2026/27 Merit Scholarship Recipient: Jade Maeng

Why did you decide to come to MCAD?

I've chosen to come to MCAD because the institution has given me one of the best scholarships out of all the art colleges I applied to. Plus, I was a bit familiar with Minnesota!

How/why did you choose your area of study?

I chose photography as my field of study because I fell in love with it during high school. Now going to Minneapolis College of Art and Design and learning more about its historical and cultural context, I fell in love with it even more. Education on photography has changed the way I have created photographs and showcased them to my audience.

Describe the work you submitted for merits.

I've submitted work that I have made in my classes here at MCAD. There's one black and white photograph that I created in my advanced studio and set class, where the softbox is on top of the subject, and she is posing behind a chair, creating these smooth depths of shadows and tone on her figure.

Favorite thing about college life (so far)?

Being able to meet my friends here. As an out-of-state student from Alaska, I was expecting to have some difficulty making friends and finding my community. However, I was surprised by how kind the community here at MCAD is, so it wasn't hard to make a friend or two:) I also love the photography professors here. They work really hard and are invested in your education and learning. They are definitely one of the best mentors I've ever had in my life.

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

I'm not sure yet if I'm being honest. I would love to photograph for a professional sports team, be a gaffer for a small film production, or continue to photograph creative shoots! I love to work with lighting in my work since it's complicated but rewarding in the end! I would also love to do creative product shoots as well! I'm pretty versatile!

What inspires your creative self?

I love music! I've been jamming to the artists PinkPantheress and Malcolm Todd recently. I also love watching a bunch of media, like anime, manga, or adult animated shows!

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

I don't go to the Free Shelf frequently but, I remember my two friends and I found this page out of a torn picture book that said, "Happy Birthday." with a picture of a bear on it and we were planning for our friend's birthday party that day and he also love bears so it was like perfect that we found it at the right time.

Jade Maeng, Blue