​Rotary Art Scholarship 2018 Winners

listed alphabetically
click thumbnails to enlarge

Samira Abraham
Mixed Media
Art has been a dominant interest of mine all my life. Over the years it has become more and more clear that I was made to be an artist and have a career doing so. I have a wide range of mediums and art forms I like to do including metalsmithing, woodwork, sculpture, computer graphics, painting and drawing. Since I like to do a variety of things, I would like to do almost any career that involves art. I would like to major in graphic design because I can apply those skills to all the varieties of art forms I named. Also because graphic design offers a lot of good jobs. I would love to design for companies and then hopefully my own business. I also plan to major business so that I can market my art in a successful way. I want to go to the University of Northern Colorado because my art teacher, Matthew Crawford, went there and he highly recommends that school. I have been to the campus and explored their art program. They have a diverse and great art program there that I feel like I would benefit from. I am also considering going to Front Range Community College for my first two years to get my basic classes out of the way for cheaper. After that I would transfer to UNC. The path I take depends how much money I am granted. Either path I take I know I will excel as an artist.
High School: Thompson Valley

Will Attend: Front Range/UNC Greeley
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​Major: Graphic Design/Business

Emily Fulp
Drawing
From an early age, I've had a strong interest in art. Paintings, sculpture, nature itself and most of all animated movies have grabbed my attention and motivated me to create and explore the world around me. Pixar movies especially made an impression on me. More than just the vibrant colors of the scenes or the wild expressions of the characters, the stories that unfolded would always reveal life lessons that I still turn to for comfort and encouragement.  In the movie “A Bug’s Life” Flik, an ambitious inventor ant offers a rock to a young ant, Dot. He tells her “Pretend it's a seed.” in an effort to demonstrate that the magnificent tree that canopies their colonies, came from what's inside the tiny seed. Speaking of course to her own inner potential.
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To reach my own potential, I've been fortunate to have a family that supported my ambition and valued opportunities. From art classes on the beach, touring galleries in historic cities, to simply living in Loveland. I’ve been able to sharpen my skills and discover that my future is in animation. My coursework has been focused on art, orchestra, and video production.  All contributing to animation as my major. My recent acceptance to Savannah’s College of Art and Design provides a direct path for me to pursue this goal. Once achieved, I intend to join the team of creators at Disney's Pixar Studios where I will have the opportunity to impact the world and evoke emotions in others that in turn will drive them to make a difference.
High School:
​Thompson Valley 

Will Attend: Savannah College of Art and Design

​Major: Animation

Grace Goth
Mixed Media
I want to pursue a career in art because creation is my happiness. Art, regardless of the medium, is the one thing that has never failed to bring me joy. Art has made me who I am, and I wouldn't be the same without it. Creation is all I have ever known, and creating beauty out of just basic materials- something new and something that only I could have made- is why my heart beats. When I dive into another piece, everything else just melts away and I can express myself creatively however I choose. There's no limits to art, and that empowers me to keep learning and evolving. I want to share my love with the world, and use my art as a conduit to inspire and spread joy to as many people as I can. This world certainly has its issues, but the only way to fight hate is with love. Kill them with kindness, as they say- and if a piece of mine has managed to make even one person smile, it's served its purpose. Seeing a work touch someone’s heart is the most amazing thing I have ever seen and that drives me. So while going down this path and choosing a career in art is scary and uncertain, I know that this is the only thing I will ever find peace in doing professionally, and so I will passionately plunge into the unknown without hesitation. As Confucius once said, choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. My plans from here are to pursue a more multimedia approach to my work as a whole while attending Kansas City Art Institute, where I have been accepted and plan to attend. I want to expand my skills and delve more into other mediums.
High School:
Mountain View

Will Attend:
Kansas City Art Institute, KC, MO

​Major: Illustration

Alexis Wallace
Drawing
I first moved to Colorado in the 3rd grade, to live with my grandmother...that is when I started to consider myself an artist. She had always loved art and pursued it in her life, which inspired me at a young age. The art supplies I found around the house were hidden gems that I admit, I would accidently destroy, but she would still encourage me to keep drawing and painting. From that moment on, art has always been the way I have expressed myself, and helped me get through difficult times in my life. Like many other artists, ‘creating’ has almost become a life line.

​When thinking about what I wanted to do with my life I knew that art was to be my number one focus, but I also wanted a way to be able to showcase what art has done for me. I want to gain a Bachelor in Fine Arts to be able to work as an artist, but I also want to minor in Art Education. I have had many different art teachers through my studies so far. Some made it difficult to want to focus on art as a career path. However, there were a few that helped me realize that art is the only livelihood that I wanted to pursue. The influence of my educators have helped me to realize I want to have the opportunity to to be able to inspire kids; to sit down and create. This is why I want to pursue my chosen degree and career.
High School:
Loveland High

Will Attend: UNC Greeley

Major: Art and Design
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