Soon-to-be Ozarks Tech graduate Ella Peters created a strong creative future for herself by perfecting the art of the transfer.
After building a solid academic foundation at Ozarks Tech, Peters is transferring to the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to pursue Illustration – Visual Development. Her goal is to design characters, props and immersive worlds for animated media.
Peters earned a competitive transfer scholarship to SCAD, which required a faculty or counselor nomination and an exceptional portfolio. The achievement represents the culmination of years of work that began when she was a child artist inspired by the Narnia movies. Although she always knew she wanted a future in art, she felt pressure to pursue a more traditional career path.
“I was trying to fit myself into a box,” Peters said. “Once I discovered there were many options for artists, my future seemed a lot brighter.”
She found that balance at Ozarks Tech, taking advantage of the Missouri A+ Program—“too good a deal to pass up,” Peters said—which covers tuition and fees for two years at a community college or vocational school.
“Ella is a very talented artist and excellent student,” said Fine Arts and Humanities instructor Meganne Rosen. “Not only is Ella talented and creative, but she also works hard for what she wants.” Rosen helped Peters put the finishing touches on her portfolio and wrote a recommendation letter for her SCAD application.
In May, Peters will graduate with honors with an associate degree in Accounting and Business Management. The degree gives her a backup career and the freedom to fully pursue her passion for art. Starting at Ozarks Tech also allowed her to work while attending school and build savings, enabling her to focus fully on student life at SCAD.
Her transfer strategy paid off in multiple ways. Because SCAD is a partner school of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Peters’ membership automatically qualified her for a renewable scholarship.
“Anything is possible if you are willing to do the work,” she said. “I have traded countless hours for this opportunity, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.”