My journey through art started when I was very young. My mom was very artistic and growing up I always wanted to be as good as her. I never planned on going to school for it when I was little, I wasn't really aware that was even an option. I did not start taking art more seriously until I was in middle school. I realized that I enjoyed drawing a lot, but I really didn't have any talent. I started practicing every chance that I could get. I fell in love with animation from watching cartoons with my dad at his house. My mother hated cartoons so the only chance that I had to watch cartoons was at my father's house. We would watch cartoons together almost every night that I was there. The show that really made me want to be an animator was gravity falls. I felt the art was gorgeous and I wanted to use art to create a story as they did. Going into high school, I was not able to take art classes. While I was enrolled in band and drama, I was not able to be in the few art classes we had. My high school did not see it as a priority so I couldn't get enrolled in any classes for it. The closest option that I had that my school promoted was the Graphic Design program at a trade school close by. I enrolled in the Graphic Design program in my junior year of high school. It was a two-year program and it had me stay an extra hour after the normal school day every day. I realized that I loved the mix of technology and art. I got certified as a Graphic Designer at the end of my senior year of high school in 2021. After graduation, I sent my portfolio to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah Georgia. While I did get in, covid was still a threat. I ended up not being able to go that year. While I was unable to attend that year due to covid, I did attend one year at my local college to get my first-year basics out of the way. I knew already that I would have financial issues at SCAD and getting some of my basics out of the way at a cheaper school felt like the best option. I transferred to the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2022 for animation. I moved from Oklahoma to Georgia and live on campus currently. My first year at SCAD has been wonderful and I have learned so much in animation already. Getting this scholarship would help me achieve my dreams. I am unable to financially pay for the next 2 years of my undergraduate animation degree. I have always loved art and I want to create and tell stories for future generations the way my childhood cartoons did for me.

Cailan Marley Stroud-Glidewell Maverick Grill and Saloon Scholarship: Throughout my life, I have always been a very passionate artist. I have always had the desire to create. My life experiences as well as my design experiences make me a unique candidate for this scholarship. In high school, I took an extra course outside of high school to get certified in graphic design. This helped me gain client experience while in high school, but it also helped me gain a better understanding of computer technology. This made me more well-rounded as an artist. I am very committed to learning other art forms in media and entertainment. The desire to create is what lead me to animation. My goal for my career would be to be a main animator for a company such as Pixar, Disney, and/or Illumination. As an animator, I want to show my life experiences and represent those who have similar experiences. I also want to help those who are wanting to tell their story but don't have the platform to do so. As a child, I grew up in two low-income households. I was often home alone at a young age while my dad worked two jobs or while my mom worked hers. Learning to cook and take care of myself at the age of seven taught me a sense of independence very early on in my life. Seeing the work my parents put into affording food and simple things as a child taught me to value money in a way that I value now. This gives me a more unique perspective that also reflects in my art. I am fortunate enough that my parents have better jobs now, although it is not enough for college. Growing up, there was very little Native representation in animated films. Even now this is still uncommon. My culture is very important in my life. My family always taught me that all life has value and is unique in its own way. The earth gives to us and we should respect it in return. These ideologies are not pushed in the media enough and as an artist, I want to show these ideologies. Being a woman in a male-dominated field creates another unique perspective. Many women are less likely to get jobs in the animation field. As a woman, I plan to help break this boundary. Domee Shi, the director of turning red, told me that "The door has started to open, we just have to keep it open." This scholarship would not only provide the financials needed to pursue my education, but it would also help me make a difference in my community to create more representation of native culture and women in animated media. Overall this scholarship would help me greatly in pursuing my dreams. Thank you for your time and consideration.