Dave Cross Design Arts Scholarship

# David Cross Design Arts Scholarship Essay - Revised At 52 years old, pursuing a degree in graphic design and photography isn't about starting a career—it's about answering a calling. My passion for design comes from a deep, personal need to bridge creativity and healing. I've spent the past seven years in faith-based recovery work, leading Celebrate Recovery groups in prisons, shelters, and churches. These environments often lack the resources to present their work with the dignity it deserves. That's where design comes in—not just to make things look better, but to tell stories that restore hope and dignity to people in crisis. One of the most meaningful projects I've completed is my "Mental Health Stamps" series. Each stamp represents someone close to me who's been impacted by mental illness: my daughter lives with bipolar disorder, I live with anxiety, my father carries PTSD from Vietnam, and my brother-in-law tragically ended his life in a murder-suicide after battling psychosis caused by undiagnosed CTE. I created these stamps to humanize mental illness—to show faces, not labels—and to use design as a tool for empathy. The work lives in my online portfolio not just as art, but as testimony. These stamps serve as a visual conversation starter to reduce stigma and spark awareness. The projects that move me most are ones that carry this kind of personal and social impact. I want to create branding, posters, and awareness campaigns for nonprofits working with addiction, homelessness, and mental health. These organizations often have the heart but not the budget for compelling visuals. I want to be the bridge between grassroots service and professional-level design. I've also begun using photography to document life inside recovery meetings and food rescue missions. I volunteer weekly for Vindeket Foods, rescuing thousands of pounds of food from being wasted. With my camera, I capture the dignity of volunteers, the beauty in reclaimed produce, and the unseen faces behind community resilience. My lens isn't focused on perfection—it's focused on truth. I've worked in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, and am now exploring motion graphics and short video storytelling. Digital tools give me the ability to match the emotional tone of a story to its visual execution. Design isn't just visual—it's emotional translation, and the digital toolbox lets me amplify those stories across mediums and platforms. This scholarship would allow me to stay focused on school and service instead of having to sacrifice either to meet basic expenses. More than that, it would be an investment in someone using design as a spiritual and social tool—someone who believes design can heal, illuminate, and empower. I'm not pursuing this degree for a title. I'm pursuing it so I can help others believe in their own worth again—through powerful visuals, honest storytelling, and compassion that can be seen and felt. **Portfolio Link:** https://www.frownedupondesigns.com/graphic-design-portfolio