Songwriter Steven Arthur, who lives near Burlington, won this custommade acoustic guitar in a scholarship competition for young songwriters. Photo provided Steven Arthur's passion is music.

The 19-year-old just won a scholarship that will further that interest.

As the winner of the Shirley Martin Scholarship for Young Songwriters, Arthur received a $500 cash award and a custommade acoustic guitar.

A 2005 graduate of Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School, Arthur said he will be making a pop/Christian rock CD this summer. With his scholarship money, he will buy an electric guitar to use in the recording process.

"I'm hoping to have at least 13 original songs on it," Arthur said.

He and a college friend, Collin Obremski, plan to work together on the cover art.

Obremski produced Arthur's scholarship-winning song, "The Back of Your Mind," in his home studio. Arthur did the singing, the acoustic and electric guitar, and bass for the recording. Obremski did the piano, synthesizer, and drum programming. Arthur's younger sister, Rachel, sang the harmonies.

The scholarship is based on songwriting ability and includes such components as melody, chord structure, rhythm, and lyrics.

"The judging was on the song itself, but they said they liked the production, too. They said it sounded pretty professional," Arthur said.

He first wrote the song for last year's Carroll Talent Show.

"I only did acoustic for the Talent Show," Arthur said. For the scholarship competition, they added the extra instruments.

He describes the song as pop rock, and about relationships. He said it carries the message that a person always has a second or third chance to do better.

The three top winners in the competition were asked to perform their songs at the awards ceremony at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation in Lafayette. Arthur said a Lafayette radio station asked him to send a copy of his recording.

The Shirley Martin Scholarship is for songwriters between the ages of 14 and 19, who live in any of the following counties: Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Warren, or White. It is administered by the Songwriters Association of Mid-North Indiana.

Arthur also entered the contest last year and received second place.

He and Obremski are in a band together, called The Opening Project.

While music is big in his life, Arthur is also studying history education at Indiana University Kokomo.