LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Arts Council has awarded a total of $6,000 in scholarships to six graduating high school seniors pursuing arts-related studies this fall, continuing its mission to uplift the next generation of creative leaders.
The 2025 scholarship recipients are:
- Tavon Burrus, Great Mills High School
- Tyler Staples, Chopticon High School
- Sophia Figuracion, Chopticon High School
- Ava Leard, Leonardtown High School
- Vanna Osburn, Leonardtown High School
- Tessa Sorey, Great Mills High School
Each student will receive up to $1,000 to support their enrollment in college-level arts programs, whether in visual, performing, literary or digital disciplines. The competitive scholarship is open to St. Mary’s County residents graduating from public, private or home school settings, with recipients selected based on GPA, personal essays, recommendation letters and artistic submissions.
The scholarship program is funded in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, along with contributions from community donors who support the advancement of local talent.
“The St. Mary’s County Arts Council is proud to recognize these six outstanding students,” said program organizers in the announcement. “Their creativity and commitment to the arts make them worthy representatives of our community’s future in cultural expression.”
Over the years, the scholarship has helped local youth pursue degrees in music performance, graphic design, creative writing, fine arts, theater and more — many of whom return to St. Mary’s County to share their skills through education and public engagement.
Applications for the 2026 scholarships will open in December and are submitted through the St. Mary’s County Common Scholarship Application, hosted by the Business, Education and Community Alliance Inc. (BECA). BECA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps local students achieve their higher education goals and has awarded more than 300 scholarships since 1995. Each year, BECA facilitates the distribution of more than $200,000 in local awards.
Students and families can find more information at smcart.org/scholarships, or by contacting BECA directly at smcbeca@gmail.com or 240-257-2322.
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