After graduating from Clearwater High School in 1986, Stanley had little idea of his career path. Considered a good artist by much of his peers Stanley enrolled into the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1990. Upon receiving his Associates degree in Visual Communications in December of 1991 from AIP, Stanley apprentised under nationally reknown iconographer Robert Gerwing. Together with a team of artists, Gerwing and Associates, completed and restored Byzantine style icons in many Orthodox churches in the Pittsburgh area. During which time Stanley enrolled in Point Park College in 1996, now Point Park University, in downtown Pittsburgh. Majoring in applied arts, Stanley left Pittsburgh in 1997 to return home to Florida to help his father in the family business. Finally the Art Institutes opened in Tampa, and offered Bachelors degrees. So in 2005 Stanley enrolled into AI Tampa. Attempting to receive his Bachelors degree in graphic design, he switched majors to animation after his first quarter. Three years and nine months later marked the end of a much anticipated graduation. September of 2008 Stanley recieved his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Media Arts/Animation.