In an effort to diversify the students who apply to the LSU College of Art and Design, the Hearst Foundations granted $80,000 to the college over the summer.
The Hearst Foundations, a philanthropic organization based in New York, gears its funding toward the fields of culture, education, health and social services.
Four art and design students were awarded $2,000 for school expenses, such as supplies and tuition. The money is awarded to students for their first two years, for a total of $4,000. Associate Dean of Research and Development of the College of Art and Design Lake Douglas said the funds are meant to get students past a critical period and show that professions in the art and design fields are viable options. Douglas was involved in writing the grant proposal.
“Part of our challenge is to explain what happens in these professions to students and get them excited about it and encourage them to apply to design schools,” Douglas said.
Scholarships were awarded to architecture freshman Malachi Pursley, art freshman Kamea Comeaux, interior design freshman Amanda Campos and landscape architecture freshman Scott Self. Each student was selected by their respective department within the college.
“I think it’s great, because in architecture and art, unlike other majors, you have to buy supplies every so often,” Pursley said. “So having that money helps. It’s a great opportunity to relieve some of the burden from the supplies.”
Art and design students typically spend around $300 at the beginning of the semester for supplies, with an additional $50 to $100 per project, Pursley said.
The scholarship is aimed towards minority students who were selected based on their GPA, as well as other factors determined by the individual departments within the college of art and design, Douglas said.
The lack of diversity in art and design professions prompted the scholarship’s creation, Douglas said. Professionals have been trying to increase involvement from minority communities for years without success. By supporting minority students in their first two years of study, it allows students to consider professions in art and design.
“[We] have recognized this lack of diversity and are seeking to increase [it], but you can’t increase the numbers in the profession without addressing the schools, so it seems logical that you would want to start with the schools,” Douglas said.
Campos said she is thankful she was granted this scholarship.
“I’m grateful, extremely grateful. It helped out a lot,” Campos said. “I think we only make up like 1 percent of the school, so to be given money to be an art student, to be a design student, it’s cool.”