Scholarship for Anna-Grace Owens

#GFMscholarship

Hello friends and family! 

Some of you may know that I have returned to my birthplace, Cape Town, for the first time in 20 years! Having left as a baby, I knew nothing of Cape Town except from stories here and there from my parents. Since returning, I have become a part of the community that was once my parent's community. The same people that they knew and loved, I now know and love, as if my own family. 

After such a warm welcome upon my (initial two month) visit, I decided to stay here. I wanted to have the experience of living here and really immersing into the many cultures of South Africa. In order to do so, I made the decision to continue studying, which would further my education in the arts and lead me to an exciting career in design. I found a school called the Cape Town Creative Academy (ctca.co.za) and applied to do a second B.A. in Interaction Design. I am now designing apps and learning to code, as well as learning about online marketing, through the use of SEOs, geocodes, and coding with HTML. This is all very exciting, especially in this digital era we live in. 

Upon staying here, I actually managed the marketing for the guest house that my parents founded, St. Paul's Guest House, for the Anglican church of St. Paul's (where my dad preached for a decade). I also resided in the guest house for about six months, which was an incredible, full circle experience. This work experience also influenced my decision to pursue an education in digital marketing.

I have almost completed my first year and I have learned SO MUCH. From designing apps to logos to full websites, I feel so inspired day to day. I have learned countless technical skills in editting, illustration, drawing, coding, and design. I have been taught over five Adobe programs and will continue to learn more. The education, to say the least, has surpassed my expectations. 


Since I am an international student, (sadly, I do not have citizenship, although it is my birthplace), I do not qualify for financial aid whatsoever at this university. The school that I am attending is challenging,  academically rigourous, and pushing me to be an incredible asset to the design and marketing world. It is truly preparing me to remain creative yet pursue the business world. It would mean so much to me to be able to complete this degree. 

I am seeking any amount of donation from friends and family to help me pay for the school fees. Having graduated from Eckerd College in May, I am treating this as a post graduate education. I want to be able to pay for the tuition myself and relieve my parents of the financial burden.  The total tuition for the year is $7,000 US dollars. (It has increased for 2017 and the dollar is weaker + there is an international fee + registration fee). The funds donated will be used immediately towards these numbers. My school year started in Febraury and will go until November. Therefore any dontion would immediatly go towards the next installment of my tuition fees.

I would be so thankful for any small donation. Even $5 goes a LONG way because it about 75 Rand with the current exchange rate. 

Thank you so much for reading this. If anyone wants to know more, please email me at [email redacted] and we can even set up a video chat if you would like to interview me or know more about my grades, etc. After the first term, I have received distinctions and would be glad to facilitate more of that knowledge for potential donors. 

Again, thank you for contributing. It will allow me to continue this incredible experience that is truly shaping me into a better person.