MILWAUKEE (July 8, 2021) – Associated Bank is now the presenting sponsor of MIAD’s popular Pre-College program for high school students. Associated Bank has committed to a multi-year agreement that will support the program and provide scholarships for low-income youth to attend Pre-College.
“Associated Bank is proud to fund MIAD’s Pre-College program to ensure that students in underserved communities are able to pursue their art and design dreams,” said John Utz, Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking and Milwaukee Market President, Associated Bank. “Throughout our 160-year history, Associated Bank has been proud to play an active role in helping our communities grow and prosper.”
This summer, MIAD’s two-week Core Studio Concepts runs July 12 – 23 and the three-week Advanced Studio Concepts takes place July 12 – 30. The majority of classes are being conducted in person with select classes delivered online for a limited number of students.
Altogether, the sessions bring more than 150 high school students to the MIAD campus in Milwaukee’s Third Ward.
“The Pre-College program is important because it can change the trajectory of students’ lives by opening them up to a world of opportunity in the fields of art and design,” said MIAD President Jeff Morin. “Many of the students are able to attend the Pre-College program thanks to scholarship assistance provided by Associated Bank.”
For more than 25 years, MIAD’s Pre-College program has been helping students make the transition from high school to college. The rigorous summer program provides college-level instruction, exhibition opportunities, development of a portfolio for use in applying to colleges for advanced participants, and exposure to career pathways in art and design.
Throughout the two- and three-week-long intensive courses, faculty encourage students to experiment with varied media, engage in collaborative projects, challenge themselves during problem-solving exercises, offer critiques of work with peers and teachers, and participate in special programming and field trips. Students experience personal growth by exploring their passion for the arts—a passion with the potential to become a career.
Students participating in Core Studio Concepts can choose two in-person classes, including: Graphic Design; Illustration; Screen Printing; Photography; Painting; Fiber Arts; and Basic Observational & Figure Drawing.
The Advanced Studio Concepts program is for high school juniors, seniors and graduates who are serious about pursuing art or design in college. Students must submit 10 images of original art to be considered for the program. The studios offered include: Product Design; Communication Design: Fashion Branding; Animation; Illustration; Advanced Photo & Film; Figure in Color; and Fine Arts.
While careers in design industries can be both personally and financially rewarding, they have historically lacked representative diversity. The reasons for this are myriad. In Milwaukee, students in underserved communities have limited access to arts and design education, knowledge of college requirements, and awareness of financial aid resources. Through outreach and scholarship opportunities, MIAD helps local young people overcome these significant barriers.
