OPA High school SCHOLARSHIPAwarded to two Oregon students who show creative and technical excellence in the field of ceramics. High School Scholarship Program Application This competition is open to all high school juniors and seniors living in the area served by OPA in Oregon and SW Washington. Two winners who show creative and technical excellence in the field of ceramics will be awarded $1000 scholarships to support their entry into post-secondary education. The scholarship funds will be held in trust and paid directly to the college entered by the student. Winners will be chosen by a jury of professional ceramic artists and will be recognized during our awards ceremony at Ceramic Showcase on Saturday, April 26th, 2026 at 5pm. Entries may be either utilitarian or decorative objects made of clay. Only one entry per student. Application deadline is March 31st, 2026. Important dates to remember
If you, the instructor, have questions, please contact: OPA High School Scholarship Coordinator Meg Turner at
1. Do I have to submit the piece I juried with or may I submit something I finished after I sent in my application?
2. May I submit a piece that has been in the OPA Showcase before?
3. Who is eligible?
4. What percentage of my piece has to be clay?
| PROGRAM LEADER2023 High School Scholarship Winners OLIVIA GREENBERG Fading Coral This hand-built ceramic sculpture reflects the devastating transformation of coral bleaching, capturing the gradual loss of color from left to right. Crafted with the slab building technique, the sculpture features three distinct boxes, each adorned with pinched clay coral structures. The sculpture underwent a low-firing process in an electric kiln, after which I underglaze the coral formations, blending Mayco Underglazes to create a realistic finish. In addition, I added a few brush strokes of Pure Brilliance Clear Glaze in select areas. The sculpture is presented in a handcrafted Bird Eye Maple wood box, filled with white sand, creating a visual representation of the decay and loss of color in these organisms. This depiction is rooted in the scientific process of coral bleaching, also known as ocean acidification, which occurs when ocean temperatures rise as little as 2 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the coral to expel vital algae, known as zooxanthellae, resulting in the organism tissue turning white. My love for the ocean and concern about the pressing issue of climate change has always been at the core of my artistic expression. My work drives me to spark conversations and inspire action toward positive change. SOFIA ISAIAS-DAY La Mezcia del Simbolismo
This piece was created to explore my intersectional Mexican-Jewish identity. I wanted to mix powerful symbols of the two cultures into one cohesive piece to represent how these cultures have mixed within me. I used a goat skull with a traditional Jewish engraving to represent Judaism, and cempasuchil flowers to show Mexican culture. For this piece I used a variety of pinch pots and slabs which I connected with scratch and attachment method and sculpted. Using a wheel, I threw two tall cylinders, and then pushed them into the shape of a cone while adding pressure to create a horn-like texture. I used a needle tool to engrave the skull and created the flowers by sculpting each petal and then scratching and attaching each one. In the glazing process I used a combination of dipping and painting with high fire reduction glazes, and iron and rutile oxides on the flowers. |
FAQs
Ceramics provides an
outlet for relieving stress and enriching my life with creativity and
art. Each of my pieces are filled with symbolism and history, which
requires much research and critical thinking that serves to strengthen
my skills in other parts of my education.Thank you to Chown Hardware and Mimosa Studios for their generous funding of our Scholarship Program.
