Oswego student’s design among finalists for 'I Voted at SUNY' sticker contest
A design by SUNY Oswego illustration major Jamie Farrell is among the six finalists up for vote in the "I Voted at SUNY" sticker design contest announced on Oct. 13 by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.
SUNY students, faculty and staff are encouraged to vote for their favorite student-submitted sticker design by visiting suny.edu/vote through 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. The winning sticker will be made available at all SUNY polling sites throughout New York state during the Nov. 3 midterm elections, including the Hall Newman Center on Oswego's campus.
“A core part of SUNY's commitment to civil discourse and civic engagement is empowering our students and ensuring they feel engaged and a part of the democratic process,” SUNY Chancellor King said.
“We were thrilled to see so many students engage with this opportunity and I applaud all of the SUNY students who took the time to create and submit sticker designs,” Chancellor King added. “This sticker design opportunity is part of our ongoing efforts to encourage civil discourse and inspire nonpartisan civic engagement, including through voting.”
The "I Voted at SUNY" sticker design opportunity builds on SUNY’s commitment to advancing civil discourse, civic education and nonpartisan civic engagement among SUNY students.
Promoting liberty and voting
Farrell’s design – one of just six finalists from schools across SUNY -- shows an updated rendition of the Statue of Liberty with red and white stripes and a blue field of stars in the background.
“My inspiration for my design is Lady Liberty and her impact on America,” Farrell said. “My design is my take on a slightly more modern Lady Liberty, insinuating she’s going through the same things as we are. I believe Liberty is something we all need right now, and I'd like to imagine Lady Liberty on her way to vote to ensure liberty stays with us even in times of uncertainty.”
Farrell was drawn to the initiative due to the importance of Americans letting their voices be heard in the electoral process.
“It was important to me to participate in this initiative because, as a person who was born a woman, I know how important voting is,” Farrell said. “For years, people fought for the right to vote, and having a voice in what’s going on in the government is very important to ensure our voices are heard and our values are represented.”
For Farrell, the interest in art dates back to preschool years.
“I was always doodling, and my teachers were very supportive,” Farrell recalled. “One teacher drew Winnie the Pooh on a piece of paper for me, and my mind was blown. I knew I wanted to be able to make works of art ever since. The support from my teachers never stopped over the years, and the more I drew, the better I became.”
That support included teachers at Liverpool High School making sure Farrell could explore those talents on a college level – ultimately at a nearby university that offered great value.
“I never thought college would be in my future, as I didn’t come from a lot of money, but in my final year of high school, my art teachers all banded together to give me a scholarship to pursue art,” Farrell said. “I bought myself an iPad and looked for colleges, which led me to find Oswego.”
Among Oswego faculty members, Farrell especially wanted to thank Richard Metzgar, Liz Hunt and Lisa DuBois of the Art and Design Department.