WCAAD Student Ashley McGinn Admitted to Art Center

​Animation major Ashley McGinn will attend Art Center College of Design in the Fall 2023 with a Scholarship of $56,000!

​Additional College Admitted:
LCAD -Laguna College of Art and Design-scholarship $56,000
Woodbury University - scholarship $80,000
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Fullerton

---

​Ashley is a dedicated student who has been at the West California Academy of Art and Design for more than 10 years. Her journey began here at 4, creating work that demonstrates natural talent, refinement, and creativity. 

---

​Her development in the Academy has been crucial in visualization and execution of form in her work that she submitted to competitions, even now in her final year here. Ashely has demonstrated an increase production of sophisticated works and is considered a great talent among her peers. Students rely on her as an example. They know that the work that is turned in will set the bar for the animation group.

​Her evolution is evident in her paintings, life drawing and digital skills. Ashley is an amazing talent and I see her wanting to improve and not solely rely on her talents. She is committed to make an impression professionally as she can create a unique world with a one-of-a-kind vision. 

​She has showcased her work, volunteered in her school events, and won various competitions. Recently she won a Senate Award from the 13th Annual Fitness Day and Health Fair just this year. 

Every project for her reflects her sensibility and great sense of humor.  She shows care, discipline, and experimentation and I feel she really enjoys every step leading to her final animations. Her use of color, style and a gestural mark have taken her to new avenues of growth and exploration of materials. In life drawing class, she has taken great leaps in trying different techniques and investigating line quality and mark making, while at the same time producing accurate figural studies. I can say that she found a budding personal style that her future years will be developed through her continuing education.
 
I see her also taking initiative in not relying on the others but researching and getting familiar with the history of her career-animation. Though she is shy and introvert, her sense of humor comes out in the works it is great to talk to her about. 

​Her thought process and sketchbook are also a window into her responsiveness as a visual diary and I enjoy getting to know her through her art practice. Ashley is ready to be in an environment where she can thrive.

 
“Been a student at this school for about 13 years and during then I've learned a lot as a growing artist from Ms Noriko, Roman, and Omar. Starting out I only really drew in a cartoonish style and hardly ever strayed from it or attempted any sort of realism because I thought it was boring. Now, I still think the same thing actually but not knowing the foundations of art wouldn't get me far if I wanted to pursue art as a career so I was put into Omar's class 2-3 years ago and I've experienced many firsts. Like my first time doing a still life painting or my first time trying to correctly draw a person from observation. It was then that I realized that realism wasn't as boring as I thought. So I have to thank Ms Wang and the teachers here for creating an environment where I could become the person I want to be.”—Ashley McGinn
 
Outside activities include volunteering at the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage. She was able to designa page for an Autistic Art Book. The many competitions include Toyota Dream Car Art Contest (2016)-National Silver Award. The 99 Ranch Market Mother’s Day Children Drawing Contest (2012), the Outstanding Prize-EDI Newsweek Children’s Drawing Contest (2015)-3rd Place. L.A. WEB Children’s Drawing Contest (2012)3-rd Place. The 1st Youth World Cup Life Painting Competition (2012)-3rd Place. County of Los Angeles Public Library 36th Annual Bookmark Contest (2016)-Winner (5th Grade) etc.

Lastly, she has dedicated her time in violin for one year and piano for three years. She interned for tax returns and participated in speech debate contests. Ashley was even a kindergarten instructor during summer, and lastly, IVT dance performance.
 
Ashley has been a stellar student and we are amazed by her realization of her dream.
 
 (By Omar Gallegos, Vice Principal and Director of Education of West California Academy of Art and Design)