Ellyce Whiteman

This is a photo of me standing next to two of the acrylic paintings that I am showing in a solo exhibit on campus for a week.

Degree: BFA, Painting and Drawing, Minors in Art History and Creative Writing

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2024

2022-2023 Scholarship
Dorothy Piacentini Scholarship

2023-2024 Scholarship
David John McCosh Memorial Scholarship in Painting
Laverne Krause Scholarship Award

I Am Originally From Olympia, WA

WHY I CAME TO THE UO AND HOW I CHOSE MY MAJOR
I chose the UO because of the layout of campus being so green, similar to Washington. And I like the fact that the art classes are small enough that one can create close relationships with both classmates and professors.

I’ve always been a creative person growing up and I thought that I should study a topic in college that I have a ton of passion for, which or me is art.

UNIQUE QUALITIES I BRING TO MY STUDIES
My mom went to college and became a middle school teacher, while my dad dropped out of high school. All throughout my life, there was always the expectation that I would go to school and try my best. Thankfully, there was also an important expectation of studying what I enjoyed.

MY INFLUENTIAL PROFESSORS
Sylvan Lionni is an art professor here at UO that I somehow had for two studio classes back to back, twice a week (amounting to about 12 hours a week). I made aa strong connection with him and he helped me lay out my portfolio to apply to the BFA program.

MY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
I am involved as an assistant with the First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) on campus and I think it is important because it allows for students to create closer relationships with fellow students during their first term of their very first year.

MY GREATEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT UO
The greatest learning experience I’ve had so far at UO, more specifically within the art department, is that it is okay to fail or create something that wasn’t how I was imagining. What is the most important thing is to learn from that experience and then implement what I’ve learned in a new project.

AFTER GRADUATION
After graduation, I hope to become a freelance artist creating art both for commissions and projects as well as for myself that I hope I can showcase in gallery spaces.

YOUR GIFT
By receiving this scholarship, it is helping me pay for a bit of my out-of-state tuition. Obviously, going to college is really expensive, so every bit of aid helps me in so many ways, and reduces my stress level.

I am so grateful for the kind and generous support. Thank you!