Ruth Jensen Scholarship for the Arts
Ruth Jensen was a beloved mother who passed away in 2020, leaving behind a loving family and a lasting legacy of creativity and success.
As a non-traditional adult student, Ruth was the first in her family to attend college, earning her fine arts degree with an emphasis in ceramics from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. For years, she maintained a small home pottery practice and focused on selling her work at art shows. Later, Ruth moved to Detroit to work for Pewabic Pottery.
In addition to her passion for the visual arts, Ruth enjoyed the performing arts. She could often be found at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra or relaxing while listening to live music in the park. Ruth took great pride in watching her daughters excel in band and theater, and she especially cherished seeing her granddaughters perform at dance recitals.
This scholarship honors the life of Ruth Jensen by supporting students who are following in her footsteps and pursuing the arts.
Any high school or undergraduate student from Michigan, Ohio or Indiana with financial need, pursuing either visual or performing arts, may apply for this scholarship. This opportunity is open to students attending a college or university, as well as those taking individual community classes to further their artistic practice, even if they can’t commit to a full university program.
To apply, submit an essay or video in response to one of the prompts below.
Please respond to one of the prompts:
-What role do you think the arts play in education and community building? How would you like to use your artistic talents to make an impact in your community?
OR
-How has your personal background or experiences influenced your art? Share how your identity or life story is reflected in the art you create.
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FAQ
The application deadline is Nov 4, 2025. Winners will be announced on Dec 4, 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 Dec 4, 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.