Student Spotlights

Maya Hutagalung

Degree: B.F.A. with a Concentration in Illustration and a Minor in Earth and Environmental SciencesGraduation Year: 2026Hometown: Charlotte, NC How did you first get interested in art?I made my first children’s book in Kindergarten, complete with illustrations and a story about my favorite animal: chickens! From there, I never stopped making art. Narrative illustration and […]

Omar Wingo

Categories: Student Spotlights Tags: Music

Degree: B.A. Music with a Clarinet ConcentrationGraduation Year: 2025Hometown: Kings Mountain, NC How did you first get interested in music?In elementary school, I really enjoyed music class but did not realize that this could be a career. As a young child, I originally wanted to be some type of first responder until my parents allowed […]

Jacob Taylor

Degree: BFA Fine Art with a Digital Media Concentration and Film Studies MinorGraduation Year: 2026Hometown: Mint Hill, NC Why did you choose this particular degree?I wanted to explore the world of digital media, specifically video production. I understood the value of continuing my art education after high school. The opportunity to network with like-minded individuals […]

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Nakyra Sykes

Categories: Student Spotlights Tags: Architecture

Current Degree: MS Architecture- Critical Heritage StudiesPast Degree: Bachelor of Architecture, UNC Charlotte (2024)Graduation Year: 2025Hometown: Burlington, NC Why did you choose this particular graduate degree or combination of degrees?I was exposed to the Critical Heritage program as a Second Year in my undergraduate program. Through an internship which continued as an independent study, I […]

Nicholas Vuchev

Categories: Student Spotlights Tags: Architecture

Degree: BA in Architecture and a minor in Urban StudiesGraduation Year: 2027Hometown: Cornelius, NC How did you first get interested in architecture?I originally became interested in architecture at a very young age. I always loved constructing, from as simple as LEGOs to as complicated as helping my dad redesign/ reconstruct our entire backyard. Throughout high […]

Dru Swan

Degree: BA in Art with a concentration in Painting, and Minor in Art HistoryGraduation Year: 2025Hometown: Charlotte, NC How did you first get interested in art?My first freedom through art expression came at a very young age: I drew on everything, including my mother when she needed time to write. My parents let me paint […]

Morgan Alexander

Degree: 3D Interdisciplinary Art MajorGraduation Year: 2025Hometown: Raleigh NC How did you first get interested in art?I’ve been passionate about drawing from a young age and did so constantly while growing up. Occasionally, I would experiment with air-dry clay, but my focus was primarily on illustration, which was my major when I first started at […]

Ethan Elmer

Categories: Student Spotlights Tags: Architecture

Degree: BA in ArchitectureGraduation Year: 2027Hometown: Apex, NC How did you first get interested in architecture?I originally wanted to be an engineer. During the pandemic I started to explore my creative side and knew I wanted to do something closer to design. I enjoy the mixture of creativity and logical thinking. What kind of career […]

Kayhe Duerson

Degree: BA in Illustration and a minor in JapaneseGraduation Year: 2026Hometown: Indianapolis, IN How did you first get interested in art?I’ve always engaged with the arts. It’s hard to pinpoint any beginning to loving to draw or design. I can list off a million different times I’ve been inspired or chosen drawing as the path […]

Desta Fisseha

Categories: Student Spotlights Tags: Music

Degree: BA in Music Performance and Bachelor in Computer ScienceGraduation Year: 2027Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC How did you first get interested in music?I grew up surrounded by music. My mom worked directly with the Marching Tar Heels for years, so I would go see their halftime shows for almost every football game for years. What […]