Shellist Music Endowed Memorial Scholarship

UPDATED 2025/2026

Big Band Era Musicians,Bernie and Rita Shellist, shared a career and passion for music. Rita was a lead vocalist, and Bernie played the lead trombone in the Mesa performance groups for 25 years before his passing. The scholarship is for a student whose goal is to have a professional career in the music industry.

To be considered for this scholarship you:

  • Must have a 3.0 (B) GPA
  • Must be enrolled at least part time at Mesa College
  • Must belong to one of the following student populations:
    Food Insecure
    Formerly Incarcerated
    Homelessness / Housing Insecure
    Single Parent
    Veterans
    Active Military
    Female
    Foster Youth (Current and Former)
  • Must be returning to mesa college in the fall
  • Must major in one of the following areas:
    Music

 

Award funds will be disbursed:
Half Next Fall (Aug/Sept) / Half Next Spring (Feb/Mar)

Award
$250-$500
Deadline
02/17/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. 2025: Your Educational Journey. Please share the following: The educational journey that led you to Mesa, including what you did before coming here and what made you decide to enroll at Mesa. Your future goals, including what you plan to do after graduation from Mesa and what your long-term career and educational goals are. Why you chose your major or field of study. You do not need to include every detail, but please try to address each part of the question (your goals, challenges overcome, and what it would mean to you). (500 words)
  2. 2025: Resiliency Question. Please share the following: How you have exhibited resiliency in your life. Specific examples of a challenge or challenges that you have overcome. How this scholarship will have a meaningful impact on your educational journey. You do not need to include every detail, but please try to address each part of the question (your goals, challenges overcome, and what it would mean to you). (500 words)
  3. 2025: Please use the field below to provide a video of a musical audition. It is preferred you submit your audition via a link rather than a file.