Senior awarded OWS scholarship

Mike Barker
Staff Writer

Smiling proud. Senior Kelly Haga poses with family abnd faculty after winning an art scholarship. Haga was awarded $750 and $200 worth of art supplies

   The Zanesville Art Center came alive on Sept. 20, when President Anne Steele and Professor John Sun accompanied Kelley Haga, Muskingum college student and the 2003 recipient of the Ohio Watercolor Scholarship.

   "Muskingum has only encouraged me more to pursue my love of art and a career in it," Haga said. "My professors constantly encourage and reinforce my ideas and creativity."

   Haga said Muskingum gives her freedom to express a "unique style" with her artistic abilities.

   "I can say that it has made me appreciate what art can do for a person," Haga said. "There are so many ways to use art in our everyday lives, and I did not realize that until I came here (Muskingum)."

   Graduating from Dover High School in 2000, Haga attributes her love for art to a former teacher.

    "I would look forward to art class everyday with Mrs. Kennedy," said Haga. "She had such enthusiasm and a love for her work that I wanted to strive for he same thing."

   Sun nominated Haga, and he has been her advisor and teacher for the past three years.

   "Kelly Haga is very talented and she is experimental to a very high degree," Sun said.

   The scholarship, which was sponsored by the Ohio Watercolor Society (OWS), gave 750 dollars with 200 dollars in art material and a 750 dollar gift to the Muskingum College Art Department.

   "By winning the scholarship I am able to help the school fund art instruction, as well as promote myself as an artist," Haga said. "It is such an overwhelming feeling of joy."

   Haga is a student assistant for the graduate program at Muskingum. She is a member of the Art Club, where she has helped organize art shows. Haga is also a current member of the Chi Alpha Nu sorority. She is planning on student teaching in the field of art when she graduates from Muskingum.

   "It was amazing to have a piece hanging in the governor's office. I never thought at that time that I was an artist until then," said Haga. "That is why the praise of; as well as, displaying students work is my gal as an art teacher, to introduce them into the art world."

   Haga wants children to experience the same joy of art that she has. She believes art is an important outlet for young people that should not be overlooked.

   Focusing on furthering the public's interests in watercolor, the OWS was founded in 1978.

   One of the uses for member donations is the annual scholarship program, according to the OWS Web site. OWS, for 14 years, has presented this award to a college student who works in water media.

   The faculty of the recipient's college art department selects the student. The award goes to an undergraduate art major who shows a high level of ability in the water media and has an interested in art as a vocation.

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