Former COD Student Earns Prestigious Presidential Scholarship to Columbia College

Former College of DuPage student Mirjana Ursulesku is attending Chicago's prestigious Columbia College as the recipient of a Presidential Scholarship.

The Columbia College Presidential Scholarship is a competitive, merit-based program that awards incoming and transfer students based on academic achievement and demonstration of significant accomplishment, talent or ability in their intended major.

"I am thrilled and grateful to have been awarded this scholarship," said Ursulesku. "It has given me the chance to both deepen and expand my studies. It is also wonderful validation for me that I am on the right track with my career; I'm in the right place and moving in an exciting direction."

In 2012, after years as a successful visual artist, Ursulesku enrolled in the Graphic Design program at College of DuPage. A mother of two young children, it was essential for her to find a place to continue her education that was close to home.

"The Graphic Design program at COD was the first opportunity to integrate my fine art and illustration skills with graphic design," she said. "Taking my background and building on it was an exciting new chapter for me. I'm a person who thrives on new challenges and COD provided me with this opportunity."

While at COD, Ursulesku discovered a particular interest in graphic design and brand identity work.

"The inherent problem solving needed in graphic design and brand identity is exactly my cup of tea," she said. "With each project I attempt to meet the demands of the project, or a client's expectations, while using my own unique style and voice. Balancing my skills and my own story with what is required for the job, such as developing strong visual concepts and creating a message that engages and motivates the target audience is an exhilarating challenge."

While a student at COD, she redesigned the College's Graphic Design website and earned her A.A.S. in Graphic Design, graduating with high honors. She is now attending classes at Columbia College where she is pursuing a double major, a B.F.A in Graphic Design and a B.A. in Advertising.

Ursulesku has been immersed in drawing, painting and illustration from a very young age and works in a wide variety of approaches and mediums. The award-winning artist's work ranges from acrylic florals and photography to stark charcoals reflecting her experiences growing up in northern Bosnia. She also produces watercolors featuring an exploration of light and color. Drawing on a host of muses, she said her work has always been a labor of love and while she is inspired by the work of great masters, as well her peers, she is also inspired by nature, her surroundings and the creative process itself.

"I am inspired by nature and by scenery that I think many people might simply overlook," she said. "A room, a figure, a field, a bird; I often stop to do quick studies of my surroundings, sketching or painting in an attempt to capture the raw essence of the view before me - the random gesture, the funny moment; life in general. I also am inspired by the harmony expressed when combining brushstroke and color, and by the experience of a painting taking on a life of its own and leading me where it wants to go."

During her career, the Westmont resident has created works for art collectors, corporations and non-profit organizations worldwide. Her commissioned portfolio ranges from individual portraits to corporate work for well-known companies such as Life Focus TV and McDonald's Corporation, for which she created artwork that was used in McDonald's Supply Chain symposiums throughout the world. One of her favorite projects was completed for Opportunity International, a non-profit organization that provides micro loans to impoverished people throughout the world. In 2010, she was the recipient of the Hermes Gold Award, a creative awards program administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

Ursulesku is the owner of Blue is My Color, Inc., a showcase for her commissioned and personal artwork, as well as Three Things I Love, a website through which she sells her work in the form of full-size prints, limited editions, original artworks and a wide range of her art imprinted on greeting cards, paper accessories, personalized cards and stationery. In addition, she runs M Creative Studios, Inc., an enterprise showcasing her graphic and web design, branding, identity and advertising services, and most recently, she established M Creative Press, Inc., a business dedicated to all forms and aspects of publishing. In summer of 2014, she self-published two books: "Life in Paint," which features her work over nearly 20 years, and "Idle Time," which includes a variety of sketches, ink and line work.

Ursulesku said her goal is to continue her work as a creative professional, incorporating both her background in fine arts and her newly attained graphic design skills. she said her background in fine art has served her well as her career evolves toward more commercial art forms.

"Good design is good design, whether it's a portrait done in oils or a great logo," she said "Each art form feels like an extension of the other and I don't find it difficult to balance the two; the relationship feels very natural to me."

Ursulesku said that in addition to a top-notch curriculum and state-of-the-art technology, the COD Graphic Design program's dedicated instructors went the extra mile to help her succeed.

"I had the greatest instructors and professors at COD," she said. "They were prepared, passionate and supportive. John Callegari was particularly exceptional. I cannot recall a more passionate and enthusiastic professor in any class I have ever taken. He is truly a credit to his profession."

Professor of Graphic Design John Callegari said he was proud of Ursulesku's work and pleased with her success, which is due in no small part to her superb work ethic.

"Mirjana sets the standard for how hard a student can work," he said. "She showed meticulous attention to detail and her work was conceptually perfect and flawlessly executed. The portfolio she produced while at COD is outstanding."

While she continues to build her skills at Columbia College, Ursulesku said that she can't imagine a better place to have started her studies and career than at College of DuPage.

"My work grew so much while at COD, and the knowledge I gained was priceless," she said. "I'm a firm believer in 'you get back what you put in,' so I worked hard, but my experience at the College far exceeded my expectations. I graduated with high honors and ended up with an extensive array of work and a portfolio that I'm very proud of."

Click here for information about the Graphic Design program at College of DuPage.