Katlynn Whitaker (Class of 2017)
Major: Graphic Design
Minor: Advertising
I chose Marywood because I found the close-knit community and small class size appealing. I live a little over an hour away from Scranton which is the perfect distance for me to go to school. The support you receive from your professors and the staff is incredible. My transition from high school to college was a smooth one at Marywood.
I am majoring in Art because I have always loved the arts and wanted it to be a part of my career. There is something rewarding about finishing a painting or creating a well-designed composition. When I work on my assignments for my art classes, they don’t even feel like work.
When I’m not in class, I’m constantly busy. You can find me working at the dining hall (have to earn that money for art supplies) or writing/designing for the school newspaper (The Wood Word). I am primarily Photo Editor, so I can be spotted with my camera often on campus. I am involved with the CMYKlub, Zeta Omicron, Campus Ministry, and the development of the Marywood AIGA Student Group. Any free time I have is devoted to sleeping and catching up on Gilmore Girls.
My favorite class was… Hmmm, this is tough. I really enjoyed taking Basic Photography this past semester. I took a section specially created for design majors, so we focused a lot on digital and advertising photography. It was the perfect complement to the B&W class I took in high school. Taking this class gave me a new appreciation for photography and a new skill to use for design projects.
The coolest think I’ve done so far was… Wow, another tough question! I liked some of the hands-on projects we did in 3D Design. I came into Marywood with little experience in this area, so it was awesome to create projects like plaster and glass sculptures. I liked making designs with the sandblaster on the glass.
When I graduate I want to work at an advertising agency or a marketing department as a designer. Eventually my goal is to become an art director and oversee larger marketing campaigns. I would like to stay in the NEPA/Upstate New York area, but if a job opened up in NYC or a larger city I would be open to an adventure.
I’d recommend the Art program at Marywood because Marywood contains a close-knit art community where your professors actually know your name. You don’t need to worry about falling behind or not being good enough. Every person comes in with different strengths and weaknesses, and the instructors help you improve and thrive. Class sizes are generally small, so you can receive valuable one-on-one instruction. The campus is filled with clubs and opportunities to get your name out there in the art world.
