Two COD Graphic Design Students Earn Scholarships to Rocky Mountain College

College of DuPage Graphic Design students Natalie McQueen of Naperville and Philip Rau of Wheaton have earned scholarships to attend the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in the fall.

McQueen received a merit-based scholarship, a talent-based scholarship and a RMCAD grant award for up to 10 terms. Rau received the single presidential scholarship to RMCAD, which provides $10,000 per term.

McQueen plans to earn her bachelor's degree in Communication Design. After that, McQueen would like to work for an agency with a diverse client base. She also would enjoy working in a smaller, more intimate studio setting with other artists passionate about design.

“I am excited to be starting this new ‘chapter' of my educational and personal life, but I will most sincerely miss COD, its faculty and the great friends I have made over the last few years,” she said. “I feel lucky to have had my teachers and been a part of such an excellent program, and I truly hope RMCAD's program will meet my expectations, because I feel that my experience at COD will be hard to beat.”

Rau earned several honors during his time at COD: honorable mention for a travel brochure at COD's annual Portfolio Night in 2010; honorable mention for his entry into the Ravinia poster design competition, where he placed in the top five of 150 entries; and in 2011 winner of the Best New Ad competition, designing the print advertisement for DonateLife Illinois.

After earning his bachelor's degree, Rau would like to work at a big-name advertising agency like Leo Burnett or work on design and illustration for an iPhone game developer.

“COD has been a real blessing to me in more ways than I can count,” he said. “It's been phenomenal and I've learned so much. Along the way, I've found many great career- and resumé-building opportunities.”