Archibald Rutledge Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by South Carolina Department of Education
Overview
Named for South Carolina’s first poet laureate, the Archibald Rutledge Scholarship recognizes and supports senior students (12th grade) enrolled in South Carolina public schools who demonstrate excellence in both academics and the arts. The program awards scholarships in five disciplines: creative writing, dance, music, theatre, and visual arts.
What the program requires
Applicants submit original works, process folios, and any other requested materials in one of the five arts areas to the South Carolina Department of Education, either by mail or by hand delivery.
Key dates and timeline
- Applications become available online in October 2025.
- Materials must be submitted or postmarked no later than Monday, February 2, 2026. Delivered entries must arrive by 5:00 p.m. on that date; late submissions will not be accepted.
- Eligible works should have been produced during the 2024–25 or 2025–26 school year.
- Scholarship recipients will be announced in May 2026.
Awards and disbursement
Five scholarships (about $2,000 each) will be granted—one per discipline. The South Carolina Department of Education will arrange direct payment of the award to the South Carolina college or university the recipient will attend. Applicants planning to enroll at an out-of-state institution are not eligible. Recipients may also receive recognition from their home school or district.
Who is eligible
- Must be a current 12th-grade student in a South Carolina public school.
- Must intend to enroll at a college or university in South Carolina.
- Must be a U.S. citizen and have attended a public school in South Carolina for the previous two years.
- Each student may submit an application for only one scholarship/discipline.
Discipline-specific submission requirements
(See the individual arts entry form for the full application and any additional criteria.)
- Creative Writing: An original piece produced by the applicant in any creative-writing form (e.g., journals, memoirs, essays, poetry, short stories, speeches). The composition must not exceed two double-spaced pages.
- Dance: An original choreography, 3–6 minutes in length, created for either a solo or ensemble. The applicant must perform in the recording of the piece.
- Music: An original vocal or instrumental composition by the applicant, 4–10 minutes long, for a soloist or small ensemble (recommended no more than five parts). Arrangements of preexisting works are not permitted.
- Theatre: An original one-act script written by the applicant with a running time of 8–15 minutes.
- Visual Arts: A completed, original two-dimensional artwork created by the applicant (examples: drawing, painting, mixed media, printmaking, collage). Works may not be copies of master artworks or comic art.
Scoring, rules, and additional requirements
- Each submission is judged on the submitted work and the process folio; these two elements each account for 50% of the total score.
- Collaborative works are ineligible—submissions must be solely the applicant’s creation.
- Applicants may submit in only one arts area.
- Do not place your name or any identifying information on the original work, copies, the process folio, or the reflection statement.
- A panel of qualified professionals in each art form will select the recipient for that discipline; judges’ decisions are final.
- Additional specific criteria are listed on the individual entry forms.
How to apply / contact information
Students should begin the application process through their school guidance office between November 1, 2025, and February 2, 2026. For more details, contact your school counselor or Stephen Stokes at 803-734-3461 or sstokes@ed.sc.gov.