2023 Merit Scholarship Recipient: Kiera Joseph

Describe the work you submitted for merits.

I submitted animated works from this semester as well as last semester. It includes Character Animation, Storyboards, Stop Motion, and 3D Animation. A few of the pieces are from my sophomore year, but last semester I decided to revisit them and apply some touch ups based on previous critiques.

Why did you decide to come to MCAD?

MCAD was my first choice, and quite honestly, one of only two colleges I applied to. After visiting the college during my senior year of high school, I instantly fell in love. The atmosphere, the sense of community, and the way they encourage exploration and experimentation was what dragged me in. They also offered my desired major, as well as Comic Art, which I was also interested in at the time. Like many, the financial aid beat that of any other art college I had visited.

What are your plans for your senior year? And beyond?

During my senior year, I'm hoping to create a collaborative senior project. I want to get both my family and friends involved in the making of it. Although 2D Animation is my major, I am hoping to take more 3D Animation, Illustration, and perhaps Comic Art classes. Since it's my last year, I want to learn as much as I can.

Beyond that, I can't say what my solid plan is. In an ideal world, I'll be able to find a job in animation or illustration as soon as I graduate. How realistic that is, I'm not sure. However, once I graduate, I'm planning to apply for everything, continue to create fun little animations and illustrations, and grab any gig I can in order to grow my resume and experience.