MIAD seniors receive 2026 Alumni Senior Thesis Awards

Thanks to the incredible generosity of alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the college, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will award a record $7,150 to an unprecedented 51 seniors in direct support of fabricating their senior exhibition capstone projects. Through the application process, students submit plans, images and sketches of their final projects, as well as detailed budgets for needed materials. Winners were selected by a panel of 56 MIAD alumni with experience in fine art and design career fields.

In MIAD’s 2026 Senior Exhibition running April 17 – May 9, talented seniors boldly challenge societal expectations while finding awe amid our rapidly changing world. The showcase celebrates these workforce-ready creative professionals across all of MIAD’s Bachelor of Fine Arts majors, programs and minors. Explore our galleries and meet the inspiring Class of 2026. Graduating students will be present on Friday, April 17, 5 – 9 p.m. to discuss their projects in person. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more at miad.edu/seniorexhibition.

The 2026 MIAD Alumni Senior Thesis Award recipients (in alphabetical order) and the working titles of their works are:

Anna Barr (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Domestic Autonomy
Calen Benson (Illustration), Eggistry: The chemical reactions of the egg
Greta Berens (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Large Scale Absurd Self Portrait
Mac Bronnson (Communication Design), MENd: No bro left behind
Ellie Burns (Communication Design), Tether – Making Art. Making Connections.
Makenzie Cincotta (Interior Architecture and Design), Point Park
Kas Cook (Illustration with Animation Track), Mcallaster’s Special
Paige Cosico (Illustration), 2027 Calendar: Inspired by the Philippines
Vee Devendorf (Communication Design), Kovo: Their Little Everyday Toolbox
Katharine Dunn (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Alter to Self as Home
Eeshaan Dutt (Illustration), Indra Supreme
Melody Frias (Communication Design), Paperoo
Liberty Green (Communication Design), Trace The Fabric of Time
Colleen Hackett (Illustration), Bella Becomes a Bug
Elliot Hagen (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), The Armory
Levi Johnson (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Her Arm
Vicky Jordan (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), The Hanging Garden of Ages
Anna Keebler (Product Design), StageBase modular theater stage design system
Kylie Kenny (Illustration), A Family In the Future: 2027 as imagined in 1957
Inkyul Kim (Illustration), A Journey To The West: Illustrated edition
Joe Kline (Fashion and Apparel Design), Garage Sale, five look collection by seacat
Taylor Leinstock (Illustration), The Rainforest That Would Not Talk
Mila Lovecky (Illustration), Binky Makes Pancakes
Mia MacDonald (Communication Design), Rescue Right
Melanie Macias Real (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Las Manos Que Te Alimentan
Abbi Maloney (Illustration with Animation Track), Magical Girl Syndrome
sophia mazzolari (Product Design), minimize
Alexis McConnell (Illustration with Animation Track), Making Friends
Sam Mendez (Illustration), Flora
Alesya Merkepel (Illustration with Animation Track), NORTH04
Frankie Merrill (Illustration), The Radium Girls
Logan Moris (Product Design), Regrowth
Jun Moyer (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Was It Worthwhile?
Audrey Nadrasik (Product Design), Haylo
Ashley Osorio (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Soñando Estados Unidos (Dreaming United States)
Zoe Patselas (Communication Design), Everwrap: The Green Way to Gift
Abby Phillips (Illustration), Marine Majesty: An Aquatic Themed Card Deck
Kaitlyn Powers (Illustration), Solenne
Leandra Prieto (Illustration), Little Champs
Cassie Rapp (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Please Lay with Me
Andrea Robleto (Illustration), An Adventure Through Prehistoric Earth
Arden Schroeder (Illustration), Redwoods National & State Park flora and fauna merchandise
Amanda Smithivas (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Hodgepodge
Bailey Staerkel (Fashion and Apparel Design), Stitched Together: The Fashion of Gothic Horror
Jessika Turnbull (Communication Design), Go Solo
Grace Weisner (Illustration), Arctic Advent: A 24-Day Arctic Wildlife Advent Calendar
Samantha Westfall (Illustration), Inked & Aware
Natalie White (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Suspended in the Clouds
Nolan Wollmer (Illustration with Animation Track), In High Definition
Tatum Woodcock (Communication Design), Hello Operator
Kyle Woodfin (Illustration), A WHITE LAMENT Narrative Promo Package

MIAD TASK Graduate Award
Ashley Osorio (Fine Art + New Studio Practice)