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About Us

Donors

Donors play an important and essential role in helping VPA provide an exceptional educational opportunity for arts majors and general university students taking arts courses. One may not realize that IPFW is a state-assisted, not state-supported, institution. The IPFW budget comes from the following sources:

  • 58% - State appropriations
  • 47% - Student fees
  • 5% - Other sources (sponsorships, donations, grants)

Dollars contributed to VPA make a crucial difference and are directed to provide special opportunities for students, such as:

  • Transportation and lodging for the Department of Music's University Singers and Symphonic Winds to perform at the 2006 Indiana Music Educators (IMEA) Conference in Indianapolis. The groups were honored through their selection by blind audition to perform for Indiana 's music teachers.
  • Supplements for theatre students to travel to New York City to attend theatrical performances and meet professional actors.
  • Funding for the new IPFW Music Building - more than $6 million was provided through private gifts.
  • Scholarships for arts majors, VPA's greatest need, in order to recognize student achievement, attract talented students and help students focus on developing their artistic abilities rather than devoting so much time to working at un-related jobs.

To contribute to the education of IPFW arts majors, please contact the office of the dean at 481-6977. Your assistance is appreciated!

A special scholarship program has been developed to encourage scholarship contributions. The guidelines follow:

VPA Sterling Scholarship Society

Ongoing scholarships for talented arts students are the greatest need of the IPFW College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA).  Through the School’s scholarships distribution process, departmental scholarship committees assign scholarship monies with a multi-year commitment to students contingent upon their continuing academic and artistic achievement.  As VPA student enrollments grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to identify sufficient funding to continue these awards each year.

To enhance our ability to provide ongoing, annual scholarships to deserving students, we have initiated a new scholarship program.  The VPA Sterling Scholarship Society comprises contributors who fund student scholarships within the VPA department of their designation through a multi-year commitment of $300-$1,000, with a pledge to continue three or more years or to establish an endowed scholarship in the amount of $25,000 or more.

Contributor Benefits:

  1. You can follow your scholarship recipients throughout their college career.
  2. You can interact with your students at an informal luncheon each year.
  3. You will be recognized at the annual Student Honors Banquet and seated with your scholarship recipients.
  4. You will be recognized at the annual VPA Contributors= Celebration.
  5. You will receive invitations to participate in other special VPA receptions and events throughout the year.
  6. You can attend graduation and the IPFW graduation party with your students!
  7. Special recognitions:
    a.  Contributors of $1,000 or more pledged three or more years:

    (1) Named Scholarships: as an annual scholarship contributors, your scholarship recipient will be identified as a ____ Sterling Scholar, after your last name.
    (2) You will be acknowledged as a member of the VPA Sterling Scholarship Society in music and theatre programs and in Visual Arts Gallery signage.
    (3) You will receive two season passes to all VPA events and additional tickets to share with your guests: theatre (8), music (20).
    (4) You may utilize a complimentary annual quarter-page ad in music and theatre programs for your company (for pledges of $750 and above).
    b.  Contributors of $500-$999 pledged three or more years:
    (1) You will be acknowledged as a member of the VPA Sterling Scholarship Society in music and theatre programs and in Visual Arts Gallery signage.
    (2) You will receive complimentary tickets: theatre (8), music (20).
    (3) Receive complimentary annual quarter-page ad in music and theatre programs for your company (for pledges of $750 and above).
    c.  Contributors of $300-$499 pledged three or more years:
    (1) You will be acknowledged as a member of the VPA Sterling Scholarship Society in music and theatre programs and in Visual Arts Gallery signage.
    (2) You will receive complimentary tickets: theatre (4), music (10).

To join the VPA Sterling Scholarship Society, please call the VPA dean’s office at 260-481-6977. Thank you for helping VPA arts students achieve their artistic potential and career goals.