March 16, 2026

East Mississippi Community College art major Ethan Bassett has been awarded an $800 scholarship by Mississippi University for Women’s Department of Art & Design.

Bassett, who is enrolled on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus, graduates in May and plans to seek a degree from MUW afterwards. He is leaning towards majoring in Graphic Design, with a minor in illustration.

EMCC art instructor Cynthia Buob said Bassett has worked hard during his time at EMCC and that his skills as an artist have greatly improved.

“Ethan has a lot of talent and I think he is going to really enjoy the upper division courses at The W where he can use what he has learned here at EMCC,” Buob said. “I am very proud of him.”

Bassett said he was first drawn to art while still in elementary school.

“Skylanders was one of the first games I played with my dad a lot,” Bassett said. “I would take the little Skylanders toy figurines and sit them in front of me and draw those in a big sketch book.”

Bassett has been drawing ever since and said he can’t imagine a career outside of the field of art.

“Art has been one of the only things that has held my interest for my entire life,” he said. “I feel like if I were to do anything else it would feel like a waste of time.”

Prior to attending EMCC, Bassett gravitated to drawing with graphite. He has since discovered that he also enjoys working with charcoal and pastel paints.

Bassett, a graduate of Caledonia High School, is well traveled. His mother was in the military and the family spent time in Japan, Texas and New Mexico, where she was stationed, before landing in Lowndes County.

When he is not attending school, Bassett enjoys drawing, playing video games and Dungeons and Dragons with his family and friends.

He sees himself earning a living as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator within the next five years.

Bassett’s dream job?

“I would love to work for a video game studio doing character design work,” he said. “That’s also something that has interested me for my whole life.”

Bassett said he has enjoyed his time at EMCC.

“All of the staff here are fine and the art program at EMCC is phenomenal,” he said. “I have significantly improved in my artwork in both what I draw and how I draw it.”

He is excited about attending The W.

“I did a portfolio review at The W,” Bassett said. “The campus is awesome and the art department looks great.”

EMCC offers art classes on both the Golden Triangle and Scooba campuses. Learn more at www.eastms.edu