Judy Vadasz Scholarship for
Art Educator Certification 


​In 2024, the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation Board established the Judy Vadasz Scholarship in recognition of Judy's visionary contributions to the organization as cofounder, board member and patron since 2002. Today, Judy is the Director Emeritus of the board in an advisory role.

The scholarship's purpose is to help grow art education in our Valley with financial support for an art education certification for a Sonoma Valley elementary school teacher. 

The $1,200 Judy Vadasz Scholarship will be available each year to be awarded to a qualified candidate: a teacher in the Sonoma Valley Unified School District who wants to become certified to teach art in grades K-5.

The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's mission since our founding in 2002 has been to fund arts education for the children and youth of Sonoma Valley. The addition of this scholarship to our funding program is a direct response to the increasing need for elementary teachers certified to teach art classes and the decreasing financial support available to interested, qualified individual.
Application criteria include an intention to pursue a certificate to teach art in an SVUSD elementary school, proof of acceptance into an art education certificate program and the recommendation of their current principal.

If interested in applying for this scholarship, please email [email protected]. 



Meet our 2024 Vadasz Scholarship Recipient

MORGAN  MOMSEN


Morgan Momsen, a teacher at Sonoma's El Verano Elementary School, is the very first Recipient of the Judy Vadasz Scholarship. She is a Sonoma Valley High School graduate and 2013 recipient of our Lewis E. Cook III Studen Scholarship in her high school senior year.

Morgan fell in love with art and photography in high school and went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in Art and Design with a concentration in Photography.

After working for a time in photography, Morgan discovered that “teaching is it for me” and went on to pursued a career in education. As the recipient of multiple subject credentials and 4 years as an elementary teacher, she plans to combine her passion for the arts with her love of teaching by obtaining certification to teach art to elementary school students. 

Morgan has been described as a 'born educator' and the Foundation is very excited to recognize her with this scholarship.