2020/2021 School of Theatre & Dance Scholarship Recipients

The School of Theatre & Dance is pleased to announce its scholarship recipients for the 2020/2021 Academic Year.   To find out more information about scholarships offered at San Francisco State Univeristy please visit Academic Works.  

Jules Irving Scholarship

This scholarship in memory of Jules Irving provides financial assistance to Theatre Arts students on an academic path in drama. Student awardees show a high degree of professional promise in theatre. This annual scholarship is merit-based and open to undergraduates and graduate students continuing their education in the School. Jules Irving (1925 – 1979) was an American actor, director, educator, and producer, who in the 1950s co-founded the San Francisco Actor's Workshop.

Jo Rhoades
Senior, Theatre Arts

Jo Rhoades is thrilled to be receiving the Jules Irving Scholarship and is looking forward to her Senior year at SFSU, even if it is online. She has high hopes for The Player's Club at SFSU and as the Club President for the 2020-2021 school year she can't wait to see what students create while continuing their college careers safely in quarantine. Jo has been seen in SFSU's Theatre & Dance productions of Pericles, Prince of Tyre and Color Your World. She would like to thank Professors Sukanya Chakrabarti, Elizabeth Hunter, Terry Boero, Laura Wayth and Bruce Avery for their copious amounts of encouragement and support throughout her college education. Jo would especially like to give thanks to her talented friends, wonderful boyfriend and loving family!

Dance Scholarship Fund - Susan Whipp Legacy Scholarship

This annual scholarship is awarded to promising dance students in their senior year to assist with educational costs. With support from Dance Professor Emerita, Susan Messner-Whipp, the scholarship honors the legacy of the dance program at SF State with the hopes that honorees continue the rich heritage of artistic excellence, diversity and scholarship in the field that was envisioned at the inception of the Dance BA program. Professor Whipp was an active and beloved faculty member in the Dance Program starting in 1982 and served the University for over thirty years. Her support of the scholarship and the legacy of the Dance Program at SF State has helped countless students with their academic and career paths.

Mirai Yoshida
Senior, Dance

Mirai Yoshida started her dance training when she was eight. Since then, she had trained in various genres of dance. She became a dance major student at SF State in Spring 2019, and she is continuing her training.

Clarence Miller Musical Theatre Scholarship

This merit-based scholarship is annually provided to continuing Theatre Arts undergraduate and graduate students of promise in Musical Theatre. The scholarship was originally set up in 1986 upon the generous support of a bequest from the estate of the late Professor Clarence Miller. Clarence Miller was the head of the formerly named Drama Department at SF State in the 1960s. During his tenure, he taught numerous students, spearheaded workshops and directed multiple musical theatre productions.

Christian Cantrell
Senior, Theatre Arts

Christian Cantrell has been studying theatre at San Francisco State University for three years, with an emphasis in musical theatre composition. He is honored to accept this scholarship, and would like to thank all his friends, family and teachers for their continued support. Anything you do, let it come from you and it will be new. Give us more to see.

Toni K. Weingarten Youth in Theatre Scholarship

These substantial scholarships are for incoming undergraduate transfer students from Laney College pursuing a Theatre Arts degree at SF State. Students retain the scholarship for their two years to degree completion as long as they maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, keep a full course load and regularly meet with their advisor. Donor to the scholarship, Toni Weingarten, was born in Oakland and took drama classes throughout high school. During that time, she attended a residential summer theatre workshop at SF State. Though she never considered herself an actress, she loved being involved in theatre. Although Ms. Weingarten retired as a television writer and producer, she is currently a local writing instructor and remains active with community theatre.

Storm White
Junior, Theatre Arts

Storm White is an Oakland native transferring into San Francisco State’s School of Theatre & Dance from Laney College. In her time with Laney’s Fusion Project, she played the Judge, Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and Anna Politkovskaya in Barbara Hammonds WE ARE PUSSY RIOT OR EVERYTHING IS P.R., and played Sarah in Sharif Abu-Hamdeh’s Santa Barbarians—which she also stage managed. Storm strives for a career in directing and running a production company of her own, and has worked with several community based non-profits, such as Youth Radio and East Side Arts Alliance Center. An Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) alum, she is rooted in the Bay Area and wishes to continue to work within her community to create more equitable and inclusive opportunities in the theatre arts industry.