2020 Beans For Brains Scholarship Program

Home Applications Contact Press/Media FAQs & Instructions Past Winners Beans for Brains is a merit-based scholarship program for artistic students pursuing or already in the process of attending post-secondary education. This program focuses on several characteristics, including yarn knowledge (oh yeah, this is for the knitters, crocheters, and weavers out there!), GPA, community service, financial need, and more while uplifting their creativity through the fiber arts! This year, the Beans for Brains Scholarship was awarded to six students and each received $2,500 to help them move forward and accomplish their dreams! Our 2020 Winners!

It is our pleasure to announce that the results are in! Drumroll, please... Amari Dennis from Los Angeles, California

Sponsored by Shibui Knits is the Crochet Queen, Amari Dennis! She snagged the West Region award and shared with us the first blanket she mastered after learning how to crochet from her grandmother.



The rush of pride and happiness after completing a huge project like that is one we know well. Her dream is to become a producer or director of films and you can bet when she gets there, we're gonna be in the front row! Sydoney Blackmore from Portland, Oregon

Sponsored by Knitter's Pride, Sydoney Blackmore quickly grabbed the award for Community Service! She's planning on melding the worlds of Public Health and Social Work with her love for the arts to craft a unique understanding of people.



Her passion for uplifting others is in her blood, just like her love for knitting, which has been her hobby of choice practically since she was born! Janelle Kievit from Sparks, Nevada

We (Jimmy Beans, that is) have chosen to sponsor none other than Janelle Kievit as our local award winner! Picking up knitting as a way to relieve stress in the past year - she started with simple things like washcloths and is now working on a sweater! Talk about a glow up!



Janelle has a passion for medicine and pediatrics, and is aiming to earn a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders as well as a master's degree in Speech Pathology. Lakeyia Mumford from Boston, Massachusetts

Lakeyia Mumford grabbed the win for the Northeast Region award, sponsored by Vogue Knitting! She showed us that she has a hunger for learning and puts a piece of herself in everything she makes!



After learning to knit at a young age, she then started pursuing crochet and has since made some super cute, fashionable outfits for herself and her friends! She is as yet undecided as to her professional aspirations, but her love for being creative and helping others will shine through no matter what she decides! Ayla Dursun from Vernon Hills, Illinois

Ayla Dursun is sponsored by STITCHES Midwest and won the award for the Midwest Region!



Ayla was super candid in describing her first few attempts at a hat (hint: it was very frustrating) and how she powered through, dealing with knots, twists, dropped stitches, the whole shebang! Her drive to learn is admirable, as is her passion for STEM and sustainability! Ian Pathak from Springfield, Virginia

Sliding in to grab the Southern Region award is Ian Pathak! Sponsored by Madelinetosh, Ian solidified his title of Jack of All Trades by being a knitter, crocheter, AND a weaver!



His heart is as big as his talent, sharing with us a crocheted pillowcase he made for his mother as a gift before he leaves for college! The artistic nature doesn't stop there, as he plans on furthering his vocal training and Opera Performance, which is music to our ears!

Congrats to all of our winners! Reading your stories tugged at our heartstrings, and we wish nothing but the best for you in your aspirations and endeavors! Thank you Beans for Brains Sponsors!

Applications

Check back next year for more information.