Success Stories

Brianna Anzures, a first-year student at the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art & Design, grew up in Clio, Michigan, a modest city in Genesee County with a population of about 2,500. “I’m from a very small town where everyone knows everybody. My graduating high school class was somewhere around 80 students,” says Anzures. “Today, I’m among a class of nearly 10,000 first-year students.”

Anzures says she learned early on about the value of a strong work ethic, and about reaching above and beyond. By age 12, she had already started working at her grandmother’s ice cream shop, and at 15 was waiting tables in a local restaurant. “I’ve always understood the concept of working and hustling, and continuously trying to build yourself up,” she says. “I learned to be strong and determined by watching my mom, a single parent, who always gave her all and worked very hard. It was just the two of us, after my dad passed away when I was seven.”

Anzures’ unflagging drive to rise above continued throughout her junior and senior years at LakeVille Memorial High School, in Otisville, Michigan, when she attended the Genesee Career Institute in Flint for a portion of each school day, shuttling back and forth between schools. “The institute has a lot of different programs that help prepare students for entry into the workforce and/or into a college-level program,” says Anzures. “I had the good fortune to be in a class called ‘Digital Art, Design, and Broadcasting,’ taught by instructor Michael Crawford, a U-M Stamps alum, who would become a sort of mentor to me.”

Exploring the Possibilities

It was during her senior year at the Genesee Career Institute that Crawford sparked Anzures’ interest in the “idea of college,” and more specifically, the program at Stamps, when he arranged a class tour of the school, located on U-M’s North Campus. “I have always had an interest in art. During the tour, I had the opportunity to view the studios, and talk with faculty and students alike. I was especially impressed with the open spaces provided to seniors in the program to work on a major solo project, all with full control to do whatever they wanted,” she says. “I fell in love with the program and the school. But at the time, I had little hope that my mom and I could afford a school like the University of Michigan.”

Discovering the Go Blue Guarantee

By happenstance, the answer to Anzures’ concerns about affordability came into focus one evening during her senior year of high school. “I was online, looking at different colleges, when I spotted a pop-up ad that said, ‘You can get free tuition at the University of Michigan if you qualify for the Go Blue Guarantee,’” says Anzures.

As she read further, she learned that families with incomes of $75,000 and under, and assets below $75,000, qualified for the guarantee. “I wasn’t quite sure what our income was, so I asked my mom how much money we made. She told me it was around $35,000 a year,” she says. “I thought ‘Oh, God, we qualify. I might be able to attend the University of Michigan at no cost, for four years of undergraduate study.’”

With no time to waste, Anzures filed FAFSA paperwork to ensure that she would meet the deadline for maximum benefits. “Learning about the Go Blue Guarantee was a huge relief. I knew I was passionate about art, and now I might actually have an opportunity to study it, since we were on the lower side of income to qualify,” says Anzures. “The Go Blue Guarantee support has taken away a struggle and a worry. I'm very grateful that I don't have to contend with loans and debt, and that I can actually focus on my studies as I pursue my BFA at the U-M Stamps School of Art & Design. The Go Blue Guarantee is a great opportunity for those who have never considered college because of financial concerns. And it’s something everyone should look into.”

Making the Most of U-M

Anzures is devoting her first year of study to exploration, trying to learn more about her many areas of interest. “I would eventually like to go into illustration or even mixed media. I’m also interested in film, audio, product design, printmaking, and garment design. I consider myself a multimedia artist,” she says.

Added to this, Anzures relishes her connection to the U-M Living ArtsEngine, a creative interdisciplinary learning community that brings together first-year students and returning student leaders in architecture, engineering, the arts, and other fields to explore innovation, creativity, and collaboration. “I absolutely love being a part of this community,” she says. “It is a great way to find people I can connect with. And I look forward to being a peer mentor next year, helping to guide new students through their first year here.”

She is also excited about the Stamps International Experience, which prepares students to thrive in culturally diverse settings as they bring their design and art practices into the world — a requirement of the school’s curriculum for all BA and BFA students. “I have always wanted to travel; experiencing other countries would be really fascinating to me. Some of the destinations include Denmark, France, India, Italy, and Japan,” she says.

Thankful for Support

Anzures remains grateful for the guidance and good advice of former instructor Michael Crawford. “In class, I often stopped by to ask Michael questions about my projects. Sometimes I thought I was asking too many questions,” says Anzures. “Despite my inquisitive nature, he would always give me the time. His good advice about life has continued to serve me well: ‘Stay open. Never stop asking questions. Be curious. Work hard.’”

Most importantly, Anzures is thankful for her mother, who has always supported her. “I’m a first-generation student at the University of Michigan. My mom is very happy that I have this opportunity. She has always wanted me to be happy, and to find something I loved.”