Artist Norma Honisto's daughters, Sonja and Kirsten, along with their father, Donald Hongisto, established this scholarship to honor her legacy and lifelong love of art. Norma deeply enjoyed her art classes at the Peralta Colleges, especially at Laney College and Berkeley City College. Through this scholarship, her family hopes to keep her memory alive while supporting students in pursuing their artistic passions.

Norma had a lifelong passion for art, starting as a young child growing up in Spencer, Iowa. Her great ambition was to study art at the University of Iowa, a dream she later fulfilled. The University of Iowa chose several of her paintings for a traveling art show to attract students to its art program. The art show was exhibited in high schools throughout Iowa. In 1949, she graduated with a BA in Art from the University of Iowa. She then traveled to Europe (Italy, Spain) to experience European culture and art. Upon return, she worked at the NYU bookstore in New York and later she worked in Texas. In 1957, Norma moved to California to continue to pursue her interest in art. She attended San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University) and worked towards a credential to teach art in California high schools.

Norma paused her artwork and education to marry her husband Don and parent her three children. As her children reached school-age, her interest in art was revitalized. Starting in the 1970s, she took art classes at the Berkeley Adult School, Merritt College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Berkeley Senior Center, and Feather River College. She loved the Laney College art program, where she studied under the well-respected June Steingart. Norma continued her artwork well into her mid-80s (circa 2010). She loved acrylics, oil, pastel, and watercolor painting and making ceramic bird houses and planters.

Norma was proud of her art pieces and filled both the house and garden of her long-term home in Berkeley, California with her work.