5 Iowa high school students taking the art world by storm
The Iowa Arts Council awarded five Iowa High School seniors with prestigious arts scholarships.
The Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, has revealed the five high school seniors selected to receive the Iowa Scholarship for the Arts for the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarship program, established in 1986, supports Iowa high school students who demonstrate exceptional talent in various artistic fields and plan to pursue an arts major at an accredited Iowa college or university.
The selected students will each receive a $3,000 scholarship to cover college tuition and related expenses in the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarship is open to students specializing in dance, creative writing, music, theater, traditional arts, or visual arts. The program was established following a benefit concert by world-renowned opera singer and native Iowan Simon Estes in 1986, which provided the seed funding for the scholarship fund.
Get to know the five talented winners:
Abby Dart
Hailing from Knoxville, Abby Dart is set to pursue a degree in Musical Theatre and Dance, along with a certificate in Business, at the University of Iowa. Dart’s passion for theatre and dance began in middle school. Post-graduation, she aims to work with a performing arts nonprofit organization and eventually earn a master’s degree in Theatre Education. Her ultimate goal is to open her own playhouse and offer affordable theatre and dance classes.
Harlow Davis
Dubuque’s Harlow Davis plans to enroll in the Art Education and Studio Art degree program at the University of Northern Iowa. Davis’s artwork highlights the LGBTQIA+ community, reflecting their experience as a nonbinary transgender artist. After college, Davis aspires to become an art teacher to help others develop their artistic skills.
Meredith Heggen
Meredith Heggen, from Johnston, intends to pursue a degree in Vocal Music Education and Performance at Drake University. Heggen, a Lyric Soprano under the guidance of Leanne Freeman-Miller, has performed in NATS competitions, the 2023 International Lyric Academy Opera Scenes Program in Vicenza, Italy, and the Thursday Musical 2024 Young Artist Competition Winners Concert. Passionate about sharing musical narratives that foster self-discovery and connections, Heggen is active as a choir member and featured soloist in school and community events.
Sara Shannon
Waverly resident Sara Shannon will enroll in the University of Northern Iowa’s English degree program, with a minor in Creative Writing and Music in euphonium. Throughout high school, Shannon has participated in bands, orchestra, theatre, National Honor Society, and various clubs. Her long-term goal is to become an author, and she has already published some of her work.
Natalie Thomas
Cedar Falls native Natalie Thomas plans to pursue a degree in English and Creative Writing, with a minor in Theatre, at the University of Iowa. Influenced by classic literature, Thomas’s work explores themes of coming-of-age, mental illness, and deep human connection. After college, she aims to become a book editor while working on publishing her novels, poetry collections, and plays.
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