Thursday, April 29, 2010
Graduating senior's USI career marked by art, honors, and world travel
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Wendy Knipe Bredhold Media Relations Specialist, News & Information Services 812/461-5259 Troutman, of Salem, Indiana, will graduate magna cum laude in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art. The painting also garnered her a Painting Merit Award, while another work, A Spirit Unremoved, received an Award of Merit. "I never expected Best of Show," she said. "I've been here four years and this was the first time I got an award from a juror. I was ecstatic. And with the two other awards, I was on cloud nine." The Rest is Silence is based on a photograph Troutman took at Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England, when she was studying abroad at Harlaxton College in fall 2008. Harlaxton is owned and operated by University of Evansville, and USI is one of Harlaxton's 13 partner colleges. While in England, Troutman also traveled to Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, and Poland. In summer 2008, she traveled to Spain and Morocco in a USI travel study program led by Dr. Margaret Skoglund, associate professor of art history, and over spring break 2010, she went to Oaxaca, Mexico, with Michael Aakhus, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts. There are many reasons she chose USI, but among them was the opportunity to study abroad. Dan Craig, director of the music program, spoke to her about travel abroad opportunities through the Women's Choir. Troutman said, "Through that I heard about other opportunities such as Harlaxton, and I knew I wanted to come here so I could study abroad as well." Other factors included USI's setting and family-like feeling. I'm from a small town, and I like being close to the city but in a smaller community. I met art faculty in advance and they were already like family before I came to campus. They really took me in before I was a student here." Troutman is a member of the Chamber Choir and performed as "Head Wench" at the Madrigal Feaste. She is in the Honors Program. I've made good friends. They made me feel like I belong. And I developed a lot of friendships through performing with the choir and at the Madrigal Feaste." She has served as vice president of the Art Club, a member of the College of Liberal Arts Dean's Student Advisory Council, and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. She has been the recipient of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, Roberts W. Carithers Scholarships for Arts and Humanities, Clifford A. Kleymeyer Liberal Arts Scholarship, Rust Travel Scholarship, Elizabeth Zutt Art Enrichment Scholarship, Harpole Scholarship, Kleymeyer Memorial Scholarship, Jennings Josephine Carter Scholarship, Hoosier Scholarship, Academic Competitiveness Grant, USI Foundation Excellence in Learning Award, Indiana Higher Education Award, and Distinguished Scholar Award. She was a nominee for the Trustees Distinguished Merit Award and the President's Medal. In looking back on her USI career, she said the opportunity to travel stands out the most. "I really enjoyed my study abroad experiences, and those shaped who I've become in the last four years," she said. She'll spend the summer building up her art portfolio in preparation for applying to graduate school. "My plan is to get my master's so I can teach at the college level, and my ultimate goal is to have a shop in Brown County where I can sell my work." A 2006 graduate of Eastern High School in Pekin, Indiana, she is the daughter of Sherri and William Troutman of Salem. The 40th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition is on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday through April 30, 2010 at the McCutchan Art Center/Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Galleries. |
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