Art scholarship recipient Amber Walkowiak In an annual show of support for community college students pursuing visual arts degrees, the Arizona Watercolor Association awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Mesa Community College students Cassandra Scott, Amber Walkowiak and Diana Jacobson. All three awardees are enrolled in MCC art instructor Cynthia Peterson’s watercolor painting class.

This is the sixth year the association has awarded the scholarships to three Maricopa Community College students under the age of 30, based on artistic merit, community college achievement and art techniques. Two internationally-known artists judged the entries. A donation from Chicago artist Del Decil funds the scholarships. Next year the scholarships will include one for an artist of any age.

“We are so happy to provide this assistance toward their education,” said Dolly Maitzen of the Arizona Watercolor Association. “The purpose is to encourage students to continue their education and enhance their skills.”

Recipient Walkowiak said the scholarship will be very useful when she transfers to the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design next year.

“This is the first scholarship I’ve ever won and it’s really going to help me grow as an artist,” said Walkowiak, who enjoys comic-style painting and drawing.

Instructor Peterson said the scholarships are a great opportunity for her students. Peterson, who has taught at MCC for 20 years, holds an MFA from Arizona State University and is on the Board of Directors for Watercolor USA Honor Society. Her own participation in national art competitions provides helpful, real-world experience to MCC students.

“These scholarships encourage our students to continue their education and buy good quality art supplies,” Peterson said.  “The association is really impressed by our thorough approach to watercolor painting.”

In addition to the scholarships, the students’ work will be on display in the Phoenix Art Museum’s administration building during the month of April.

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Media Contacts
Dawn Zimmer, 480-461-7892, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu
Sally Mesarosh, 602-618-5730, sally.mesarosh@mesacc.edu 

About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. MCC excels in teaching, learning and empowering its more than 40,000 students who attend annually to succeed in a local and global community.  Mesa Community College is one of ten colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. For additional information please visit mesacc.edu.

About Mesa Community College’s Art Program
Learning to create effective art and design can be challenging in a variety of different ways. The fully accredited MCC Art Department has highly qualified professors who understand these challenges and inspires students to reach their greatest creative potential and sharpen their artistic skill set. Whether a student is seeking a degree, planning to transfer to a university, or taking classes for personal or professional enrichment, the Art Department can help students reach their goals. MCC features degree tracks, certificates, and courses in drawing, painting, ceramics, design, art history, computer graphics, and photography. For more information, visit https://www.mesacc.edu/departments/art.