2025/26 Merit Scholarship Recipient: Faith Miller

How/why did you choose your major?

I was originally a comics major because I wanted to tell stories with my art. Once I realized it wasn't my thing and that I had a much greater interest in the animation industry, I made a 180 degree switch. I still get to tell my stories!

Describe the work you submitted for merits.

The main thing I submitted was my character design final for a hypothetical 2D animated short film Shrub. It follows the journey of Alie the Alien who escapes from her own environmentally destroyed planet to come to Earth. Once she discovers that Earth is also dying because of fuel overconsumption, Alie teams up with a young earthling with a green thumb named Shrub to save planet Earth.

My other two works are an animation of my personal logo made in ToonBoom Harmony for the 2D Digital Animation class, and a background layout for an assignment where we were told to "create the bedroom of your childhood bully".

Why did you decide to come to MCAD?

I grew up Mormon, so most of my life I had been dead set on going to Brigham Young University, especially since they have a decent animation program. Since accepting myself as bisexual and leaving the church, I didn't want to put myself in a school that discouraged exploring my identity. I am appreciative of MCAD being an affordable art school alternative to BYU, and for being a place where I could safely be myself!

What are your plans for your senior year? And beyond?

I will be working on a 2D animated short film my senior year, as well as helping other students with background work! I have a couple of ideas that could work for my short film, and it's just a matter of storyboarding them over the summer to see which ideas work and which don't. Beyond school, I would LOVE to have a career in visual development for feature animated films. I especially have an interest in environment visual development and background layout. I also have an interest in art directing and storyboarding. Pre-production is my thing!

Favorite thing about college life (so far)?

My favorite thing about college life is meeting new people. I generally consider myself a shy person, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy getting to know people and their interests! There are so many cool people at MCAD. There's not a day that goes by that I am not in sheer awe of the talent in our small community!

What inspires you?

It's so hard to pinpoint all of my influences because there are so many, but I'll try to list as many as I can: Studio Ghibli, The Last of Us, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Paranorman, Lord of the Rings, Pixar (specifically Ratatouille and WallE), How to Train Your Dragon, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Bridge to Terabithia, and the color green (to name a few).

Do you have a favorite piece you've made? Describe it!

I'm constantly making my newest favorite piece. Right now, I'm working on a grand environment design for a video game level concept. The idea behind the design is that there are floating islands with temple ruins being tethered to the planet by vines. It's part of a larger project I'm working on with my friends for a video game with sun-worshipping plants.

Anything you're obsessed with at the moment?

Severance! The idea of splitting your work self from your personal self is such a fresh concept. I HIGHLY recommend watching it.

Lastly, do you have a favorite question we didn't ask? Tell us and answer it!

What major would you have chosen if you couldn't be in art school?
I definitely would have been either an english major or a music performance major. I was always torn between writing, drawing, and playing violin/percussion in high school.

What's the best thing you've found on the Free Shelf?

Someone left a hand-made leather book bag from 1989 on the free shelf, so of course I snatched it up!