The Z SUPPLY Foundation Scholarships 2023
We’re committed to giving back to the community on a local and national level. We do this by creating educational initiatives dedicated to students pursuing degrees in the arts in support of the next generation of creatives.
Since 2021, the Z SUPPLY Foundation has raised $600,000. A majority of the funds have been allocated towards our Education Fund which is dedicated to scholarship funding and other education-based programs.
To date, we have created 35 scholarships for students pursuing degrees in fashion, art and marketing. For the past two years, we have partnered with creative, art, and design schools, including California State University, Long Beach - College of Arts, Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, and California College of Arts in San Francisco. Funds from this year’s donations will be allocated to these previously created scholarship programs as well as three new colleges in the upcoming academic year: Parsons School of Design in New York, Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, and Kansas City Art Institute.
This Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday, we will continue our support by donating 100% of our sales to the Z SUPPLY Foundation with the goal of raising $300,000 this year. Together, we can make a positive impact on the future generation of creatives.
Recently, we met with several of our scholarship recipients and spoke to them about art, creativity, career goals, and giving back, and we truly felt the impact of our efforts.
Mitra Katsuyoshi
Graphic Design at CSULB
Introduce yourself.
Hi! My name is Mitra Katsuyoshi, I’m originally from Rocklin, California and I’m an artist studying graphic design in the BFA program here at Long Beach State!
One word to describe how art makes you feel.
Art is vulnerability to me. It’s really about being honest with your work and expressing yourself to your audience and allowing people to relate and resonate with the work.
What do you want people to take away from your art?
It depends on the work. In my graphic design work, I want people to see my work and let it remind them to enjoy life and all the joy that we find in small things. In my fine artwork, especially when I draw portraits, I want people to see parts of themselves in my work and understand that they’re not alone in the way they feel and that it’s okay to openly express things to others.
What are your thoughts on how art and community play a role together?
I feel like art and community intertwines a lot because the things you create and the artistic paths you follow lead you to find new communities. In the times of my life when I’ve felt alone, art has always re-connected me back to people or places I love and it has this amazing ability to create connections between people whether they’re artists or not.
How do you feel your education will help you in the future?
I feel like my education here in the BFA graphic design program will help my future because the work I produce here will set me apart from others in the professional world. Because of the intensely creative nature of the program, I’ve learned so much not only from my professors but my fellow cohort members and it’s really pushing me to become the best designer and artist I can be.
How has the Z SUPPLY Foundation scholarship helped you?
Because I have to stay an extra semester for my BFA program, the Z SUPPLY scholarship has helped me and my family greatly to pay for that extra semester so that now I can focus more time and dedication on my art practice. It’s allowed me more freedom to continue developing my art & design skills & I’m so grateful for that.
Ashley Robles-Rasgado
Fashion Design at CCA
Introduce yourself.
My name is Ashley Robles-Rasgado and I come from hard-working, loving parents who came here to give me a wonderful life and help me pursue my aspirations.
One word to describe how art makes you feel.
Art is everything, from the posters on the wall to tall skyscrapers, it all started with art, with an idea. The colors we awe at and the styles we want to emulate, it all comes from a place of thoughts and emotions shaped by those around us.
Art is inspirational and makes me want to create an escape into wonder and freedom in a world of expectations and norms. During rough periods of my life, I turned to art as a form of expression and found my voice. I want to continue to do this for the rest of my life!
What are your thoughts on how art and community play a role together?
Community shapes art in many ways, the experiences of people culminate into different mediums and the expressions that we see all around us, every day.
How do you feel your education will help you in the future?
My education will not only help my future stability but will be an outlet for the ideas and creativity I have within me to share with the world. I want to inspire and motivate others the way that art motivated me to keep going even through the worst of times.
How has the Z SUPPLY Foundation scholarship helped you?
The Z SUPPLY Foundation scholarship has helped me relieve the financial stress on my parents' shoulders and enables me to be worry-free when exploring different skills and expanding my knowledge.
Ghazaleh Khalifeh
Assistant Professor of Fashion Design at CCA
Introduce yourself.
My name is Ghazaleh Khalifeh. As a multi-disciplinary designer and maker specializing in textiles, knitwear, and garment design, I also have the privilege of being a design professor which has been the best thing to happen in my career. I love working with our students, and as their mentor my passion is guiding them towards self-empowerment and helping them unlock their authentic creativity, encouraging them to explore their true selves in their designs, while also discovering the immense power and potential of creative expression.
One word to describe how art makes you feel.
Art is transformative. It has the power to evoke emotions, connect us with others, and transport us to new worlds, all while challenging us to think and explore beyond what we know.
What effects do you think art has on the students beyond a career?
Beyond career opportunities, I believe that art has a profound effect on students by encouraging self-expression, promoting critical thinking, and building empathy. It also gives them a much-needed space and can provide a community, to reflect and heal during times of stress and uncertainty.
Describe a world without art.
In a world without art, we would be devoid of vital lifelines and miss out on a whole lot of emotional and intellectual richness that comes from engaging with creativity, self-expression, and the ability to visualize the world in new and imaginative ways.
Talk us through some of the positive impacts of the Z SUPPLY Foundation Scholarship.
The Z SUPPLY Foundation Scholarship has a tremendous positive impact on students by cultivating community, encouraging collaboration and creativity, and providing them with financial resources to pursue their dreams. Scholarships like this provide newfound confidence in their abilities and enable a new generation of creatives to take risks and push boundaries in the direction of their goals.
Does art impact community?
Definitely! Through art, individuals can collaborate and create works that reflect shared experiences, values, and aspirations, bringing people together in meaningful ways. Art has the ability to spark conversations, celebrate diversity, and positively impact communities in countless ways while it connects people, inspires empathy and compassion, and fosters a sense of community which is needed now more than ever.
Vibhu Venkatesh
Illustration & Creative Writing at Otis College of Art and Design
Introduce yourself.
My name is Vibhu Venkatesh! I am a senior at Otis College of Art and Design, majoring in Illustration and minoring in Creative Writing. I create artwork that is fox-filled and cartoonishly whimsical, but I also draw from issues of urban ecology, climate change, mental wellness, and social justice.
One word to describe how art makes you feel.
Art is rejuvenating.
What do you want people to take away from your art?
I want people who come across my art to know that their curiosities and passions are something to hold onto and celebrate, even in the bustle and exhaustion of a rapidly changing future. For me, that passion is foxes and their global variants, behaviors, and ecological roles. I have been interested in foxes since childhood, and my continued interest in them keeps me engaged with the world around me. I hope others see my work and feel inspired to explore their curiosities.
What are your thoughts on how art and community play a role together?
Art is most meaningful when the local community perceives it because it brings strangers together as they experience the work. As someone who creates and views art in public spaces, I have engaged in wonderful conversations with aquarium staff, mallgoers, zoo attendees, hikers, students, museum guides, children, older folks, and many other fantastic people. I think it is easy to go through each day feeling as though we haven't done anything substantial to change the world around you, but when members of the community talk to me about art, I will be gleefully thinking about those interactions for days to come! I feel energized when I am actively involved with people, even if just in passing.
How do you feel your education will help you in the future?
My education here at Otis is helping me develop my portfolio, connect with various students and faculty, and prepare for industry practices in my future jobs. It also gives me ideas about art curriculum and how to teach it to students, as I plan to become a teacher for students pursuing college education and careers in art and design.
How has the Z SUPPLY Foundation scholarship helped you?
The Z SUPPLY Foundation's generous scholarship is not only helpful in paying my tuition at Otis but also makes me feel honored and appreciated while I create work that is authentic and meaningful to me. I know many students want to attend art school but may be unable to pay the expensive tuition. As I come in contact with both peers and future academic students, I want to tell them about Z SUPPLY and other foundations that are offering scholarships to make their educational aspirations affordable.
Michele Jaquis
Acting Chair of Graphic Design & Illustration, Professor and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Minor Area Head of Art & Design Education at Otis College of Art and Design
Introduce yourself.
My name is Michele Jaquis. I am an artist working at the intersections of conceptual art, documentary, and social practice across a range of media. I am also a professor and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at Otis College of Art and Design. And for this academic year, I am the Acting Chair of Graphic Design and Illustration.
One word to describe how art makes you feel.
“Art is a guarantee of sanity.” - Louise Bourgeois
What effects do you think art has on the students beyond a career?
Art can give students a productive way of expressing themselves. An interdisciplinary art and design education can empower students to develop creative ways to solve today’s global issues.
Describe a world without art.
A world without art would be quiet, empty, and boring. We need art to make sense of the world around us. And sometimes to escape it. We need design to help make the world better.
Talk us through some of the positive impacts of the Z SUPPLY Foundation.
The scholarships art and design students receive from the Z SUPPLY Foundation can be life-changing. It can make the difference between someone completing their degree or not. Financial support of this kind can eliminate the stress of worrying about how to afford the costs of tuition, rent, art supplies, and food, allowing students to have more cognitive space and time to focus on their school work, to be creative and innovative, to play and experiment, to take risks. Things that are so much harder to do when you are worried about money and bills.
Does art impact community?
Yes of course. Artists and designers can get us to think about important issues from a different perspective than one’s own. They can design a more accessible and more sustainable world. They can advocate for positive changes in society. They can facilitate communities sharing their own stories and amplify those stories to larger audiences.
We appreciate our scholarship recipients for taking the time to speak with us and look forward to seeing where their careers take them. 100% of sales today will be donated to the Z SUPPLY Foundation. Create opportunities for future artists by shopping new arrivals and helping us raise $300,000.
Learn more about the Z SUPPLY Foundation.