of dancers! You may want to bring some extra clothes you can easily move in for the dance audition.
- Students should fill out the Vocal Music Student Information Form.
- Students should ask a music teacher to submit the Vocal Music Teacher Recommendation Form.
Students who register for an in-person audition will be sent a schedule approximately one week prior to their chosen audition date. Please plan to keep the day open for the audition and interview process. If you have questions about your audition or what to prepare, send an email to vocalmusic@butlercc.edu.
To Prepare for Your Virtual Audition
Prospective students will need to record an audition video that includes the following:
- State your name, high school, and career/college major/goals
- Sing a short segment of two (2) songs that show off your range and ability in contrasting styles. This is your opportunity to show us your best singing in any style. Sing something you love! Students are encouraged to sing one song “a cappella” and one with an accompanist or accompaniment track. Students may also accompany themselves.
- Sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" or "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" in any key, a cappella.
- Any student interested in performing in the Headliners Show Choir must record a short dance call video. Follow along with Mrs. Mack and our Dance Captains on a short YouTube dance instruction video to learn the steps. Record yourself dancing along and submit it as part of your video audition.
- Students should fill out the Vocal Music Student Information Form.
- Students should ask a music teacher to submit the Vocal Music Teacher Recommendation Form.
Submitting Your Virtual Audition
When your video is completed, please upload your audition to YouTube as an "unlisted" video, and email the link to vocalmusic@butlercc.edu. If needed, you may be contacted to schedule a Zoom video conference with the Vocal Music Faculty to ask and answer any questions.
Performance Theatre Scholarship Audition Guidelines
In-state tuition and books scholarships are available for students involved in Theatre Performance, Technical Theatre and Front of House management. Scholarships are also available for students participating in music, art and mass communication. You do not need to major in theatre to receive an activity scholarship.
Students need the following for both audition types:
- Résumé, including GPA
- A cover letter introducing yourself and your interest in theatre
- A recent photograph
In-Person Scholarship Auditions
You will need two prepared, memorized solo acting pieces (optional: alternative to one monologue, one 16 bar song selection) – not to exceed three minutes in combined length. Be prepared to give the title of your piece(s) and to cold read a short scene provided to you.
Virtual Theatre Scholarship Auditions
We are offering the option of submitting virtual auditions and interviews for Theatre Scholarships. The video must include your name and be cropped to see 3 quarters of your body from hip to head. Max duration is 3 minutes.
Please upload your video of your two, unedited acting pieces to YouTube as an unlisted video and submit the link via email to theatre@butlercc.edu with the rest of your submission documents.
Frequently Asked Question: Can I audition for more than one activity?
Answer: Students may audition for multiple activities, but only one on any given audition date. If you wish to audition for multiple departments, select your "primary" interest for the official audition date, and submit audition requests for the others on different dates or request to be contacted. Students may only receive one Activity Scholarship.
SUBMIT MATERIALS AND QUESTIONS TO theatre@butlercc.edu.
Leslie Coates
Performance Faculty
Caden Runnalls
Technical Staff
Technical Theatre Scholarship Audition Guidelines
Virtual Technical Theatre Scholarship Interviews
In-state tuition and books scholarships are available for students involved in Theatre Performance, Technical Theatre and Front of House management. Scholarships are also available for students participating in music, art and mass communication. You do not need to major in theatre to receive an activity scholarship.
The virtual audition/interview requirements for a Technical Theatre Scholarship are:
- Résumé, including GPA
- Portfolio/photos of work from theatre productions/concerts OR any woodworking or welding projects
- A cover letter introducing yourself and your interest in theatre
- A recent photograph
Frequently Asked Question: Can I audition for more than one activity?
Answer: Students may audition for multiple activities, but only one on any given audition date. If you wish to audition for multiple departments, select your "primary" interest for the official audition date, and submit audition requests for the others on different dates or request to be contacted. Students may only receive one Activity Scholarship.
SUBMIT MATERIALS AND QUESTIONS TO theatre@butlercc.edu.
Leslie Coates
Performance Faculty
Caden Runnalls
Technical Staff