Profile

Who are your two possible subjects?

Lex Piwcio: I would like to interview Lex because he is involved in a lot of things on campus and so I thought he would have an interesting perspective on campus life. He’s a part of APB, the UNE Players, various clubs, holds an internship in the clownfish lab in the Marine Science Center, and more. I always just thought he was a part of a little bit of everything and had an interesting perspective on life because of his experiences and the things he’s a part of.

Ava Orlando: I would like to interview Ava because she is an art major here at UNE. I thought it was interesting on her part because of all the schools she could have chosen to attend, namely an art school, she chose UNE. I also know she has a passion for community and teaching and is just generally a light here on campus. I feel like her story is interesting and she has a great career ahead of her. I also know she has some interesting hobbies aside from her passion for art, such as being a part of the birding club on campus and the UNE rowing team, and spending time in nature.

What is the angle you’ll take?

Lex Piwcio: I see Lex as a multifaceted individual. He seems to me like someone who likes to dip their toes into everything. I thought because of this I could use the angle of him being a ‘jack of all trades’ and being open-minded individual when it comes to trying new things. I think also because of this I could talk about his major since he has some interesting minors attached and what we can expect from him. I also know Lex has an interesting perspective and philosophy on life, especially since one of his minors is philosophy. So, some of the story could take an existential turn when it comes to his motto on life and why we should pay attention to him.

Ava Orlando: Ava has this great passion for art. Every time I need to find Ava she is in the art building on campus. However, I found her interesting because the art building on campus is no more than a glorified house, so why would she choose to come here and spend so much time in a place with little recognition? This initial question is why I wanted to interview Ava because I personally found it confusing and funny. After another thought I also remembered her passion for community and nature and spreading her passion. I knew she also had a minor in education. So, I wanted to not only use the angle of this passionate art student trying to earn recognition at a school that may overlook her, but also how she wants to use her passion to spread it to her community. I also found inspiring her perspective on community and what it means to her.

Based on your research, what questions might you ask?

Lex Piwcio:

What clubs/other activities are you involved in?
What is your perspective on trying new things and putting yourself out there?
How was your journey getting to college and where you are now?
How/why did you choose your major/minors?
How has your passion for philosophy shaped your perspective on life, especially at UNE?

Ava Orlando:

Why did you choose UNE instead of an art school?
How has your passion for art shaped your life?
What does community mean to you?
How do you hope to influence your community?
In an ideal world, what do you hope to do with your career?
What other passions do you have?

200 Word Draft-

Emerging Talent in the Art Program at the University of New England

Natalie DeGreenia

University Student

At the University of New England most of the programs are predominately STEM oriented. Of the nearly 7,000 students enrolled there are an estimated 15 Art and Design Media majors, among them being first year student, Ava Orlando.

Orlando spends most of her time in UNE’s Arts building, one of the smallest on campus. Even on a Sunday afternoon she can be seen in a pair of overalls with clay caked on the knee and paint splattered boots, working on the latest project. For Orlando being an art major doesn’t just mean an academic pursuit but a never-ending process of learning and expression.

“I like to learn. I’ve learned I can paint, draw, do photography, ceramics… It’s kind of like a tree, you can branch off in different directions and, you know, you’re not set on that one path. You can go all over the place and then come back to where you started and just keep going.” Orlando says.

Orlando came to UNE not only because it reminded her of home, but also because it wasn’t your traditional art school. Orlando stated, “I wasn’t really going to go to art school because there are other things I like to do. My minor is education, so I don’t think I would have been able to focus on that part in my degree if I just went to art school.”

Orlando’s hometown is Gloucester, Massachusetts. Described by Orlando as “a close-knit community” with a population of approximately 30,000 people spread over a small chunk of land on the Atlantic coast. The community is what inspires Orlando’s passion for art and a passion for teaching. She recalls the Gloucester school system actually heavily discouraged her when it came to art as she found it constricting and full of bias. However, the combination of the strong sense of culture in her town and bad school experiences motivated Orlando to seek change.

“I love kids, I like teaching and being that kind of person, you can lean on or look up to. I want to be a good role model, just because I feel like younger kids today don’t really have anyone like that, especially in art disciplines. You know, you don’t have to be super talented, or a savant, art is for everyone.” Orlando says.

400 Word Draft–

Emerging Talent in the Art Program at the University of New England

A look at one of the school’s current art majors and what we can look forward to from them

Natalie DeGreenia

University Student

Orlando volunteers at the local Biddeford Middle School teaching and assisting the art program. Using her artistic expertise and belief in fostering freedom of expression in the community, Orlando brings to the Biddeford school system what she says she wishes she saw in the Gloucester school system. Working with kids has encouraged and inspired her to work towards goals for her future. This is only a steppingstone though for Orlando though as she has many other commitments and aspirations back at UNE.

800 Word Draft (Workshop Draft)–

Emerging Talent in the Art Program at the University of New England

A look at one of the school’s current art majors and what we can look forward to from them

Natalie DeGreenia

4/7/2025

University Student

Though UNE’s art program is small Orlando claims it is mighty. “They (the professors) always appreciate anybody who wants to study in the arts. I do agree it’s kind of small, but I think mostly it’s the reason that is just because people go to the school for STEM and then don’t pay any attention to anything else. And I think it would be kind of nice for like the art the, you know, our community, to rise up, get noticed.” However, despite the size of her program Orlando says she has always felt supported in her education at UNE.

Aside from academics Orlando also participates in the UNE birding club. She says, “I’m an avid bird watcher. I love birds. I love everything about them. I think they’re such interesting and such beautiful animals. I just have a really big appreciation for the natural world and nature in general. I love being outside.” Orlando’s art can be noted to have themes of birds of all different species in their natural environments. The combination of vibrant colors and her unique style makes her work stand out in a gallery.

Orlando is also on the rowing team. “I am a rower. UNE does have a rowing team, and I am technically on it. It’s just so fun to be able to move your body in a way that has purpose, you control where the boat goes, and you have total freedom to go wherever you want.” Her hobby was first nurtured in the waters outside Gloucester, and just like her ambition to teach, is now moving to the Biddeford community.

Orlando says beyond her time at UNE she hopes to own a store where she can sell her art and teach classes on the side. Though she hopes to connect with the youth Orlando wants to stay out of the school system as a career due to the often “combative nature” according to her. “I tend to not follow the rules sometimes and just kind of do my own thing. It usually works out in the end, but, you know, in a professional environment, I just don’t think that would work all that well.” Orlando stated.

Though Orlando often finds herself in a small pool, her ambition can be inspiring as we look towards the future career of one of the 15 art majors at UNE.

Revised Final Draft-

Emerging Talent in the Art Program at the University of New England

A look at one of the school’s current art majors and what we can look forward to from them

Natalie DeGreenia

4/7/2025

University Student

Orlando recalls the Gloucester school system actually heavily discouraged her when it came to art as she found it constricting and full of bias. However, the combination of the strong sense of culture in her town and bad school experiences motivated Orlando to seek change.

“I love kids, I like teaching and being that kind of person… you can look up to. I want to be a good role model, just because I feel like younger kids today don’t really have anyone like that, especially in art disciplines. You don’t have to be… a savant, art is for everyone.” Orlando says.

Working with kids has encouraged and inspired her to work towards goals for her future. This is only a steppingstone though for Orlando though as she has many other commitments and aspirations back at UNE.

A first-year student, Calyn Heroux, has taken an art class with Orlando before. She says, “I love working with Ava. She makes art fun, and we’ve become good friends over our shared need to find expression in art.”

Orlando’s art can be noted to have themes of birds of all different species in their natural environments. The combination of vibrant colors and her unique style makes her work stand out in a gallery.

“I tend to not follow the rules sometimes and just kind of do my own thing. It usually works out in the end, but, you know, in a professional environment, I just don’t think that would work all that well.” Orlando stated.

Workshop Experience-

I really liked this workshop. I worked with Quinnley and Wes and just sitting around a table talking about it with no pressure worked really well for me. I feel like we were really able to have a constructive conversation and there was a lot less fear of being taken the wrong way. Some things that were pointed out to me by my group was first my lack of a quote from an outside source. I did have struggles trying to find someone to vouch for my subject and I was worried it wouldn’t sound right in my article. However, my group reassured me that it would sound better from their perspectives if I included someone else. Another thing we talked about was my paragraph sizing and how it got more disproportionate as the story progressed. I didn’t even realize I was using longer and longer quotes and not breaking it up as effectively, so I appreciated the outside eyes for that. They commented on my general voice and personality through the profile but said in some places it lacked the personality of my subject. Especially in the last paragraph I didn’t end on a quote, not giving my subject the last word. Overall, I really appreciated being able to voice my concerns to the group and have them do the same to be able to go back and forth and have our ideas build off each other. I feel like discussing it in an open environment was extremely helpful. In my final draft I plan on breaking up the paragraphs to make it feel more even. I also plan on adding in at least one quote from an outside source, I’m thinking a peer of my subject to be able to get a more personal perspective on her. I also plan on getting rid of some unnecessary commenting on my part and ending in a quote to put the focus on my subject.

Profile Story Reflection-

I was worried about this project going in. I knew I wanted to choose a peer of mine to interview because it felt more personal and I believed I could get a deeper understanding of them to be able to write a more interesting story on them. However, I was worried because my peers, unlike some professors or other faculty at this school, don’t yet have as accomplished of a life. I didn’t know how I could work an angle on a person who is just beginning their career and their time at UNE. I felt like I had to prove my subject to the reader and convince people why they were important. However, as I was having trouble writing this because of those barriers I took time to reflect. This really became apparent to me the angle I could work after my interviews actually. The questions and conversations I had with people is what really convinced me and got me to see the angle I was writing and the person I was presenting to the world. I began to see it as more of an opportunity to put this person on display and I worked hard to keep my bias and worry out of it. I had to really turn off my brain and just turn the camera toward my subject and try to capture them as they are, and not how I see them. This made it a really interesting experience for me and afterward I was proud of the way I was able to put my friend on display. There are perhaps things I would do differently if given a second chance, like working more on interviewing other people and not homing in as much on just Ava Orlando. But overall, I feel like I learned a lot about bias and what good storytelling looks like, even if it didn’t seem like there was much of a story to begin with.