Systems.
When Tyler Hernández graduates this May with her BFA in Animation Media and Gaming Design, she’ll leave with something extra: the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence. Nearly a dropout of Manhattan’s Art and Design High School, acceptance into OEOP Art & Design Prep redirected Hernández’s future.
“My life was incredibly hard,” she confides. “Instead of focusing on school I faced a family constantly battling. I had no money for college and a low GPA. Prep put me with other first-generation students who needed an extra hand to reach their goals.”
Told to “ride her hard to the finish line,” OEOP Director Taur Orange moved Hernández’s fantasy of a career in animation toward reality. Accepted into FIT, Hernández joined student government, was secretary of the 3D Club, and founded a chapter of Women in Animation, “bringing industry connections to our doorstep and helping students’ creative voices be heard.”
“Tyler is an agent of change; a powerhouse who’ll make a name for herself in animation,” Orange says. “She’s eager to increase women and POC in this industry. She’ll make FIT proud because she’s invested in giving back.”
“Once you’ve seen rock bottom and come out of it, you want to help others in your position, and give them hope for the future,” Hernández says. The Bronx native seeks work as an NYC production assistant, and “goes into the industry knowing I want to bring a ton of people with me.”
Winnie McCroy 