KING CITY — King City High School senior Daniel Tapia has been named one of six recipients of the 2025 College Arts Scholarship awarded by the Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC).
Tapia, who graduated June 7, plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this fall to pursue a degree in architecture. He said the scholarship will allow him to fully commit to his studies without the added stress of financial barriers.
“I’m honored to be a recipient of the College Arts Scholarship,” Tapia said. “This scholarship will allow me to focus on my education, internships and design projects without the burden of financial stress. It will also give me the freedom to grow as a person and continue developing my creative skills. Thank you for supporting my journey.”
Tapia was selected from a competitive pool of applicants across Monterey County pursuing higher education in creative fields. Each of the six students received a $2,500 scholarship funded by the Emile Norman Charitable Trust to support their transition to college and career pathways in the arts.
The scholarships are part of Arts4MC’s broader efforts to support emerging talent and strengthen the local creative economy. An independent panel of evaluators reviewed applications based on artistic merit, commitment and future goals.
In addition to Tapia, the 2025 recipients include Myriam Valdez Alvarez (Everett Alvarez High School, photography); Dave Sundquist (North Salinas High School, visual arts); Angela Liu (Pacific Grove High School, music/violin); Zion Cho (Pacific Grove High School, design); and Ileen Li (Salinas High School, literary arts/prose), who also received the Joann Adair Memorial Scholarship to support their education in the performing arts.
“We are thrilled to support these students in their creative pursuits,” said Jacquie Atchison, executive director of Arts4MC. “At Arts4MC, we firmly believe that ‘Art Work is Real Work,’ and we are committed to helping these students build fulfilling careers in the arts.”
The organization is also working on a tri-county Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Pipeline initiative to help artists earn teaching credentials and build sustainable careers through mentorship and professional development. The project, which secured a $250,000 state grant in March, collaborates with local school districts, county offices of education, community colleges and higher education institutions.
Through programs like the College Arts Scholarship and the VAPA Pipeline, Arts4MC continues to empower the next generation of artists across Monterey County.
“Arts4MC remains dedicated to empowering young artists and ensuring they have the resources and opportunities to succeed,” stated the organization.
