Senior McKenzie Rowe has recently received a merit scholarship of $76,000 to The Art Institute of Chicago. 

“It definitely [means a lot]. I wasn’t going to get to go because the tuition was so much,” Rowe said. “The scholarship will cover the entirety of my tuition and I will start to get money back at the end of each semester depending on my grades.” 

Rowe’s art teacher and mentor, Rolanda Root, has had her for the last three years. 

“I know how much McKenzie has wanted to go to the Chicago Institute of Art,” Root said. “I was very excited and proud of her.” 

For the last two years, Rowe’s goal has been to go to The Art Institute of Chicago. 

“This is a huge opportunity for her,” Root said. “When she told me about her acceptance and showed me her scholarship award I was so proud of her for setting a goal and accomplishing it.” 

According to Root, the institute is an excellent school. It has many notable alumni and is connected to one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country. 

“I’m looking forward to the diversity in terms of the people and things there is to do,” Rowe said. “It is honestly just a huge experience.”

Preparing for a move like this can be a strenuous task.

“I’m kind of all over the place,” Rowe said. “It is just a whole lot of thinking in advance in terms of what I’m going to take and need to get.”

Aside from preparing for the move, there are other steps that Rowe has taken in order to get ready for college. 

“McKenzie is currently enrolled in my 2D AP art class,” Root said. “This class is worth college credit if the student passes the end of the year exam. I hope to prepare McKenzie with taking a college level class so she is ready for the expectations in college.”

After college, there are several different paths that Rowe could take. 

“I will hopefully be an artist,” Rowe said. “A freelance artist would be nice, but if that doesn’t work out then I will probably be an art teacher.” 

According to Root, this is something that Rowe is going to love. 

“I feel honored to be her teacher and watch her skills develop,” Root said. “McKenzie 

loves art and is always working on and developing her art. She is very driven and I know that she is going to love [the institute]. I hope to view her artwork in a show and see how her work has continued to evolve and develop.”