Las Arañas Scholarship ProgramS

​One of the primary missions of The Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild is education.  
Las Aranas offers four different scholarship funds that are available to active members: 
  1. The ​Jodie Aves Scholarship Fund was established by the family and friends of the late, long-time and very active member of Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild, Jodie Aves to benefit the members of Las Arañas.
  2. The Las Arañas Scholarship Fund was established by the Guild for the further education of its members and is intended to help members attend events that are high quality. The funds are not to be used to attend Las Arañas sponsored workshops or classes.
  3. The Mary Colton Tapestry Scholarship Fund was set up by Mary Colton specifically for weavers to cover tuition and/or workshop fees for a tapestry class or workshop. The scholarship was funded with contributions from many Las Arañas members.
  4. The Los Amigos de Las Arañas Scholarship Fund was established to include funds from the sale of items and donations from the studios of long-time members Alice Graybill and Margie Hansen. In recognition of other Las Arañas members, additional funding may be provided by direct contributions of cash or proceeds from sales of studio equipment and materials from estates or individuals. Funds from this scholarship shall be used by members to expand their fiber knowledge by attending classes or workshops, sponsored by Las Arañas or other organizations. Only one scholarship per year will be awarded.

THE JODIE AVES SCHOLARSHIP

The Jodie Aves Scholarship Fund was formed by the family and friends of the late, long-time and very active member of Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild, Jodie Aves.  Jodie was an avid spinner, dyer, knitter and general fiber enthusiast who readily and enthusiastically shared her knowledge and skills with her fellow guild members.  In loving memory of her dedication to promoting education in the fiber arts, this scholarship has been established to benefit the members of Las Arañas. This scholarship was established through the sale of equipment donated by the family of Jody Aves and by occasional other donations.

​The recipient of this scholarship is chosen by lottery from Las Arañas members who have signed up for and paid for a Las Arañas sponsored workshop; no application form is necessary. The whole amount of the workshop fee (excluding any materials fee) will be paid from this scholarship fund. The workshop chairperson(s) or their designee will draw the name of the eligible workshop attendee and his/her workshop will be free.  Recipients of a Los Amigos de Las Arañas or Mary Colton scholarship for the Las Arañas sponsored workshop are not eligible for the lottery.  Anyone receiving this scholarship will not be eligible to receive another one for three years from the date the scholarship was granted.  The workshop chairperson(s) or their designate will notify the Treasurer and membership chair of the scholarship recipient.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE Las Arañas Scholarship, THE Mary Colton Tapestry Scholarship, AND THE Los Amigos de Las Arañas Scholarship

  1. The workshop or class must be related to spinning, weaving, dyeing or felting.
  2. Application for a workshop or class has a deadline of two months prior to the workshop or class.
  3. Applicants  may apply for one scholarship per workshop or class.
  4. Applications shall be presented in writing using the Scholarship Application Form, to the Las Arañas President for approval by the Board of Directors and the executive officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary). They shall evaluate the need and/or quality of the application to approve scholarships. (This form is available at lasaranas.org or from the Newsletter Editor.)
  5. The application must include a detailed description of the event, time, place and instructor and what funds are being requested.
  6. A scholarship will not be awarded for the purchase of spinning, weaving, dyeing, or felting equipment or supplies. (Exceptional and unusual expenses will be considered on a case by case basis.)
  7. All recipients must produce proof that the money awarded them was used in the manner intended in the application in the form of receipts for expenses such as class fees and travel costs that are not covered by other scholarships. They will receive reimbursement from the Guild promptly after the event.  There will be no reimbursement without receipt/documentation.
  8. The scholarship recipient will receive award recognition in the Las Arañas newsletter.
  9. The membership chairperson/keeper of the member and scholarship databases, will send scholarship information to the Board upon request and to the Workshop Chairperson(s) or the designee in the case of a Guild sponsored workshop or class.  When a scholarship has been reimbursed by the Treasurer, the Treasurer will send the information to the membership chairperson for entry into the database. ​

The Las Arañas Scholarship - Requirements & Limitations

  1. Applicants must have been members of Las Arañas for at least two years.
  2. Funds from this scholarship may be used for tuition, workshop fees and/or travel expenses, including per diem for a total award not to exceed $750.
  3. Applicants must remain a Las Arañas member at least until their commitment to share their experience with the general membership has occurred.  This requirement may be fulfilled by either presenting a 10–15-minute summary of the workshop or class to a guild meeting or a one-column write up in the guild newsletter within two years of the event.
  4. This scholarship may not be used to attend Las Arañas sponsored workshops or classes.
  5. Recipients of this scholarship will not be eligible to receive another award of this scholarship for two years from the date the scholarship was granted.

The Mary Colton Scholarship - Requirements & Limitations

  1. Applicants must have been members of Las Arañas for at least one year.
  2. This scholarship may be used specifically for tapestry weavers to cover tuition and/or workshop fees for a tapestry class or workshop and will be awarded as funds permit.
  3. Recipients are expected to share their experiences with the Tapestry Group in the form of a 10–15-minute presentation to the tapestry study group, Tapestry Artists of Las Arañas.
  4. Recipients of this scholarship will not be eligible to receive another award of this scholarship for one year from the date the scholarship was granted.

The Los Amigos de Las Arañas Scholarship - Requirements & Limitations

  1. pplicants must have been members of Las Arañas for at least two years.
  2. Applicants must remain a Las Arañas member at least until their commitment to share their experience with the general membership has occurred. This requirement may be fulfilled by either presenting a 10–15-minute summary of the workshop or class to a guild meeting or a one-column write up in the guild newsletter within two years of the event.
  3. Funds from the scholarship may be used for tuition to attend a class or workshop sponsored by Las Arañas or other organizations up to $350. (This excludes any materials fee, travel, housing, meals or other expenses related to the workshop.)
  4. Recipients of this scholarship will not be eligible to receive another awarding of this scholarship for two years from the date the scholarship was granted.
  5. There is a limit of one scholarship per year. If there is more than one application, the board will determine the winner.