Marsha Cottrell Memorial Scholarship for Future Art Therapists
Marsha Cottrell (1950–2016) lived a life marked by strength, compassion, and creativity. She survived domestic violence—both in childhood and adulthood—and channeled that experience into helping others.
After raising her first child as a single mother, Marsha married when her daughter was four and later welcomed another child. She remained married until her passing in 2016. Marsha spent part of her career running a Batterer’s Education Program, working with people who had caused harm and helping them take responsibility, understand the impact of their actions, and begin to change.
Marsha’s quiet dream—one she spoke of often—was to become an art therapist. She believed in the healing power of creativity, especially for children and adults who had experienced trauma. Art, she felt, could say what words often couldn’t.
This scholarship seeks to honor Marsha Cottrell’s dream by supporting students who are studying to become art therapists. The first award will be given on what would have been Marsha’s 75th birthday—October 17, 2025.
Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is studying to become an art therapist and wants to help others process pain and find meaning through art may apply for this scholarship opportunity. However, preference will be given to applicants who have a personal connection to this work, whether through their own experiences or a desire to support others in their healing journey.
To apply, tell us what led you to choose art therapy for your career and how you hope to help others heal.
What led you to art therapy, and how do you hope to use it to help others heal?
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FAQ
The application deadline is Sep 17, 2025. Winners will be announced on Oct 17, 2025.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Oct 17, 2025. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution or future academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.