Samantha Lockamy

This is a photo of me, my mom, and a friend at a UO football game! I am the one in the middle.

Degree: BS, Art

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2026

2023 Scholarship
Florence Pobanz Scholarship

I Am Originally From Banks, OR

WHY I CAME TO THE UO AND HOW I CHOSE MY MAJOR
I chose the University of Oregon because I simply could not see myself anywhere else. I love the kind and inclusive atmosphere found on campus, and the classes offered at UO fit my interests better than other universities in Oregon. The beautiful campus is also a selling point for me! What I like most about being a part of the College of Design is being immersed in a group of students that all share a passion for art– it is so inspiring to see the creativity and artistic processes of others in the College of Design!

I chose to major in Art, because it is the only area of study that I truly feel passionate about as of now. Coming into the university as an art major, I felt self-conscious about my choice since I went to a high school that showed very little focus in artistic fields. However, after taking a couple of art courses at UO, I realized that there were so many students at the university that were just as passionate about art as I was, and I knew I was pursuing the right major for me.

UNIQUE QUALITIES I BRING TO MY STUDIES
Before coming to the University of Oregon, I was a dancer for seven years. I like to think that my experience as a dancer has helped me in having unique perspectives when it comes to creating art– specifically paintings. When I am painting, I tend to “feel” a piece as though it is in constant motion, similar to the body of a dancer. My brush strokes follow an intuitive rhythm that creates a routine that the painting follows until it reaches its final form. By this point, my hope for the painting is that it still resembles that of an alive and in-motion piece of art even after the painting is complete. As I continue to pursue my studies, I hope to relate this process to other art media aside from painting.

MY INFLUENTIAL PROFESSORS
The most influential professor I have had is Laurel Sturgis O’Coyne, who teaches the course COLT 360: Gender and Identity in Literature. I could go on for hours about how much I have enjoyed this course. The material taught in this class is so relevant and eye-opening– it has truly changed my perspective on the societal structures of the Americas, as well as the ways in which people approach life, the Earth, and other human beings. My perspectives on these topics would not have been changed for the better if it weren’t for my professor and the ways in which she taught the course.

MY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
I am currently not involved in any student organizations, sports, ect., however, I hope to become involved in community activities around me in my future at the University of Oregon. I have many passions, and would love to be surrounded by others who share similar interests while in an interactive environment such as a club!

MY GREATEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT UO
The greatest learning experience that I have had at UO so far was in Art 116. The group of students that I was taking the course with were so social, and it felt like the interactive art-making experience that I had been waiting for. We all helped each other to learn, inspire, and grow as artists through various projects throughout the term, and overall it was an amazing experience.

AFTER GRADUATION
My greatest hope for my life after graduation is that I can reach others through my passion for art. A personal goal that I have is to somehow reach out to the world with the art that I create, and in doing so, make an impact on those who view my art. I am unsure of what career I wish to pursue in the future, but I hope that no matter what I end up doing, I never lose sight of my artistic senses and will always view the world through the lens of an artist.

YOUR GIFT
This scholarship is important to me, because it is providing me with the opportunity to further enhance my artistic skills and perspectives. I hope to continue to discover who I am as an artists, and this scholarship is helping me by creating more opportunities for me to take art courses and discover the forms of art that may align well with my artistic style. I’m eager to gain experience in areas that fall outside of the courses required for my major, which I may not have had the space to explore without this scholarship.

Thank you for the opportunity to pursue my passion for art!