"Encouraging me mentally and helping me financially. Pushing me to do my best," Xiaoling Li (BFA Illustration) says, describing the feeling of receiving a recent scholarship grant. Such is the sum effect of the 2020 Alumni Scholarship Awards, the recipients of which were announced last week by the SVA Alumni Society.

Established in 1999, the Alumni Scholarship Awards are presented annually to SVA students. "Students in their final year are invited to apply for funding for their thesis or portfolio projects. Applications are then evaluated by independent panels of alumni, who eagerly apply themselves to the task, often marveling at the talent displayed in the applications," says Miranda Pierce, associate director of Alumni Affairs and Development, who also spearheads this annual program. "Additionally, alumni make up the majority of donors to these scholarship funds. It gives alumni who have experienced the creative industries a chance to encourage soon-to-graduate seniors."

For the students, the scholarship provides substantial relief—monetary or otherwise. "I think many artists find their creativity restricted due to financial constraints," says Veronica Fernandez (BFA Fine Arts). "Being given the opportunity to have such a crucial factor in the art-making process supported allows me to continue fostering my ideas in the way I feel best connects to community, and for that, I am very grateful."

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74 SVA Students Are Awarded $60,000 Worth of Scholarships for their Original Projects