Two Early College High School seniors two days from graduating from high school signed letters Monday committing to continue their fine arts education at the university level.
Michaela McClellan is scheduled to attend Stephen F. Austin State University and study digital media and animation.
Iyanna Paul is on her way to the Fashion Institute of New York to study fine arts and psychology and pursue a career in art therapy.
Each signed in a ceremony in front of Eagle Hall on the Central Texas College campus, home of Killeen ISD’s senior level Early College High School.
The ceremony was the sixth the district fine arts department has facilitated the past eight days.
After two years of districtwide signing ceremonies, fine arts leaders made the move this year to campus ceremonies that a larger number of students can attend.
McClellan has been drawing since she was 5 and has taught herself techniques through You Tube videos.
She took visual art and theater class in middle school and continued into high school. She has won two gold medals in the Visual Art Scholastic Event, teaching herself to do 3-D modeling.
Paul began studying art in seventh grade. She earned gold medals in VASE and completed coursework in digital art and animation and Advanced Placement art.
Her skills include oil painting, acrylic, gouache and digital art.
In a written statement about how art benefited her, Paul credited art with getting her through challenging times and inspiring her to investigate art therapy as a career.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720317168960
