Scholarship Profiles

Jon Tracy

Painting/Drawing, Richard K. Price Scholarship

Jon chose to attend CCA because of its top-notch faculty and supportive academic environment. Citing Jack Mendenhall as particularly influential, he says that “the professors are what make CCA for me. They are all experts. I don’t know any other school with a lineup like this in both design and fine arts.” Jon works primarily with oil on canvas, contemporizing the figurative style. He believes that art making is a responsibility that demands a strong work ethic.

Art Education alumnus Richard K. Price established this scholarship to support young artists like Jon who continue the commitment to art that mattered so much to him. Jon says that without scholarships and grants, CCA wouldn’t have been an option for him. “A little goes a long way. The less I have to worry about finances, the more I can think about my work.”

Juan Leguizamon

Graphic Design, OgilvyOne Scholarship

“There’s so much I love about CCA, especially the sense of community. You develop close relationships with your classmates and teachers. It’s about collaboration, not competition.” Juan finds the college to be unique in every way: “You learn skills, but you also learn to think. Faculty and other students really support you and help you get your work out there.”

The OgilvyOne Scholarship was created in 2005 by the renowned advertising and design firm to strengthen the field by educating writers and graphic designers.

Juan is currently interning at Razorfish, where he plans to work after graduation. “When I first got a scholarship, I went to dinner and met the person who gave the money for it. I was living in practically a closet then, and it meant a lot for someone to acknowledge that students have a hard time. This is a special place, and the feeling that people are looking after you, caring that you are part of the CCA community, means so much.”

Jeffrey Yee

Fashion Design, Design Scholarship

Jeffrey came from New York to attend CCA because of the school’s atmosphere. “I feel a connection among the students that is both intimate and supportive. I like how the different disciplines interact and inspire each other. CCA sets a standard for quality in arts education. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

After graduation he plans to work in the fashion industry until he is able to start his own business and take his work abroad. The Design Scholarship enabled him to attend CCA. “There are so many bright people out there who do not have the ability to pay for school on their own. Your contribution gives them the chance to bring their talents to the outside world.”

Michael Braithwaite

Visual Studies, Humanities Scholarship

Michael explores cultural and social theory in her work, and she enjoys the wide variety of courses offered at CCA. After graduation she plans to pursue a master’s degree in cultural production and, eventually, a doctorate in religion, gender, and culture. Receiving the Humanities Scholarship made her CCA education possible.

To donors she says: “Thank you so much. Scholarships are an extremely important factor in funding a private higher education. Not all students come from a background where their families are able to pay for their educational expenses.”

Cacy Duncan

Writing and Literature, Collegewide Scholarship

Before CCA, Cacy attended Carnegie Mellon University and Pratt Institute, where she studied creative writing and explored costume design, theater, and visual art. “I knew I wanted a writing program at an art school, where creative writing would be treated as its own discipline rather than simply an elective in the English department.”

She appreciates that the Collegewide Scholarship is enabling her to graduate with a reduced burden of student loan debt. “My work has definitely found direction since I came to CCA,” she continues. “I now know that I want to create graphic novels and work in animation.”

Melissa Spooner

Master of Architecture, Bernard Osher Foundation Scholarship

Melissa received a BFA from California Institute of the Arts in the field of dance, which led to her current focus on the movement of the body through space. She chose to pursue an advanced architecture degree at CCA because of the college’s interdisciplinary approach.

“CCA has a fantastic working faculty, very in touch with what is currently happening in the world outside academia,” she says. She also appreciates the school’s vibrant, artful atmosphere. “I love walking through the Nave every day and seeing all of the student works in painting, illustration, furniture, graphic design, fashion. It’s a continual source of inspiration.”

Of scholarships, she says, “Given my undergraduate debt, grad school was not a decision I made lightly. This scholarship allows me to focus on school and is a great, amazing gift. Generous donors tilt the scale, making it possible for people to practice art.”