Was there an instructor or course that was essential for you?

Dondero: One of my most formative classes was Techniques in Experimental Animation with Lisa LaBracio (BFA 2006 Animation). Lisa inspired me to let go of perfectionism and showed me how to find inspiration within experimentation.

Dong: Ben Voldman (MFA 2011 Illustration as Visual Essay) was my instructor for Compositing and 3D Technology and also served as my thesis advisor. He gave me a lot of technical support on Nuke and advice on improving the project’s visuals.

What was your favorite piece of advice that a teacher or student shared with you?

Dondero: “Just jump in.” My thesis instructor, Adam Meyers, told me this when I was struggling to get started on a difficult phase of the project. Sometimes, you just have to jump in and start swimming.

Dong: Someone told me, “Everyone has their own progress in life.” This phrase always supports me when I feel anxious and when I feel like I’m not good enough. It reminds me that I shouldn’t compare myself to anyone else but myself. As long as I keep learning and improving, I will become the artist I aim to be.

What advice do you have for next year’s students going through your program?

Dondero: Get involved! Beyond just the classes, SVA has so many resources for students to take advantage of. Get to know your instructors. Play with the fun gear in the equipment library. Audit continuing education classes. Use the studio spaces and 3D printers. Attend film screenings and social events. It’s all there for you and will significantly enrich your education and creativity to take advantage of as much as possible.

Dong: Michael just said everything I wanted to say. But for sure, get involved and make friends with your classmates; they are your advisors, your connections, and your greatest support. Also, take advantage of the library, the computer labs and the Visible Futures Lab. They have so much cool stuff to play and experiment with. Also, get enough sleep and good luck on your thesis!

For this year’s SVA Alumni Scholarship Awards, 86 students were chosen from a pool of hundreds of applicants and granted scholarships worth $62,000 for dozens of art and multimedia projects. To see a list of the 2023 recipients, click here. For more information about applying for an Alumni Scholarship Award, click here.

To contribute to the Support the Talent campaign, you can make a donation online at sva.edu/give.

The graduating MFA Computer Arts students’ award-winning thesis project is a short animated film called ‘Nostril.’