Sketching the Future

Sarah Syed ’27 has loved art ever since she was a child. “My parents say that I've been drawing ever since I was able to hold a crayon, leaving many walls covered with very artistic murals,” she says. “I come from a family of doodlers, so I've always been surrounded by people who've been drawing, and I was always very inspired by them. But more so, I've always enjoyed the act of drawing, as it brings me joy and it doesn't require intense thought.”

Syed became more serious about her artwork in middle and high school, investing more time and money into honing her craft. When she saw the chance to pursue her passion and education at Trinity University through the Baker Duncan Art Scholarship, she took it.

The Baker Duncan Art Scholarship is open to all incoming students interested in pursuing a major in studio art. Students can receive up to $10,000 annually in scholarship money, which is renewed each year. It is a merit-based scholarship, so the application process involves submitting 10 to 15 artworks of any medium, as well as an image list that details the title, materials, mediums, and dimensions of the pieces.

Syed found that applying to the Baker Duncan Art Scholarship was relatively easy. “I submitted a photo collection of 14 of my most refined works on a PDF file,” she says. “This scholarship has made my life much easier, as I don't have to worry about the various studio fees that add up as an art major for the classes. Moreover, being a Baker Duncan Art scholar has helped me get first pick for my introduction art classes, easing my worries during registration.”

Syed has tried nearly every art medium throughout her art career. Recently, she has gotten into handbuilding clay, and her favorite mediums overall are oil pastels, clay, and watercolor. She has dabbled in acrylic, oil, lithograph, photography, charcoal, color pencils, gouache, and digital art. “I tend to make art for myself, as it's whatever I see from life,” she says.  

This scholarship has allowed Syed to pivot from minoring to majoring in art. “I feel really lucky to be pursuing my educational and artistic passions,” she says. “My scholarship definitely eases the financial burden that comes with attending college.”

As a neuroscience and studio art double major, Syed appreciates the vast differences between both fields. “All of my interests are satisfied, rather than sticking to a singular subject. Safe to say, I'm never bored between my two majors,” she says. “While there can be overlap between these two fields, I really picked them because they have the ability to take my life into different directions.”

With nearly 150 student organizations to choose from, Syed didn’t have to pick one passion over another. At Trinity, she can be in the Pre-Dental Club and American Medical Student Association (AMSA) while also being a part of the Trinity Art Collective, Cat Alliance Trinity, and the South Asian Student Association (SASA).

Syed encourages students interested in applying for the Baker Duncan Art Scholarship to have a wide variety of artwork to showcase different aspects of their skills. She also encourages students not to overthink the process. “I was initially hesitant about my skillset, but my dad encouraged me to apply,” she says. “I think a lot of the time, as an artist, I have an internalized dilemma of how my artwork gets received, but letting go of those internalized motifs has ultimately benefited me in my art career.”

Interested in pursuing art at Trinity?

Learn more about how to apply for Trinity’s Baker Duncan Art Scholarship. Don’t miss your chance to secure the financial support that will help you sketch your future–apply by February 7.