Select Page

Associated Bank commits to multi-year sponsorship of MIAD Pre-College program

Summer PreCollege

Students in a MIAD Pre-College photography class

Associated Bank is now the presenting sponsor of MIAD’s popular Pre-College program for high school students. Associated Bank has committed to a multi-year agreement that will support the program and provide scholarships for low-income youth to attend Pre-College.

“Associated Bank is proud to fund MIAD’s Pre-College program to ensure that students in underserved communities are able to pursue their art and design dreams,” said John Utz, Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking and Milwaukee Market President, Associated Bank. “Throughout our 160-year history, Associated Bank has been proud to play an active role in helping our communities grow and prosper.”

This summer, MIAD’s two-week Core Studio Concepts runs July 12 – 23 and the three-week Advanced Studio Concepts takes place July 12 – 30. The majority of classes are being conducted in person with select classes delivered online for a limited number of students.

Altogether, the sessions bring more than 150 high school students to the MIAD campus in Milwaukee’s Third Ward.

“The Pre-College program is important because it can change the trajectory of students’ lives by opening them up to a world of opportunity in the fields of art and design,” said MIAD President Jeff Morin. “Many of the students are able to attend the Pre-College program thanks to scholarship assistance provided by Associated Bank.”

For more than 25 years, MIAD’s Pre-College program has been helping students make the transition from high school to college. The rigorous program provides college-level instruction, exhibition opportunities, development of a portfolio for use in applying to colleges and exposure to career pathways in art and design. Courses cover topics such as animation, graphic design, communication design, fashion branding, illustration, photography, screen printing and more.

Learn more about the MIAD Pre-College program.

News

La Mère Brazier: Phoebe Nelson Senior Exhibition 2025

Phoebe Nelson ’25 (Illustration) came to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) to study children’s book illustration. Now at the end of her senior year, she is writing and illustrating a children’s book about Eugénie Brazier, the first person to get six Michelin stars, for her Senior Exhibition project.

MIAD Independent Inquiry Program launches with three student grants

Galilea Cerdea ’26, Tina Voith ’26 and Madi Weglarz ’25 are the first three Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students selected to receive Independent Inquiry Program stipends to investigate new technologies and their applicability to art and design education. As first-time applicants, each receives a stipend of $1,200 for a six-week Mini Inquiry this summer.

Grilled Cheese grants propel MIAD seniors

Funds from the annual Grilled Cheese Grant helped Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) awardees Siren Harris, Yo Yo collective and Madi Weglarz complete their 2025 Senior Exhibition projects and future work. All the MIAD awardees are Fine Art + New Studio Practice seniors.

Sebastian Penn: Senior Exhibition 2025

Sebastian Penn ’25 (Animation Track in Illustration), “From Home to Legacy: Black and Queer Bars in Milwaukee.” Sebastian is a President’s (Honor) List student from Holman, Wis.

McKenna Martin: Senior Exhibition 2025

McKenna Martin ’25 (Product Design), “Hyacinth.” McKenna received first place for her design for the 2023 Delta design project/competition at MIAD, is on the Dean’s List and is from Fond du Lac, Wis.