Help Sunni Stewart stay at SVA!!

Hello! My name is Sunni. In 2019 I joined the School of Visual Arts community and since then I've struggled with being able to afford tuition and living expenses. Between family medical expenses and other big obligations, I've been the sole person paying for everything. I'm making this GoFundMe with the hope it help me finish up my last 2 years in school and complete my degree.

From the moment I could grip a pencil, I loved to draw. Any piece of paper I could get my hands on, whether it be cardboard, notebook paper, or even a couple of ill-advised school assignments, I filled every corner with my designs. This passion of mine was pushed even further when I discovered comics and manga; I learned of the vast worlds and stories one could create with their art. Together at 8 years old, with my childhood friend, we wrote and illustrated a magical girl comic titled Golden Wing. The moment we stapled the pages of our first comic together, I knew there was nothing else in the world I wanted to do more than this. It’s this love for comics that had me looking at art schools for college. So naturally when I learned about SVA, a school founded and renowned for its comics program, I had to apply, to learn to be the best cartoonist from the best. Even though I didn’t get in the first time I applied, I stayed focused on my dream and worked on bettering my art skills. I’m happy to say that after years of studying art at a local community college, when I applied to SVA again I got in!

As excited as I was with this opportunity, it was and still is not something my family is willing to help with and even if they were they aren’t able to afford it. Between my sister in school and my youngest sibling suffering from a medical condition that needs to be monitored frequently by specialized professionals, I am the sole person paying for my education and my other living expenses. Ever since starting at SVA in 2019, I’ve had to juggle between working full-time and being a student with ADHD. At one point I even worked four jobs while attending school full time. Despite all that, I've still had difficulties being able to pay my tuition and I'm often forced to take gap years to work to hopefully make enough to pay off the previous year’s school balance for me to enroll as a student again. It was suggested by a member of the Financial Aid Office to look into private loans as an alternative financial option, unfortunately after doing research I’ve discovered that I’m not eligible for them due to my credit score being so young and not having a co-signer.

The School of Visual Arts is an institution that's dedicated to preparing the future leaders of the art industry. This commitment goes beyond cultivating students' art abilities but also focuses on them being well-rounded human beings. Since joining SVA, I've been highly engaged in all this school has to offer and its community. During my first year here, I along with other students founded the Multicultural Club as a way to advocate and improve the lives of students of color on campus. From there I’ve held roles of officer, president, and opportunities coordinator for Cartoon Allies, the foremost club of comics majors; with this group, I co-curated our end-of-year comics and illustration in-school convention. I'm a member of the Black Student Union. Through these experiences, I've learned what it means to be a leader; to empathize with others, to compromise with those you may not always agree with, and to listen to others' perspectives to gain new insights that help tackle issues with everyone's best interests in mind. I've also learned that when I put my mind to it I can achieve incredible feats. Still, I know I can be a better student if I am not burdened by the overwhelming weight of financial obligation. This is the reason I am writing to you today, to ask for additional aid for school and housing.

I have always wanted to be a cartoonist and I will persist with everything in my power to make my dream a reality. I just need the help to get there. I would like to thank you for your time and consideration. However, no matter what decision is made, I will continue working hard to learn all that I can from SVA. Thank you again and I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.

Have a Great Day,

Sunni Stewart