Jeanette Atkins

Dear Roberts Family, I just wanted to share my deepest condolences for your daughter and a sincere thank you for your kindness. This opportunity has truly helped take a substantial amount of weight off of our shoulders. The financial support provided by this scholarship will be invaluable in helping me to continue my education and pursue my goals. So again, thank you so very much! Forever with gratitude, Jeanette E. Atkins

Lena Aboudy

Hello, Roberts family! Being chosen to receive this scholarship has added so much fuel to the flame of passion and motivation that exists within me to further my career in the arts. I'm incredibly grateful for the support you have given, and can't begin to thank you enough for seeing the value in my submission. Thank you so much!

julian smith

Dear Roberts family, Receiving the Samantha S. Roberts Memorial Scholarship fills me with a profound sense of gratitude and honor. Knowing that this award is given in memory of someone who shared a passion for the arts makes it especially meaningful to me as a Midwest student devoted to visual creativity. Your support lifts a tremendous weight from my shoulders, making it possible for me to fully concentrate on my illustration studies at Columbia College Chicago. The financial relief you provide allows me to dedicate more energy to refining my craft and exploring new ways to use art as a force for good. As an aspiring illustrator from Detroit, my commitment to art has been shaped not only by my love for design but also by personal loss. After losing my brother just before I graduated high school, I channeled my grief into creating a comic book series that addresses the dangers of drug abuse and the impact of fentanyl. Through my work, I hope to honor my brother’s legacy, making him the central hero of my story and giving his life lasting meaning for his children and others who hear it. I'm honored to carry on Samantha S. Roberts’s legacy through this scholarship. Your dedication to supporting young artists is truly inspiring, and I’m motivated to help others in the arts community pursue their dreams, just as you have helped me pursue mine. Thank you for your generosity and belief in my potential. I hope to make a positive difference in the world, both as an artist and as a mentor to others, in ways that make you proud. Thank you, julian smith

Danica Smith

Dear Roberts family, I sincerely appreciate your generosity in selecting me as a recipient of the Samantha S. Roberts Memorial Scholarship. It means a great deal to be recognized and supported by a family dedicated to uplifting aspiring artists from the Midwest. I am truly honored to carry forward Samantha S. Roberts’s inspiring legacy through this scholarship. Your kindness has a meaningful impact on my educational journey, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies at the College for Creative Studies without the added concern of financial stress. As a minority, I have often felt unseen, but opportunities like this remind me that my voice and talents are valued. My goal is to use my skills to promote inclusion and diversity, sharing stories through my art that resonate and inspire others to see themselves reflected. Supporting artists like me not only honors Samantha’s memory but also empowers students to bring positive change to their communities. Thank you for your belief in my potential and for your commitment to making art education accessible. Your support motivates me to work even harder, and I look forward to someday giving back and supporting future artists just as you have supported me. With gratitude, Julian

Mads Cochran

Dear Roberts family, I'm incredibly grateful for being chosen as the recipient of the Samantha S. Roberts Memorial Scholarship. Learning about Samantha's passion for art and her vibrant spirit through this award truly means so much to me, and I'm honored to carry on her legacy through this scholarship. As someone whose life revolves around art, this generous support eases the financial pressures of pursuing my creative education and allows me to devote myself more fully to my craft. Knowing that art can be a powerful force for reflection and change, I aim to use my work to challenge perspectives and reveal deeper truths about humanity. With your help, I'm able to study visual arts in Duluth, where the surrounding nature deeply inspires my creativity. Outside of art, I cherish swimming, hiking, and horseback riding with my mother across Minnesota. These activities, along with my background in speech, debate, and even BMX and archery, shape the perspectives I bring to my work. I hope to honor Samantha’s memory by making meaningful contributions to the art world and eventually encouraging others to find their own voices through creative expression. Your family's commitment to encouraging young artists not only sustains Samantha's memory but also motivates me to give back and support others in the arts community. I'm sincerely touched by your kindness and support, and I look forward to making the most of the opportunities this scholarship provides. Thank you, Mads Cochran

Lane Ilstrup

Dear Roberts family, I'm very honored to be chosen as one of the winners of the Samantha S. Roberts Memorial scholarship. While writing the application, and reflecting on my own experiences, I looked at your daughter's face often, read over and over the projects that she pursued and her experimentation with mediums. Egg Hex is genius. I thought about the type of interesting, dynamic and one-of-a-kind person she must have been. Thank you for the opportunity for me to know a small part of her story and the artistic spirit she approached life with. I will think about Sam and your family always! Not only is your scholarship a real financial investment in my education (as an independent and working student, this is hard to come by on its own), it shows me that someone out there I have never met believes in my effort. And that my words were able to convey something that matters to you. I want you to know that your scholarship is making a real difference in the disinvestment in the arts. The financial disinvestment inspires doubts in our capabilities as artists, and as you mention, the practicality to others in even pursuing our passions. You're showing young artists that we deserve opportunity, and you see the value in what we do. I hope to take the impact of this investment far beyond myself, and continue making space and value for others through art in the Midwest. I will go into this semester at Augsburg, my Art Education classes, my food justice work in the community, and as a mentor in the Bonner Program, knowing that the Roberts family has contributed to making my efforts the best that they can be. Thank you, Lane Certo Ilstrup

Lena Aboudy

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering me for this scholarship. I'm so excited to continue in my creative journey through life, figuring out how to share the beauty of life and the absolute gift of being able to put it into art for all to experience and find comfort/understanding in. Thank you for doing what you can to support artists in pursuit of this, and so much more.

Nevaeh Mclachlan

Thank you so much for choosing me as one of your finalists! It means the world to me! I wish the best to your family, you're doing incredibly generous things!