Twenty years ago, John Munro was awarded a scholarship in college. Now the CEO of Chromacolour, a leading manufacturer of animation supplies, he remembered how much it meant to him to be acknowledged for hard work and talent. Wanting to continue this custom, Chromacolour and the Classical Animation department named José Luis Osorio winner of the first annual Because We Care scholarship .

“We were looking at ways we could contribute back to the animation community,” says Mr Munro “and we wanted to have an immediate impact on people who need help the most. Students were the perfect candidates because they are just starting their careers in the animation sector.”

To set the scholarship in motion, Munro, who has a long-standing relationship with VFS, contacted Classical Animation Program Manager, Anne Denman Wilde. Given hectic student work schedules, Munro wanted to make sure the scholarship program would not be so restrictive as to deter student involvement. After determining that judging would be based on student portfolios, Munro awarded a prize worth seven hundred and fifty dollars in Chromacolour supplies.

For José Luis Osorio, the news could not have come at a better time. Having recently graduated from the program, he is focused on his professional future as an animator for TV, feature films, or game design. “This is awesome,” says Osorio. “I hoped I would get it but you just don’t know. There were so many people applying with so much talent. All these new supplies are going to help me to keep on working and developing my portfolio.”

For the department, the scholarship opportunity was an excellent way to encourage students to examine the importance of portfolio development. With graduation right around the corner, it was also an effective exercise for helping students gain distance from their work and think more in terms of how to market themselves.

“José’s drawing ability was a notch above everything else. It had that extra edge,” says Head of the Classical Animation Department Joseph Gilland who, along with Head Instructor Dieter Mueller, judged the 16 entries and ultimately picked the winning portfolio.

“The quality of all the applicants was outstanding,” says Denman Wilde. “The range of work was influenced by different cultures, sensibilities, and dispositions.”