Mel Tess Scholarship

The League of Milwaukee Artists is proud to present the 2023 Mel Tess Scholarship. Mel was a founding member of the League of Milwaukee artist, as well as a renowned local artist who was involved in the community that he is still giving back to today.   Please see the Mel Tess Biography for more information about this popular Wisconsin Artist. 

The $1000 scholarship will be offered to a High School student who is currently involved in the arts and is headed for a future of continuing education in the arts. To be eligible, a student must be a Senior in a Southeastern Wisconsin High School for the 2022-2023 school year and be headed to an art-based program after High School.  

The following is required to be considered for this award:  

• Completion of the online application. 
• Submission of 3 original works of art. 
• Submission of at least 1 letter of recommendation. 
• A short essay that adequately conveys the following: Student's current goals Student's future goals; Any current contributions to the art world; Any community service (completed or planned); Any additional information that would add to the essay (i.e., why he or she got into the arts, what were some of the applicant's first art accomplishments, who were some of the applicant's influences, etc.)  

The LMA committee, along with a representative from the Tess family, will carefully consider all applicants that have met the requirements. Our award winner will be notified by April 1st.  That winner will then be presented with the award certificate at our May LMA meeting (the recipient must be present). The actual monetary award will be mailed to the student after their first completed semester at the Art school they have chosen to attend. The LMA and the Tess family are committed to the arts in Wisconsin. We are always looking for ways to support the artists in our area, especially the talented young artists that will help shape the future of art in our community, nationally and abroad.   

Eligibility, Requirements & Timeline

The Mel Tess Scholarship is presented by the League of Milwaukee Artists and will be awarded to one High School student that will be a Senior in the 2022-2023 School year. The applicant must be headed for the arts in their higher educational endeavors. We are looking for applicants that reside and plan on attending a college or art-based school for further education, ideally in the Southeastern Wisconsin Area. The Scholarship will be awarded to the student after, and only upon proof of transcript of college, university or school they are attending in the Fall of 2023.   

Eligibility:

• Applicant must be a high school student in his or her senior year for the 2022-2023 school year.
• Applicant must be currently attending a High School in the Southeastern Wisconsin area. 
• Applicant must graduate high school.
• Applicant must plan on attending an arts-based school for continuing education after high school.
• Applicant must practice one of the visual fine arts (ceramics, painting, drawing, Sculpture, printmaking, Photography, etc.)  

Requirements: 

• Applicant must be able to attend the award ceremony during the LMA's May meeting. 
• Applicant must fill out the Mel Tess Scholarship application, submit 3 original works of art, submit at least 1 letter of recommendation. , and a short essay (see prospectus).
• The winning applicant must provide the LMA with any change of address, future address, or phone numbers needed for contact.
• Upon winning the Scholarship, applicants must show first-semester transcripts from the school of higher education that they attend before the award will be granted.   

Timeline: 

• January 31st, 2023 – Application submission deadline
• April 1st, 2023 – The winning applicant will be notified
• May 13th, 2023 – Award ceremony at the May LMA meeting.
• December 31st, 2023 – The scholarship winner must provide transcripts by this date.   

***Financial award will be given once proof of continuing education is established. It is up to the student to provide the transcripts of the college or university they attend.   

To apply, fill out the online application along with uploading the required documents.  

If you have any questions regarding the Mel Tess Scholarship, please contact Kay Noel at bobkaynoel@aol.com.