Creativity Scholarship Recipient for Spring 2021

We at Graphic Design Degree Hub are proud to announce our Spring 2021 Creativity Scholarship winner! This $1,500 scholarship is designed to promote study in graphic design and related disciplines. 

We had 9 applicants for the 2021 spring semester award.  All were creative and talented contenders, but Michelle stood out, not only because she is a very talented artist, but also because she is also an activist with empathy and vision. We were impressed with all she’s accomplished both in the design field and as a volunteer in the community. She has donated hundreds of hours of her time and has already made a huge difference in the lives of others. Michelle combines her love of design with her commitment to using creative art to serve others.

Michelle is a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh, PA. She was accepted as an undergraduate at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh. As a high school student, Michelle and two other artists curated and hosted a black light art installation titled “Earth and Space.” They raised over $530 which they used to purchase art supplies for children in under-resourced West Virginia communities. 

“This experience developed my event planning skills, matured my techniques in art, and my knowledge of effective advertising methods,” Michelle said. “It also highlighted how the power of art can bring people together and make an impact.” 

In March 2020, Michelle and two others commissioned drawings for 36 donors. They raised over $850, providing 4,250 meals for the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. 

“Through this, I learned how art can be used to serve others,” Michelle said in her application.

Michelle explained that growing up, she was always surrounded by art. “From the heavy arts scene in Pittsburgh to the emphasis of art in my household, I was constantly talking about art, thinking about art, and creating art,” she said.  “I spent Saturday mornings at the Carnegie Museum of Art taking art classes and wandering around galleries alone.”

Just a few of her community activities have included volunteer work at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Mt. Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Mt. Lebanon School District, Baptists Home, and work on her Independent Fundraiser for the Foodbank.

Of her career goals, Michelle said: “Although I am still finding my voice and niche interests in design, my goal is to work at a design firm to tackle global issues regarding sustainability and technology. . . .Overall, I am interested in graphic and product design that can solve problems on a global level.”

For more information about our Creativity Scholarship, which is awarded twice each year, click here.