by Jacinda Henry

The red lines depict an image of Rose Window Plaza, the stained-glass window in Alumni Auditorium. The first place image in the competition adorns the cover the of the new course catalogue for 2003-2004, but the artist behind the picture is even more interesting than the work.

Erin Casey, an up-and-coming graphic design student is a woman with a plan. Her ride to Friends University started with a cousin who majored in communications at Friends. Casey’s took an interest that became more apparent when she became the editor of the Sublette High School Larks yearbook.

“I fell into that by accident, really,” Casey said. “My sister was on the staff and assigned to take pictures of an event but couldn’t do it. So the responsibility fell on little sister, me.”

Casey took the pictures and became a regular at the yearbook room. She worked on everything from layout to photography, even designing the cover of the yearbook alongside a Jostens representative.

“I took the pictures and arranged them how I wanted them on the cover,” she said. “Jostens took the sketches I made and created the cover.”

Casey came to Friends to major in art with an emphasis in graphic design and a minor in publication. After a semester she changed majors to Graphic Design, Communications and a minor in marketing. This comes in handy for her current job in public relations.

“I design postcards, edit layouts, send out press releases and write,” Casey said.

To add to her experience, Casey will also begin an internship at Armstrong Shank in January.

Casey intends to work for a graphic design firm when she graduates in two years.

“I have a friend in Colorado who owns a graphic design firm and I want to work in a shop like hers when I finish school,” Casey said.

In the meantime, Casey will continue to be active in student government association, be a representative on several student boards including the judicial board, and work hard in her art classes.