Four students named Cora Nunnally Miller Fine Arts Scholars

Four University of Georgia students have been selected as the 2023 cohort of Cora Nunnally Miller Fine Arts Scholars in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. The purpose of the scholarship, made possible as part of a $17 million gift to the university upon Miller’s passing in 2015, is to recognize exceptional artistic talent, to foster interdisciplinary collaborations in the arts, to promote the arts on the UGA campus and beyond and to give special opportunities to the students in the cohort. Each of the first-year undergraduate students will receive an annual scholarship of $3,000 per year for four years, in addition to any other scholarship the student may have earned.

“Dean Dorsey and I had the pleasure of meeting with an exceptional cohort of Cora Miller Scholars in the Arts at the end of the semester,” said Jean Martin-Williams, Josiah Meigs Professor of Music and associate dean in the Franklin College. “This vibrant group, representing each of our four arts disciplines, exuded an infectious energy, exchanging ideas for potential collaborations within their respective creative domains.”

The 2023 cohort includes:

Emma Scott, an interdisciplinary art major in the Lamar Dodd School of Art originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, grew up in Athens. Scott loves exploring the intersection between various artistic methods and other fields such as philosophy, history, and language. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a Cora Miller Scholar. The recognition and support mean so much to me, but I am even more proud to be in a cohort of ambitious fine arts students,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with this group in the fall, combining each of our unique areas of expertise to create a well-rounded artistic showcase.”

Katherine Stockton is a dance and exercise and sports science major from Smyrna, Georgia. She is interested in sharing her passion for dance with others through movement therapy. “I am beyond excited and grateful to have received this scholarship as it will aid me in my pursuit to expand my knowledge and allow me to take advantage of all the diverse opportunities across the UGA campus and beyond,” she said. “Additionally, this award provided me with connections to other like-minded students who I now have the opportunity to collaborate with and expand my boundaries as an artist as well as a student.”

Wyn Thomas, from Buffalo Grover, Illinois, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in theatre with the musical theatre certificate. She caught the theatre bug when she was twelve and has wanted to work in the field ever since. Her first full-length musical called “First Semester: A Musical” will be performed as part of the UGA theatre department’s season. “I’m so grateful to be chosen for this scholarship,” she said. “It is an amazing honor and cool way to get know arts majors from other disciplines.” 

William Tomaszewski, a music performance major in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music grew up in Rochester, New York. He finds fulfillment in sharing music with others and hopes to play in a symphony orchestra or premier military ensemble, but ultimately plans on performing classical music professionally.

Cora Nunnally Miller was an accomplished horsewoman, a breeder of champion Whippets, a voracious reader and an advocate for the arts. She was also one of UGA’s most generous benefactors, anonymously giving more than $33 million to the UGA Foundation throughout her lifetime. Miller died in July 2015 at her home, Hound Hill, in Otis, Massachusetts. Miller was the stepdaughter of Hugh Hodgson for whom the UGA School of Music is named.

Image: The 2023 Cora Miller Fine Arts Scholars, from left: Katherine Stockton, Emma Scott, Wyn Thomas, and William Tomaszewski.