Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program

Twelfth-grade students enrolled in South Carolina public schools who are U.S. citizens, have attended SC public schools for the previous two consecutive years, and plan to attend a South Carolina college or university. Compete in one discipline only: creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts. Out-of-state college plans ineligible.

1. Obtain application materials via school counseling office when posted (typically October).
2. Prepare original work/process folio for one arts discipline created during the eligible school years.
3. Submit through school guidance by the SCDE deadline.
4. Funds transfer directly to the SC college/university if awarded.

• Discipline-specific application
• Original composition/process folio and supporting documentation
• School verification of eligibility

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship program, named for South Carolina’s first poet laureate, offers twelfth-grade students (enrolled in a public school in South Carolina) the opportunity to compete for a scholarship in creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts as well as encourages and recognizes academic and artistic excellence among South Carolina students. Students will mail or deliver original compositions, process folios, and other required documentation in one of the five arts disciplines (creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts) to the South Carolina Department of Education. Students must currently be enrolled in twelfth grade in a public school in South Carolina. Students must plan to attend a South Carolina college or university. Students must be a U.S. citizen and have attended public school in South Carolina for the past two years. Students may only apply for one scholarship. Dance—An entry is defined as an original creation of dance choreography timed at three to six minutes created for solo dancer or ensemble in any appropriate movement style. The applicant must perform in the recording of his or her creation. Music—An entry is defined as an original vocal or instrumental composition created by the applicant timed at four to ten minutes for solo performer or small ensemble (recommended no more than five parts) utilizing any appropriate compositional technique. Arrangements of existing works will not be permitted for this competition. Theatre—An entry is defined as an original one-act script created by the applicant with a runtime of eight to fifteen minutes.

Five SC public high school seniors named annually in May by SCDE