Kayla Ostriche is a first-year art education major. She is technically a sophomore because she has a year’s worth of credits completed due to being dual enrolled with Shippensburg previously. 

Ostriche is a decorated artist with many awards and mentions. Her achievements include placing third in a statewide art competition at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8896, winning the Gettysburg Times design competition twice and an honorable mention for the Scholastic art and writing competition twice.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was always artsy,” Ostriche said. “I liked to create and make things.” She had been exposed to art at a young age because her mom is an artist herself. “She draws and I was always around that,” Ostriche explained. 

In high school, Ostriche began to take her art career seriously. Her “sole inspiration” was her high school art teacher, Ms. Robinson. Before her first year of high school, Ostriche was doubtful of her talents and making a career in the art field. “She [Ms. Robinson] taught me and showed me how to create art, how to make a career out of it,” Ostriche said. 

Her favorite medium to work in is a toss-up between acrylic paint and a ball-point pen. “They are my go-to mediums,” Ostriche said. Her favorite 3D project she has made is as explained, a concert-like diorama made of recycled materials, nuts, bolts, nails and music mementos during her sophomore year of high school. Her favorite 2D piece is her colored pencil drawing of her father’s dog tags.

Ostriche also had an AP Studio portfolio based around the LGBTQ community, their rights and the discrimination against them. “Being OK with being yourself and not being afraid to show who you are was the theme behind my thesis,” Ostriche said. Ostriche translated it into art because she and her friends are a part of the community and have witnessed the hate and discrimination. 

“I want to do something about it. I want to advocate for it and the only way I know best to do that is through my art.”

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