WCAAD Student Sophia Zhu Will Be Attending SVA in New York for Illustration

​Congratulations to our student Sophia Zhu for earning acceptance to her dream college: SVA-School of Visual Arts, majoring in Illustration.

​Additional College admitted include:
 
Otis College of Art and Design- Presidential Scholarship$60,000 Institutional Scholarship $15,000
Art Center College of Design
Pratt- scholarship $80,000
CCA- scholarship Creative Achievement Award $88,000
UCR
Cal State University, Los Angeles

​In under a year, I have known and worked closely with Sophia as her mentor and art instructor, and I have witnessed her progression into a firm and strong candidate for any school. 

​Her immense growth in our academy was impressive. In a very fast time she built skills, understanding and application in her artworks of societal issues. 

Notable is Sophia’s visions, imagination, and evolution. I have witnessed her work getting stronger technically but also her scale in her art works. ​

​She wants to speak about her role as an artist and responsibility to engage viewers on topics that she cares about. Some of the range in subject matter include global warming, vaccines, gender and woman’s rights, equality, wealth and power, greed, our addiction to devices and social media, mental well health etc. Her confidence and loss of inhibition are due to the culture she helped build here. 

​Sophia won the Senate Award at the 2022 Health Fair Art Contest.

​She has observed into her artwork the advice and consideration of her instructors and peers. Towards the end I saw her ever more independent and was able to make wise decisions that produced a quality portfolio. 

Sophia has been a stellar student with her enthusiasm and resilience to carry all projects to quality level. She is a great motivator and I count on her to set an example for others. Sophia is a natural leader and is always first to delve into her assignments evidence outside the class is in her private endeavors. 

She has balanced her priorities and at the same time can make time to give back to her community.  She has participated in several activates outside school including at our school where she is one of the first to volunteer whenever staff or her peers need help. 

​We are also thankful to her mother Hannah, as she was also always there to lend out her time for students or parents.

​(By Omar Gallegos, WCAAD Vice Principal and Director of Education)