The Jim Gaither Memorial Scholarship, honoring an artist and former longtime Casper College art instructor who died in 2006, will be available for the 2027-2028 school year at Casper College. The Jim Gaither Memorial Scholarship will provide a total of $2,000, split between the fall and spring semesters.
Jim Gaither Memorial Scholarship Honors Former Art Faculty
The scholarship is being provided by an anonymous alumna who recalled Gaither’s strong influence on her life. “In September of my senior year, my intuition kicked in,” she recalled. ”I loved school, the art teacher, arts curriculum, and everything about learning.” Knowing she wasn’t ready to attend a large university, she decided Casper College would be a great choice. Coming home from school, she made a long-distance call to the college’s art department and asked for the department chair. Much to her surprise, he answered.
Alumna Honors Longtime Instructor’s Lasting Mentorship
“I introduced myself, as did he, and I offered a very brief review of my intentions. He said, ‘Can you be here in two weeks with a parent and your portfolio?’ I said, ‘YES.’ He met me on a Saturday! His day off to look at my art. A month later, I had a letter in the mail with my acceptance and full art scholarship,” she said, noting that in 1980 the tuition for one semester was $380.
She loved her time at Casper College and two art instructors, Gaither and William Ossa. But Gaither stood out to her: “I never forgot how he believed in me. He had no idea of my home life. I never shared it. But he shaped my entire life after that.”
After graduating from a university, “I went on to teach secondary arts for 34 years, often to underserved students, gang members, kids from broken homes. I’d like to think that I understood their situation.”
Scholarship Criteria and Portfolio Submission Requirements
To qualify, applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, be an art major, and be a Wyoming resident who graduated from a Wyoming high school.
In addition, applicants must submit their art portfolio as a PDF. High school seniors who have completed at least three years of art classes should prepare a portfolio for review by the scholarship committee. This scholarship is for visual arts students who wish to create and study art. A key element is a body of work that demonstrates breadth and depth and highlights mastery of the elements of art.
Along with the portfolio, applicants must submit an artist statement as part of the application process. This concise summary will help the review committee understand the intention behind the applicant’s work.
To apply for this and other Casper College scholarships, visit the CC Foundation and Institutional Scholarships page.
At a Glance
- News Focus
- Establishment of the Jim Gaither Memorial Scholarship at Casper College
- Dedicated funding for visual arts majors beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year
- Key Participants
- Jim Gaither: Renowned artist and former Casper College art instructor
- Anonymous Alumna Donor: 34-year veteran secondary arts educator who established the endowment
- Key Takeaways and Criteria
- Award amount: $2,000 total, divided equally between fall and spring semesters
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- Enrollment requirement: Full-time status with at least 12 credit hours
- Major requirement: Visual arts major
- Residency requirement: Wyoming resident and Wyoming high school graduate
- Application materials: PDF art portfolio demonstrating mastery of art elements, plus an artist statement of intent
- Application portal: Casper College Foundation and Institutional Scholarships webpage
