The prestigious Student Scholarship Competition from the Society of Illustrators provides a launchpad into industry for talented graduates. This year, a jury of eminent artists selected 300 of the best undergraduate illustrations out of 8,700 entries to display in a special exhibition; about 25 of those students won scholarships. An unprecedented eight artworks from five FIT students were selected for the exhibition, and four of those students won scholarships.
“Winning these awards gets you on the radar of designers and illustrator reps and agents,” says Dan Shefelman, chair of Illustration and Interactive Media. “It gains you respect in the field.”
Carolyn Castagna ’21 won the $6,000 Jon McDonald Scholarship for her oil painting “Alice in Wonderland.” Carlos Miranda ’23 won the $1,500 Alan Peckolick Scholarship Award for Excellence in Illustration for a digital artwork titled “Magic Doll,” and three more of his illustrations were selected for the show. Melanie Wong ’22 won a $1,000 scholarship in memory of Effie Bowie for “Carrie,” and Caitlin Taduran ‘21 won $500 in memory of Kazu Sano for “Bed Surreal.” “The passing of a turtle,” a 3D illustration by Jasmine Tsang, was also selected for the exhibition.
The Student Scholarship Exhibition is on view at the Society of Illustrators, 128 E. 63rd St., in Manhattan, April 20 through June 4.