Penn State Altoona summer academy brings art to life for students
Penn Cambria student Teagan Oswalt (right) makes a mug out of clay while Penn State Altoona adjunct instructor Michelle Ettrick (third from right) helps Altoona Area student Ryann Packard with her project. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Colton Heidler taps a set of drums Monday afternoon at Penn State Altoona as part of the sense-ational endeavors summer camp, a collaboration between the campus and Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Penn Cambria student Teagan Oswalt (right) makes a mug out of clay while Penn State Altoona adjunct instructor Michelle Ettrick (third from right) helps Altoona Area student Ryann Packard with her project. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Colton Heidler taps a set of drums Monday afternoon at Penn State Altoona as part of the sense-ational endeavors summer camp, a collaboration between the campus and Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
A group of six rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are spending this week fully immersed in the visual arts at Penn State Altoona as part of a new summer academy.
The program allows students to engage with traditional and digital modes of making art -- including drawing, ceramics and graphic design -- within the same professional studios and digital media labs used by Penn State Altoona's visual art studies majors, according to the college's website.
The students spent time with artist Michelle Ettrick, who works at the campus as an adjunct instructor, learning ceramics Monday at the Pine Building's studio. They also learned printmaking and will be focusing on graphic design Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to Ettrick.
Most of the participants are interested in the trajectory of being art students, Ettrick said, noting the visual art studies summer art studio gives them a chance to see a little bit of the visual art studies department overall.
"It kind of gives them an idea of what we have here at Altoona," Ettrick said.
Teagan Oswalt, an incoming sophomore at Penn Cambria, said she found out about the program through her mom, who works in Penn State Altoona's healthcare program.
Oswalt said she signed up for something fun to do and that she enjoyed making a mug for her project.
Ryann Packard, an incoming sophomore at Altoona Area, designed her mug with her favorite animal -- a blacktip shark -- on it.
Packard said she wanted to find more meaningful ways of expressing herself, so she decided to explore a range of artistic disciplines through the hands-on studio experience after her mother found out about it and encouraged her to apply.
Bishop Guilfoyle Academy student Jade Dupcavitch decided to make a vase without drawing any designs for it first.
"I didn't draw my idea. I'm just kind of doing it as I create it," Dupcavitch said, adding she was enjoying herself at the summer camp.
Seated next to Dupcavitch was Altoona Area student Cali Wyper, who was working on a design inspired by "SpongeBob SquarePants," resembling Squidward Tentacles' house.
"I just enjoy any type of art," Wyper said, adding she finds the process of making art to be peaceful and relaxing.
Assisting Ettrick with the program were Grace Brown, a recent Penn State Altoona graduate, and Jordan Alwine, who graduated from the university in 2023.
"I'd say we're mainly just helping them come up with ideas. It's very hands-on, so they get to experience a lot of different mediums of art," Brown said of the program, adding she hopes many of the students will consider attending Penn State Altoona after seeing the many opportunities students have there.
Alwine said she was honored to serve as teacher's assistant because she's never taught a group of students before.
"I thought this would be a little step into seeing what that would be like," Alwine said. "It's kind of nice to be able to inspire others with art in general because that's just something that feels overlooked in this day and age."
Ettrick said she hopes the program will be offered again in future years.
Other programs
Penn State Altoona and Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 also collaborated to support this summer's Sense-ational Endeavors summer camp, which has a morning session for children ages 4-8 and an afternoon session for ages 9-15 through July 24.
The camp offers thoughtfully designed sensory activities that encourage children with disabilities to explore, engage and create using all six senses. Each day features a unique theme with structured, hands-on experiences that incorporate physical movement, art, music and social skill developments, according to Penn State Altoona's website.
Kasey Schultz, an IU8 teacher who was employed through Penn State to oversee the camp, said children are supported in overcoming challenges within a safe and welcoming environment at the camp.
On Monday, participants were observed dancing to music, playing with drums and other toys.
"They're going to be working on music, art and sensory integration," Schultz said of the afternoon session, which had about a dozen participants this year.
"I just really hope that they make friends and they have a great time," she said.
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.