Morgan Adams, who graduated from Southwestern Michigan College with straight A’s in 2016, grew up in Dowagiac at the height of the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival in an arts-rich atmosphere that enveloped the community and its schools.

But the salutatorian of Union High’s Class of 2014 probably would have gravitated to art anyway.

At the April 28, 2016, student art show, Dr. David Mathews selected Adams’ banana watercolor for the Presidential Award. She received certificates for graphic design and drawing.

She was accepted to Michigan State and Western Michigan, but decided to stay close to home and “get as many courses as possible under my belt at a community-college rate. I'm the first to graduate college from my family.”

From SMC, Adams moved to Grand Rapids for Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.

Art garnering more attention

Since returning in 2021 as a graphic designer/photographer with Midwest Energy and Communications (MEC, for which SMC’s esports arena is named), Adams’ artistic eye notices a change.

“Local chambers are putting more effort into prettying up downtowns like Stone Lake (Cassopolis) and Dowagiac. Now you have murals on buildings, fresh new architecture and new, innovative public elements people can interact with for recreational purposes.”

“I hear from co-workers their kids are showing interest in art careers and how many camps are available at such a young age to broaden their education and skills.

“I feel like there are more opportunities now for art careers than ever. Even technology is a huge help. Creative people can do anything they set their minds to. We are problem-solvers, storytellers and makers.”

The Addys

Adams, who waitressed for six years at Lindy’s during high school and college, was the subject of a 2018 Dowagiac Daily News article the first time she entered the Addys (American Advertising Awards).

Adams came back with silver medals in advertisement campaign and copywriting from Grand Rapids.

A mock  advertisement for Ball Mason Jars showed a framed image featuring an illustrated life cycle of a butterfly accompanied by different sizes of Mason jars, emblazoned “A size for every stage of life” across the top.

“I had to create a concept piece for a brand advertisement, and I was just really inspired by my own nostalgia [with Mason jars],” she said.

“I went on to do a second year of ADDY awards and won Silver for a perfume package design, Silver for an integrated consumer campaign featuring Ole Smoky Moonshine and Gold for a publication design, ‘It's a Circus in Here.’ That publication took me on to a District 6 Gold winner, then to a National Gold Addy award,” Adams said.

Her National Gold Addy Publication winner spawned Adams’ two-book project, “It’s a Circus In Here,” capturing family history, interactions and experiences through photography, illustrations and “short stories from a family of short people.”

Volume One, Process, centers on L&J, the family meat-processing business. Preserve expresses the process of canning, gardening and sharing meals together as a family.

“My intention is that these collections of shared stories will become a comfort to my family to look back on. For the outside audience, these stories provide a unique and entertaining perspective on family, how it adds character and creates a stable foundation to grow.”

As an SMC student, Adams in 2015 joined the marketing office as an intern, doing graphic design, often for the Toilet Paper and the Napkin. She did social media and helped plan and market student events.

When she left for Kendall, Adams intended to pursue interior design. So, how did she end up at an electric utility?

“I did (interior design) for a semester, but realized I missed graphic design a ton. Realistically, I didn't want to be in college for five more years and I already had my graphic design associate degree. I decided to reapply to Kendall for its graphic design program and got