2025 HSAD Scholarship Award Show

Congrats to the talented young artist, Shane Mancuso, from High School of Art and Design! He is the latest recipient of our HSAD Scholarship which grants $10,000 annually up to 4 years for any college in the United States.

Here is what Shane had to say about receiving the scholarship:

“Life has a remarkable way of building connections between people, especially through art, one of the most powerful forms of expression. Whether it’s a digital image on a screen or the subtle stroke of a brush on canvas, art carries emotion. You can feel the passion, the vulnerability, the story behind each piece, and through that you connect not just to the work, but to the artist behind it.

As an artist, my goal has always been to express those emotions honestly, and to create a space for others to find and express their own. I believe our industry needs more compassionate, thoughtful, and empathetic voices, artists who can tell stories that reflect those values and who understand that art doesn’t just speak; it listens.

In times of political and social division, kindness and empathy are among our most powerful tools not just as artists, but as people. So, this is both a reminder to myself and a piece of advice for any artist walking their path: keep creating. Keep telling your stories and drawing your characters. But above all, keep compassion at the heart of what you do. Let your work invite others in. Let it reflect your truth, while giving others the space to find theirs. In the end, it’s not just about the art we create, but the humanity we share through it. Let art be the bridge. Let it connect us; through kindness.”

Shane will be attending Otis College of Art & Design this fall. We can’t wait to see what he creates!