Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarship

The Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarship was established in 1993 to honor Mr. Leonard P. Roberts, the former Chairman of the Dayton Performing Arts Fund (now known as Culture Works). The scholarship has been in place since 1994 and has provided over $400,000 in funding to support 200 students in their academic endeavors. The scholarship is aimed at students in the Dayton Region, which includes Butler, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Warren counties. This scholarship is intended for high school seniors and college students who demonstrate participation in and patronage of the arts. While the scholarship is open to students across all academic disciplines, priority may be given to students majoring in the arts, business, or engineering fields. Students must be either graduating high school seniors living in the Dayton Region or college students residing and attending school within the region. The scholarship is intended to assist students who plan to enroll full-time for the entire academic year and who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. The scholarship offers awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the applicant's qualifications and needs. The selection process takes into account the student's involvement in the arts, which could include participation in artistic activities or being a patron of the arts in the Dayton area. The scholarship is administered through The Dayton Foundation’s ScholarshipCONNECT system, which is an online application platform for students to apply for various local scholarships. The application window for the 2025–2026 Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarship will open on January 8, 2025, and close on March 7, 2025, at 4:00 pm. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications during this window to be considered for the scholarship. The application process is designed to be accessible for all students involved in the arts, regardless of their major. For students who have questions about the application process or need assistance, they are encouraged to contact Rachel Evans Nead, the Director of Grantmaking & Impact at Culture Works, via email at ren@cultureworks.org.