Campus bustled with energy this July as Pratt’s annual PreCollege Summer program welcomed a new cohort of talented high school students to its Brooklyn campus for a unique creative experience. For four weeks, accepted students leveled up their knowledge of fine art, animation, design, and more, leaving the program with expanded portfolios of work. Taught by Pratt’s world-class faculty, students took courses with peers from down the block and around the world, making new friends and learning from one another along the way.
Each year, The Black Alumni of Pratt (BAP) provides a number of full-ride scholarships for Black and Latinx students based in New York State to attend Pratt’s PreCollege program. Many scholarship recipients have gone on to attend Pratt or other art and design colleges. This year, BAP Scholarships were awarded to Devon Antwi, Sienna Perez, and Simone Davis Vasquez, who were selected based on the strength of their creative portfolios. All PreCollege students enroll in two classes of their choice; Antwi and Perez both chose 2D Animation and Foundation, while Vasquez took Painting and Drawing and Sculpture.
Artistic and Professional Training
Pratt’s PreCollege program prepares high school students ages 15-18 for the possibilities and rigor of higher education. Perez and Vasquez both joined the program because they wanted to get a sense of what college would be like, while pursuing their passion for art. Students also learn about the practicalities of careers in their chosen fields, such as the types of professional opportunities available in the animation industry today.
In her courses, Perez learned everything from the basics of shape and color to the twelve principals of animation. She practiced incorporating new techniques and skills into her personal style, culminating in a 30-second short film, made on ToonBoom, the same program used by professional animators. “Throughout the program I was able to learn more about the college experience, grow my independence and take art classes,” said Perez.
For Vasquez, art allows people to “see the inside of my brain in a way I can’t always show them with words.” With illustration, she has found that with the right technical skills, she can make anything seem real. “It’s very engaging to be able to build entire worlds on paper and invite people to step inside them,” she said. At Pratt, Vasquez practiced critical skills like giving and receiving creative feedback and working with people with different perspectives and processes.
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![A detailed charcoal drawing of a human head in profile, showcasing intricate textures and shadows. The figure has a strong jawline and a prominent nose, with hair styled high and slightly messy. The light source creates highlights and deep shadows, enhancing the three-dimensional quality of the artwork against a plain background.]()
Artwork by BAP Scholar Simone Davis Vasquez -
![A hand holds a stylized blue mask with closed eyes and an open mouth. The mask features a red splatter design at the center, with two colored circles—yellow on the left and pink on the right—on the cheeks. The nose is deep brown, contrasting with the mask's bright colors, and there appears to be a black interior visible through the mouth. The background consists of a staircase railing.]()
Artwork by BAP Scholar Simone Davis Vasquez
Building Community
Having first began animating during the pandemic, Antwi came to Pratt in search of an artistic community. He applied to the PreCollege program in hope of finding like-minded peers who shared his interest in art and animation.
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![A simple line drawing of a cartoon character with wide eyes and a shocked expression. The character has spiky hair and is wearing a t-shirt and shorts. They are sitting on the ground, holding a smaller object or toy, with small energy-like lines emanating from their hands, suggesting they are interacting with it. The background is plain white.]()
Animation still by BAP Scholar Devon Antwi before the PreCollege program -
![A frustrated animated character with dark hair stands in a desert landscape. They wear an orange jacket and blue undershirt, and are adjusting their clothing. The background consists of earth tones with a stylized sunset and cacti silhouette.]()
Animation still by BAP Scholar Devon Antwi after the PreCollege program
Perez also found community at Pratt. “The PreCollege program helped me immerse myself in an environment of other creatives with the same passions as mine,” she said. “During my program I was able to get to know the other students I shared a scholarship with, and get a sense of the community that BAP forms with Pratt students,” said Perez.
Vasquez echoed this gratitude for BAP. “It means a lot to know there’s a community of people who came before me that not only succeeded but are reaching back to help others move forward. That kind of support feels grounding, like I’m part of a community of like-minded people with similar goals. It motivates me to live up to their excellence and to carry their legacy forward in my own way.”
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![A shaded black-and-white illustration of a small, cozy bedroom. A bed is in the foreground, partially covered with blankets, and a person is sleeping. The walls are adorned with various drawings and notes, while a small fridge and microwave are on the floor beside a desk with some items on it. There are bags hanging on the wall, contributing to the lived-in feeling of the space.]()
Illustration by BAP Scholar Sienna Perez -
![A comic strip illustrates a subway station scene. The top panel shows a clock, people waiting, and a sign for the Pelham Bay train. The second panel depicts a subway train arriving, with passengers, including a child holding hands with an adult. The third panel features a girl reaching out to the train window, looking back as others walk away. The final panel shows her walking alone, with a sign indicating the next Pelham Bay train arrival at 10:15.]()
Illustration by BAP Scholar Sienna Perez
A City of Ideas
Over the course of the program, students explored the city’s vast cultural resources and gained inspiration for their own artwork; they visited museums including the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the International Center of Photography with their classes and on their own. (A Pratt ID unlocks free access to many museums across the city.)
For Vasquez, a field trip to Recess Art made an impact. “I got to see a range of work that was very focused on social inequities and societal change.” There, she experienced how media and symbolism can be used to talk about issues like injustice in the prison system or the influence of technology.
Perez also found these trips eye-opening: “Going to museums helped me gain inspiration for my works, and learn different techniques past artists used,” she said.
PreCollege is where high school artists, designers and innovative thinkers develop their skills and creative voice, and create work for their college admission portfolio. Learn more about The Black Alumni of Pratt, the Pratt PreCollege program, and Pratt Undergraduate Admissions.