By: Emma Rojas ’18 and Adam Wenkoff ’18

While many graduating seniors are going to college to study subjects like business, computer science or psychology, some of them have chosen to study art. Sebastian Avila ’17, Sophia Livecchi ’17, Mary McGee ’17 and Matteo Broccolo ‘17 have all chosen to continue to study art after they leave Staples High School.

As of now, Avila will be be studying at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles after taking a gap semester this fall to work and travel. “I’m excited to work on things that I love and be inspired by new people,” Avila said.

McGee will be attending the Rhode Island School of Design this fall. She is currently undecided about what she will study but said that she is “most likely going to do some type of fine art.”

Livecchi will be attending Skidmore College where she is considering minoring in art once she is able to choose her majors and minors as a sophomore. “[I’m] excited for the environment of people that all have passions for creativity in every kind of shape and form,” Livecchi said.

Additionally, Broccolo will be studying industrial design at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts where he is “looking forward to new classes and learning new techniques.”

For these art schools and programs, the application process was different than for most other schools.

According to Avila, his application process for the Otis College of Art and Design was easier in some ways, but harder in others. “Most art schools don’t use the common app […] so I had to sign up to each separately,” he said. “They don’t require or depend on test scores and essays as much as academic colleges do, so that was easier. The only thing that matters when applying is a strong portfolio.”

McGee also had to submit a portfolio, which she said was “a lot of work but also fun.” Otherwise, she said that her admissions process was similar to most students.

The process for Broccolo was especially different because he had to apply to both the university and to the arts college. “I was required to do two different applications: one to the main school, and then to the art college within the university,” Broccolo said. “I had to do the general application to Syracuse, then also submit a portfolio with 10-12 pieces and a couple small supplemental essays about the art.”

All of these students have shown dedication for art during their time at Staples. They have taken many of the 30 art classes that are offered, which they said has helped fuel their passion for the subject.

“I was really inspired to start doing more art from freshman year in my design and tech class,” Broccolo said. “After taking that class, I was inspired to do more, and I became more and more excited about art and design.”

Avila took every single drawing class that Staples offered, as well as AP studio art, oil painting, digital media, animation and sculpting. “I especially liked advanced drawing for the figure studies we got to do and oil painting because I’m an ‘oil-boy,’” Avila said.

During Livecchi’s time at Staples, she took Watercolor 1, Advanced Watercolor, Mural Painting, Drawing 1, Advanced drawing, Drawing honors and AP Studio Art. She especially liked AP Studio Art. “I was able to express myself however I wanted to and I was able to focus in on materials I actually wanted to use,” she said.

The Staples art department has a great history of sending graduates on to art colleges. In the past years, students have gone to study industrial, furniture, advising and service design, according to Camille Eskell, the AP Studio Art and advanced drawing teacher. “It’s very interesting to see how they branch out with their talents from here,” Eskell said.

Eskell thinks that Staples graduates are very well prepared for art courses at their colleges. “Sometimes they are ahead of the class because we have covered some of that stuff already,” Eskell said.

McGee agreed, saying that she believes Staples prepared her well for the admissions process into the Rhode Island School of Design. “Ms. Eskell is an amazing teacher, and the art program at Staples is really good,” she said.

Even though they are sad to see their students go, the art teachers at Staples are glad to see the lasting impact that high school art has on these students.

“It is gratifying to know that the arts were an influential part of a student’s high school experience,” Tracy Wright said, “especially when a student chooses to pursue their passion with a career in art.”