Emily’s Hope is honored to announce Sophia Pascoe as the 2026 recipient of the Emily’s Hope Art Scholarship. The $1,000 college scholarship, managed through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors in South Dakota who plan to pursue a degree in the visual arts.
Sophia, a senior at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, will attend Augustana University this fall to study art. In her application, Sophia shared how her passion for art developed during her first high school drawing class, when she discovered a deep connection to the creative process and a drive to continue exploring her artistic voice.
“One moment that inspired me to choose art as my field of study was during my first art class in high school,” she wrote. “This project had awakened a passion that I didn’t know I had for anything. It gave me a new perspective of what art could mean and a deeper appreciation of the process.”
Sophia recently took part in the Emily’s Hope Youth Art Showcase, where she earned first place for her watercolor piece, Morning Air. Her work reflects themes of resilience and healing, aligning with the showcase’s theme of ‘Rise Above’.
The Emily’s Hope Art Scholarship honors the legacy of Emily Groth, a talented young artist whose life was tragically cut short by fentanyl poisoning in 2018. Emily’s paintings and pottery live on as a testament to the healing power of art, a power this scholarship seeks to nurture in future generations.
“Sophia’s work reflects both incredible talent and a deep sense of personal insight,” said Angela Kennecke, founder of Emily’s Hope. “Her ability to express resilience and hope through art is exactly what this scholarship was created to support.”
To learn more about the Emily’s Hope Art Scholarship and how it carries forward Emily’s legacy, visit: https://emilyshope.charity/our-impact/scholarship.
About Emily’s Hope
Emily’s Hope is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and to save lives through evidence-informed education, compassionate support, and financial assistance for recovery. Founded by award-winning journalist Angela Kennecke after the tragic overdose death of her daughter Emily, the organization has become a national voice for prevention and hope. Emily’s Hope offers a K–12 substance use prevention curriculum used across the country, the Grieving Out Loud podcast, and on-the-ground initiatives such as naloxone distribution, a Post-Overdose Response Team, and a Youth Prevention Coalition in South Dakota. The organization also provides treatment scholarships to help individuals access care. Learn more about Emily’s Hope at emilyshope.charity.
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