ACT Cincinnati Scholarships
List of 2026 ACT Cincinnati Scholarship Winners
THE DEE WACKSMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
A $3,000 scholarship is funded by Howard Wacksman in memory of his wife. The Dee Wacksman Scholarship is offered to undergraduate students with a major in the performing arts, attending Greater Cincinnati area colleges. The scholarship is sent directly to the college to defray the expense of tuition.
The 2026 Dee Wacksman Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Evelyn C. Vordtriede, attending Wright State University.
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2025: Elise Parks, attending Wright State University.
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2024: Carson Mehlbauer, attending University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2023: Carson Mehlbauer, attending University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2022: Lizzy K. Sundstrom, attending Xavier University.
ACT OF GREATER CINCINNATI, INC. SCHOLARSHIP
A $1,000 scholarship is funded by ACT of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. The scholarship is sent directly by ACT of Greater Cincinnati Inc. to the award recipient's college to defray the expense of tuition.
The 2026 ACT Cincinnati Scholarship was awarded to David Cremean, attending Wright State University.
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2025: Carson Mehlbauer, attending University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2024: Claire M. Northcut, attending Wright State University.
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2023: Claire M. Northcut, attending Wright State University.
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2022: Claire M. Northcut, attending Wright State University.
THE ROBERT AND HELEN BOOTH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
A $1,000 scholarship is given in the memory of Larry Weber's maternal grandparents. It is Larry's hope that the winner of this scholarship will share their love of the theatre as Larry's grandparents shared with him. The scholarship is sent directly to the college to defray the expense of tuition.
The 2026 Robert & Helen Booth Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Mabrey Rice, attending Northern Kentucky University.
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2025: Samantha Hacker, attending Northern Kentucky University.
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2024: Hannah Richardson, attending Xavier University.
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2023: Mallory Stiles, attending Miami University.
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2022: Julia N. Brosas, attending Wright State University.
THE DOROTHY AND FRANK WEBER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
A $1,000 scholarship is funded by arts patron, Larry Weber. The scholarship is given in the hope that it will help a talented student continue to pursue their studies on the way to a career in a field that can bring joy to others as it has to the Webers. The scholarship is sent directly to the college to defray the expense of tuition.
The 2026 Dorothy & Frank Weber Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Adrian J. Graff, attending University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2025: Aidan Edwards, attending Wright State University.
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2024: James Newton, attending Wright State University.
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2023: Tierra London Rush, attending Xavier University.
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2022: Evan N. Kupersmith, attending University of Cincinnati-CCM.
THE SUSANN Q. ROYALTY PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
A $1,000 scholarship, established in 2020, is funded by Larry Weber and is awarded to a deserving student studying musical theater. Susann Q. Royalty graduated from Norwood High School where she enjoyed music and performed in several shows while at NHS. Larry honors their 50 year friendship with this scholarship.
The 2026 Susann Q. Royalty Performing Arts Scholarship was awarded to Madeline Zabela, attending Wright State University.
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2025: Julianne Schultz, attending Xavier University.
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2024: Erin Morton, attending the University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2023: Julia (Juno) Brosas, attending Wright State University.
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2022: Chloe O. Esmeier, attending Northern Kentucky University.
THE FRESHMAN PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
A $1,000 scholarship, established in 2002, is funded by Rilla Foster and is awarded to the most deserving performance by a freshman at the ACT performance audition. This winner may not be the recipient of any of the other five scholarships.
The 2026 Freshman Performing Arts Scholarship was awarded to Ali N. Lewis, attending Miami University.
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2025: Jameson Zoller, attending University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2024: Afton Skeeters, attending Northern Kentucky University
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2023: Lilia Villaflor, attending the University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2022: Wyatt H. Toloczko, attending University of Cincinnati-CCM and Emma Massey, attending Wright State University.
THE CHARLES AVERY MEMORIAL - KEYSTONE TECHNICAL SCHOLARSHIP
A $1,000 scholarship established in 2019 by Greg Schaper, the great-grandson of original Keystone Cop and silent film pioneer Charles Avery. The Charles Avery Memorial - Keystone Scholarship is intended for any undergraduate student that is continuing their education in the area(s) of: Set Design, Scenic Design, Set Construction, or Set Décor elements, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Costume Design, Makeup/Hair Design elements, Properties, Stage Management, or any combination of the above.
The 2026 Charles Avery Keystone Technical Scholarship was awarded to Abigail Herbold, attending Miami University.
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2025: Hannah Richardson, attending Northern Kentucky University.
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2024: Allison Calkins, attending the University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2023: Robert Chalk, attending the University of Cincinnati-CCM.
THE MELISSA M. SMITH TECHNICAL SCHOLARSHIP
A $700 scholarship, the Melissa M. Smith Technical Scholarship is intended for any student that is continuing their technical theatre education in the area(s) of: Set Design, Scenic Design, Construction, or Décor elements, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Costume Design, Properties, Stage Management, or any combination of the above.
The 2026 Melissa M. Smith Technical Scholarship was awarded to John Dougherty, attending the University of Cincinnati-CCM.
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2025: John Dougherty, attending the University of Cincinnati-CCM.