Hazelwood West Senior Set to Attend the Kansas City Art Institute

There's only a few days left before senior Maria Dlabick will be calling herself a college freshman.

In the fall, she will attend college at the Kansas City Art Institute as a President’s Scholarship recipient, a four-year award.

The scholarship is based on her academic performance and her skills as an artist, according to a statement. Dlabick has a 3.75 GPA. She scored 31 on the ACT college entrance exam. She is involved in the Crafts and Fiber Club and Anime Club, and she is a member of the National Art Honor Society.

In March, she earned Honorable Mention at the Olivette Art Show and said she could imagine attending any other school.

“I looked at different schools,” said Dlabick, but her experience at KCAI’s summer program during her junior year made a difference. “It was a lot of work. We had 12-hour days or something like that, but it was really cool."

Dlabick said she has enjoyed art for as long as she can remember. She has saved drawings from when she was 2 years old, but attests every toddler scribbles. She said her interest in art realized gradually and she began taking it seriously in eighth grade.

“There’s no way to talk about it without being cheesy,” Dlabick said of her passion.

Dlabick also said she enjoys writing but said drawing is her heart and she's looking forward to the next chapter in her life.

“It’s an art community and there was an instant connection that seems exciting to me," she said.

So what's her advice for a younger student striving to become an artist?

“Keep trying because you’ll look back later and see how you’ve changed," Dlabick said. "Just keep practicing.”