As a young girl, nature has always inspired me, from the clouds to the flowing streams. Painting has always been my first love, no matter what art form I try I always go back to painting. My painting style has always been very organic which pushed me even further towards nature as a subject. I am drawn to the natural shapes, colors and movements found within the world. Whether I am observing light reflecting across the water or the way the clouds shift in the sky. Through painting, I can interpret my observations in my own way, using color, texture, and composition to capture the feeling of a place. On my way to trade school we passed a house with two dogs lying in the front yard. I noticed the way the light filtered through the trees, the contrast of the black and white dogs, and the grass flowing in the wind. I was later able to revisit that location. Watching the colors slowly build from the underpainting to the very darkest and lightest values. As the environments light and shadows form and the painting feels like its own environment. As I continue on with my art career, I have seen an increase in my understanding of how I translate what I see onto canvas. Over the next 3 years of college, I plan to deepen my understanding of painting, while exploring other traditional art forms. During the summers I plan to and have gone out around my community to practice plein air painting. Using the skills I’ve learned from figure drawing and gesture drawing, I plan to challenge myself to observe the world through light and shadow. I hope to continue finding inspiration in everyday moments and transforming what I see onto the canvas.

As an only child with two parents working full time I had to find ways to keep myself busy. Whether it was TV shows or physical toys I had everything needed, a large toy box with the latest battery powered toys, a Barbie here and there, but my main favorites were my train collection, car collection and of course my dinosaur collection. Looking back, dinosaurs were more than just toys to me but a key part of my childhood. I can still see their influence to this day in the landscapes I paint. The long lost Saturdays, dumping out my bin of plastic dinosaurs, ranging from realistic to cartoony. Carefully arranging each species together, making up stories of each Dino interacting with each other. Spending time at my grandparents house watching Dinosaur Train while baking cookies. Repeatedly watching Dinosaurs the Disney movie until my nana couldn’t stand it. Having my first TV in my room and watching all the original Land Before Time movies. Looking back, dinosaurs played a pivotal role in building my imagination and creativity into what it is today. I chose the Apatosaurus out of all the Sauropods because of the flow between its tail and neck when compared to others like the Brachiosaurus, commonly seen in Jurassic Park. I have always loved Sauropods because of the way they can be so powerful yet gentle all in one movement. They were always my favorite to collect, I have collected every shape and size of them I could find. Before painting I did a significant amount of research into the environments where Apatosaurus frequented during their cycle of migration. I wanted the dinosaurs to be the main focus of the painting while still having an accurate landscape around it. I wanted the dinosaurs to feel like they belonged in this painting not just placed into it. Like a snapshot of what everyday life was like for them. I chose acrylic paint because of the depth I could get with it. I am most familiar with acrylic paint as a landscape painter so I also see it as my favorite medium. This painting gave me a meaningful opportunity to connect my childhood interests with the artist that I am becoming today.

As a kid I was quite fond of reading picture books and looking at the beautiful illustrations that spread across the pages. Sitting down with my grandparents to read was one of the best moments of my childhood. The stories that painted the background of my childhood have a special place in my heart. As an artist I was always attracted to the books with pictures but as an aged my reading level increased I moved onto chapter books. I would scan through the library looking for the right book for me to read that week. While I read, the words became a movie in my mind. During long schools days, sitting down and escaping into these stories, was a relief to me. I began to draw the scenes my mind created from these stories, they gave me freedom to create and not hold myself back. As I entered high school, books became more academic and there was increasingly less time for personal reading. When I did have a choice, books became less of a creative outlet for me but a way of improving my skills. I moved from mainly fantasy to fiction. I began learning for the masters and imagining how creating their work was so much more difficult for them. Artists don’t have it easier no matter what background you have, but reading about what these painters had to go through instilled me with a motivation to keep going. One book that specifically inspired me was “Color: A Natural History of the Palette” by Victoria Finlay. The way she describes her journey and what artists had to do just to have paint really showed me that artists have had to overcome challenges from all aspects of their craft. Their stories taught me that being an artist has never been an easy path, no matter what decade, background or county you come from, Learning about these great artists through these books changed the way I looked at my own goals. I don’t see art as simply a hoodie or something I enjoy doing but something I could dedicate my career and whole life too. Seeing what fictional and non fictional artists struggles and determination to keep going has motivated me to keep developing my own skills. Not just in traditional arts, like painting and drawing but also in graphic design. No matter what creative field a person can go into it takes a willingness to overcome failure, practice and patience to work through things when it becomes difficult. Books have also taught me the importance of creativity. As a child, I strengthened not only my art but my imagination by turning words into images then putting them onto paper. As I have grown my imagination has to and what I use it for has slowly changed into a professional creative process. I find my imagination and creativity to be my strength in my goals of someday becoming and creative director and professional artist. The books I have read not only shapes my interests but my career as well. No matter how difficult the journey may be I will face it and continue working toward achieve my dreams just as the masters had. The stories that once comforted me as a child have become a key factor in how I create my artwork today.

My education has been what my life has revolved around for years. Going to public school showed me that you must take initiative to get the most out of your education. Going to Albion High School in a small town in New York meant that we did not always have the best resources. Most of the school funds were put towards athletics. As an art student I saw first hand how budgets can affect students. Coming from a low income family taught me that you didn’t need the best supplies to make things work. Taking the time to learn and work with low quality materials taught me that you can still come out with a high quality piece. My educational journey has taught me that even when faced with failure and challenges that I thought I was not capable of overcoming, I could learn and grow from them. It is what you learn from going through challenges that makes you into who you are. These experiences taught me to make the most of the opportunities and resources available to me instead of letting my circumstances hold me back. During my freshman year I began to focus on what I wanted my career to be and how my education could help me achieve my goals. I figured out I wanted to be a Creative Director. To achieve this goal so far I have gained 22 college credits while in high school, graduated top ten of my class, graduated trade school with a degree in Graphic Communications, and became involved in National Honors society, Technical Honors Society, National Society of Leadership and Success including SkillsUSA. During this time I was able to maintain a 3.98 gpa. Moving onto college the first thing I thought of was the cost, there are so many hidden costs associated with college that can make an education far more expensive than tuition alone. I worked hard to have the best grades possible while writing as many scholarship essays to jump start my college journey. As a student paying my way through college myself, receiving the Bick New York Scholarship would substantially lessen the financial burden and allow me to focus more on my education, improving my skills and portfolio to aid me in my career search after graduation. I have always wanted to pursue a creative career and when I discovered graphic design I saw I could create a career out of it. It has always been my plan to pursue an art related career. I have invested years of my life into making my dream come true and my family has committed so much of their time and energy into me. They have been a major motivation for me to continue my education and pursue the arts. I hope to build a successful career in art and design so that one day I can support them as they age just like they supported me through my education.

Being a first-generation college student means paving a path my parents and grandparents never got the chance to walk. My great grandmother immigrated from Poland, with very little money, she faced racial slurs and people telling her what to do with her. I saw her sacrifices, her work ethic and the dreams she gave up on for her family. My grandmother was abandoned by her family and later adopted. I grew up watching her paint. When she spoke about her painting I saw the sparkle of a dream she was never able to pursue. My mother married young, suffered abuse, and was later a widow, she was never able to attend college because her family couldn’t afford it. I not only hold the weight of being a first generation student but also the first woman of my family to have a choice. Because of the women who came before me, I understand that being a first-generation student means more than being the first in my family to attend college. I am also the first woman in my family to have the freedom to choose my own educational and career path. My path to college began far before I stepped foot on any campus. I earned 22 college credits while still in high school and graduated with honors from a two-year Graphic Communications program. During this time I created an 8 year career plan to get me through college and into a promising career. This included graduating with honors from trade school, pursuing graphic design while minoring in Art History and Traditional Art, gaining a graphic design internship, developing professional skills in graphic design, entering the career field, and working my way up to Creative Director. My parents, having never attended college so they could not help me with the endless forms, writing scholarship essays, college essays and even just finding the right college course. Today, I am pursuing graphic design with the goal of becoming a Creative Director while continuing to develop as a traditional artist and art historian. I have faced the challenges of pursuing this goal by refusing to let uncertainty, finances, or heavy workload determine my future. I understand that pursuing art as my full time career can be challenging, especially with the rise in AI. Seeing the impacts of AI and how over saturated the graphic design field can be has only motivated me more to prepare as much as possible. This scholarship would help me pay for art fees, tuition, parking permits, supplies, fees, and books. It would allow me to focus on improving my art skills, gaining professional experience, updating my portfolio, and prepare for the career that I have spent years planning for. I want to honor my family's sacrifices and make the most of the opportunity they never had. I am not simply following a path my family created for me. I am paving a new one. I hope to leave a clear path for the generations after me, no matter what.

In my freshman-year science class, we were given the MSCT assignment, with the only direction being that it could be on anything we wanted. I chose graphic design. I spent months researching art careers and landed on graphic design because of its somewhat stable environment compared to other creative careers I was interested in. This is when I started my eight-year plan. What began as a school project became the beginning of my career plan. I had been taking college classes since my freshman year of high school to build college credits, and I continued doing so in trade school. When the opportunity came to attend trade school, I saw that it could jump start my education in graphic design. Of course I chose Graphic Communications. I spent the next two years learning all ascpets of graphic design and what it took to succeed in the design industry. During this time I earned college credits not only in high school but also in trade school. Taking these classes before college increased my chances of graduating early for college and bypassed intro level courses. During my senior year of high school I applied to as many local scholarships as possible to give me a starting point for college expenses. Graduating college early would not only reduce financial burden, but also allow me to begin my professional career sooner. I chose SUNY Brockport because of its location, it would not require me to pay for housing, allowing me to save money. My tuition is approximately $3,535 per semester. So far, I have paid $971, $1,136, and $501 out of pocket across my first three semesters. I estimate 4,360$ in fees out of pocket. I also received approximately $797 in Pell Grant funding, $500 through TAP, and $2,109 through the Excelsior Scholarship for the past 3 semesters. I know that completing my degree will require planning for costs beyond tuition, including parking, art fees, books, supplies, printing, Adobe programs, and future laptop upgrades. Parking fees for four years come to 752 dollars and to complete my degree with electives my chosen electives would come out to an additional $807 in fees. These courses I plan to take are Painting $120, Painting 2 $65, Drawing 3 $50, Figure drawing 2 $40, Intermittent Wheel $100, Beginner wheel $100, 20th century Art, Comic Graph Novels, Women in Art, American Art, $65 book fee complete these courses while completing my painting and art history minors and fulfilling elective requirements. Plus, Typography 2 $95, Branding and identify $125, and Graphic Design Portfolio Practice $50, for major related fees. To cover additional costs I plan to continue applying for scholarships through Brockport every winter and pursue graphic design internships during the summer. I have sought out a graphic design internship with SUNY Brockport, which will allow me to gain professional experience while funding my education financially. I would also like to maintain $2,000–$3,000 in additional financial flexibility for unexpected educational expenses. While at Brockport, I plan to continue pursuing internships, student art shows, networking opportunities, competitions, to improve my skills and portfolio in all creative areas. Ultimately, after graduation, my end goal is to become an in house Creative Director. I understand that this position usually requires years of experience, which I plan to achieve through internships and networking opportunities I have built into my college journey. I am prepared to take on entry level positions and work my way up to this position if necessary. If this is the case I will be making a thorough plan to achieve my goal.

I have been a fan of Sabrina since my childhood, from the times of watching Girl Meets World on Disney Channel to watching her music video for the song “Thumbs” on YouTube. I have been an active fan of many of her songs, from “On My Way” to her most recent hits. I really started to connect to her music when I experienced a bad breakup that resulted in him stalking me for about a year. During this time, I had gotten my first car and had a lot of time by myself with the radio to think. When I put Sabrina’s music on, I could sing the lyrics as loud as I wanted with no judgment. When I had no one to talk to about what was happening, or when nothing had been done by officials, I had her music to fall back on. The one song that comes to mind is “All Because I Liked a Boy.” I felt seen within that song. One part of the song that really stuck with me was the idea of dealing with consequences and actions being taken after a relationship had already ended. A lot of the action that was taken against said stalker was done after that relationship I had with said person was over. Many of my friends who were trying to support me had never experienced something like this, and I couldn’t relate to anyone. But this song made me feel less alone in my experiences. After Short n’ Sweet came out, Sabrina became my number one artist on Spotify and was later added to my vinyl collection. I rarely buy vinyl copies of albums, but Sabrina definitely deserved a spot. As a graphic design student, she has also inspired me with her amazing outfits and concert concepts. I have always enjoyed retro aesthetic designs, and she has fully embraced it. She has accompanied me throughout my long commutes to college and now on my college journey. Her music has been there through my long nights working on design projects and through relaxing moments walking to decompress after a long day. Sabrina’s music has been a part of so many different stages of my life, from my childhood to my college journey, and I think that is what makes being a fan of hers so meaningful to me.

My name is Kelli Dingle. My interest in art began at a very young age. Being an only child, I was alone a lot, so I began living within my imagination to fill the void of company. As I scribbled with crayons, I watched the scenes from my imagination come to life on the page. I lived my life through those colors when I had no one else to turn to.As I grew older, my artistic skills grew with me. I began painting and exploring other mediums, from traditional to digital. Painting has been my first medium throughout my life. Painting with acrylics can be messy, but there’s always room to fix mistakes or change the painting into something new. The painting can evolve with you, just as life can. Art was my escape as a child, but it later turned into my escape from reality once I entered school. I often felt isolated and like I didn’t belong anywhere, but art was where I belonged. Through art, my skills grew, and I found my people. I have always had an interest in art and have explored nearly every medium I could. Whether it is painting, drawing, or digital design, I have developed an appreciation for them all. Between my studies and academics, I always make time for personal projects so I can continue improving my skills and creativity. As I continued to grow as an artist, I realized I wanted to pursue a career in art. I researched different careers and discovered that graphic design was the best fit for me because it combines creativity with communication and problem-solving. While completing both my high school and college classes, I attended trade school for Graphic Communications, where I graduated with honors. My interest in art has led me to wonderful opportunities. In 2024, I won first place in both of my age groups for the Taste of Buffalo art competition. During my first year of college, I also participated in a student art exhibition, where I displayed my studio artwork. Having a digital-based major means spending a lot of time on the computer, so having the opportunity to exhibit my traditional artwork reminded me how important traditional art continues to be in my life. College was my next step, but I knew I didn’t want to focus only on graphic design. I also wanted to continue pursuing my passion for traditional art. As I pursue my Graphic Design degree, I plan to take as many studio art classes as possible so I can continue developing both my traditional and digital skills. My long-term goal is to become a Creative Director, I believe that maintaining a strong foundation in traditional art will make me a stronger designer, and future Creative Director, while standing out against other graphic design graduates. This scholarship would help me achieve my goals by lessening the financial burden that college places on me, making it possible for me to put more of my time and effort into my education and my art career. Studio art and graphic design classes often have additional fees for materials and supplies, which can quickly become financially overwhelming. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to continue taking as many studio art classes as possible without being limited by financial constraints. It would also help me continue building my portfolio, strengthen both my traditional and digital artistic skills, and prepare me for a career in graphic design. I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered, and I appreciate your investment in students who are passionate about the arts.

My passion for fine art is deeply rooted within me. I have always been labeled as the creative one. Without art, a key part of who I am would be missing. When other kids were asking for the latest toys, I wanted printer paper and markers. I enjoyed the freedom of being able to draw whatever I wanted, putting all my ideas onto paper and seeing the very beginnings of my art process evolving. No matter the medium, creating something from a blank slate reminds me why I fell in love with art in the first place. Painting became my main medium while I continued actively learning other mediums. My grandmother was an excellent painter but was never able to attend college. She painted beautiful landscapes but was never able to gain the recognition she deserved. She set aside her own dreams to raise her children, but she never stopped creating. She has always pushed me to become an artist and be successful doing something I truly enjoy. Visiting my grandmother and seeing how our approach to art was so similar gave me the final push toward pursuing an art career. As I entered school, my academics took the forefront of my life, and my time for art shrunk. Over time, I developed severe anxiety and chronic stress. I have been battling these challenges for years, with art being my escape from it all. Being an artist allows me to communicate ideas and emotions that I often couldn’t. Putting my focus on transferring the ideas from my head onto paper, sketching ideas, experimenting, and watching a piece come to life gave me a sense of peace. One of my favorite parts of creating is watching a piece go through the ugly, the good, and finally deeming it done. Beginning each project, working through the challenges and watching myself grow as an artist is the most rewarding part of the creative process. I entered trade school for Graphic Communications, where my passion for all mediums was strengthened, and I finally felt like I was on the right track toward an art career. Then I experienced one of the most difficult times in my life. I experienced sexual harassment and stalking by a former classmate, and school didn’t feel safe anymore. The school’s response left me feeling unsupported, and he faced little to no consequences. I suffered in silence for my entire senior year of high school, with art being my silent escape from it all. I found comfort in creating, and watching the colors brush across the canvas gave me hope for a new beginning in college. I graduated trade school with honors, high school in the top ten of my class, and earned 22 college credits before beginning college. I am now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design because I want to build a career that combines creativity with problem-solving, and I plan to minor in Traditional Arts and Art History to strengthen my artistic foundation. My goal in college is to take as many studio art classes as possible while completing my bachelor’s degree. I plan to improve my traditional art skills to build a solid foundation for my future in graphic design. My long-term goal is to become a Creative Director, but no matter where my career takes me, traditional studio art will always be at the heart of why I create. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to continue studying the art that has shaped my life, strengthen my skills as both a traditional artist and designer, and grow into the artist I aspire to become.

Growing up the grandchild of veterans has inspired me to work extremely hard in everything I do and see every decision I make through. My family has had multiple generations of veterans on both sides of my family and seeing the impact their experiences had on them makes me strive to work hard at every opportunity I have been lucky enough to have. Through the stories, photos, and quality time I have spent with my grandparents, I have learned that true strength in everyday life doesn’t come from just physical moments of strength but from difficult moments, determination, sacrifice and a willingness to help others. It takes these lessons into mind through my education, hobbies, and personal work. My grandparents have always provided that best life for me possible and I feel blessed to have the privilege to have them in my life. As someone pursuing a career in that arts, it has not always been easy. People constantly question if pursuing a creative career is a good idea. But my grandparents have always stuck by me, telling me that as long as I had a strong plan and the determination to see my decisions through I would be successful. They taught me that no matter what, being successful is earned through perseverance rather than taking shortcuts. Every challenge I have faced throughout my life they have provided support while still letting me face whatever challenge. Their influence can be seen through how my career has evolved. I plan to pursue a career in graphic design, where creativity and collaboration can be used to make a meaningful impact. Art can be a difficult job to be involved in, but I have been planning since my first year of high school. I know I needed a career in something creative to be happy. I researched a creative career, landed in the field of graphic design, which led me to my major. I still wanted to be involved in the traditional arts which has led to a minor in traditional arts and a major in graphic design. Having traditional art skills provides me with a step up from other designers in my field. In high school I was able to obtain 22 college credits and a degree in graphic communications for trade school to start my college career off strong. I have always planned to graduate early which planning, hard work and commitment has made possible. I have narrowed down my long term goal to be a creative director, leading teams that produce meaningful visual communication while encouraging collaboration and innovation. Being that grandchild of a veteran has given me a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by military families. I have used my design skills to create patch designs and logos of local veterans communities in my area. During my time working with veterans inside and outside my family it has taught me that service extends beyond the individual wearing the uniform and affects many generations after. Every class, opportunity and experience I have been able to experience I value deeply. Learning about the sacrifices that my grandparents, uncles and cousins have made motivates me to never take any of the opportunities I am given for granted. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue pursuing my education while reducing the financial burden of college. Most importantly, it would allow me to focus on developing skills in my field to achieve my goals and reach my future career. I will never forget my grandparents and strive everyday to make them proud in everything I do.