Apply for the 2027 Scholar-Artist Awards
About the Long Island Scholar-Artist Awards
The Scholar-Artist Awards recognize outstanding Long Island high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in both the arts and academics.
Each year, 40 students are selected:
- 20 Scholar-Artist Award recipients (10 Nassau, 10 Suffolk)
- 20 Merit Award recipients
Scholar-Artist Award recipients receive:
- A half-page profile and photo published in Newsday
- A $500 scholarship, made possible through support from the Arts Reach Fund at The New York Community Trust
- Recognition at the annual awards ceremony at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
- A professionally framed print of their published profile, plus a framed copy for their school
Merit Award recipients receive:
- Recognition at the annual awards ceremony
- Inclusion in a group photo published in Newsday
This long-standing program has recognized over 850 students since its inception. It highlights the strength of arts education across Long Island and celebrates students whose work reflects both artistic excellence and academic commitment.
How To Nominate A Student:
Applications must be initiated by a teacher, school administrator, or arts educator. Students and parents cannot nominate themselves.
Schools may only put forward one student per discipline each year. The nominator begins the application in the online portal. The educator and student then work together to complete the application and upload required materials. The application can be saved and returned to at any time before the deadline.
Applications Open: March 10, 2026
Deadline: Monday, June 1, 2026
Eligibility
Applicants for the Scholar-Artist Awards must meet the following criteria:
- Be nominated by their high school, with applications submitted by a district arts administrator or nominating teacher
- Be graduating seniors from the Class of 2027
- Represent the highest level of artistic excellence in their chosen discipline
- Demonstrate superior academic achievement with an unweighted GPA of 90 or above
- Submit a student essay and a portfolio or performance video
- Upload a school transcript (PDF copy accepted) that includes:
- All four quarters of 9th grade
- All four quarters of 10th grade
- The first half of 11th grade
Nominator/Educator Guide
Whether you're submitting a nomination for the first time or returning for another year, our downloadable Nominator/Educator Guide provides a clear overview of the Scholar-Artist Awards process.
The guide includes:
- Eligibility requirements
- What to gather before starting
- Application tips and deadlines
- Discipline-specific expectations
- Submission instructions
Application Guidelines (Discipline-Specific)
To help you and your nominated students prepare for the Scholar-Artist Awards, we've created a downloadable guide containing specific requirements for each discipline. The PDF outlines the specific submission requirements for artistic areas, along with general instructions like essay and bio submissions.
Deadline
Applications must be submitted through the portal by 11:59pm on Monday, June 1st, 2026.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ
If you have any questions about the application process please contact us via email: info@longislandartsalliance.org