Azubiuke Whigham

“After graduating from Carthage, I plan to become a part-time freelance photographer while also running my clothing brand full time. I have launched my brand while still in school and am hoping that by the time I graduate, I will be able to support myself financially through that.”

“Carthage faculty have had a major impact on my life. Being able to build in-depth relationships with professors due to small class sizes is another reason that I chose Carthage. My relationships with faculty have helped me succeed in many aspects and knowing that I have mentors to reach out to for advice, whether it’s school-related or not, takes some of the pressure off of being a college student. I believe that I am in the best position to succeed here at Carthage.”

“My favorite class so far has been my digital photography class with Professor Jojin Van Winkle. I learned a lot in that class, and as a result, raised my confidence level as a photographer by a lot.”

“I haven’t had any graphic design internships as of yet, but I just completed my first photography internship this summer. During this internship, I was able to take pictures for the Chicago Blitz football team, which is part of the highest level of American football available for women. In my time with the team, I was able to capture some great shots that I was able to put into my portfolio.”

“I am having my very first public photography exhibition this fall in the new Engagement and Inclusion Center at Carthage. I am very excited about this event.”

“Some of my favorite memories here at Carthage were during my freshman year. Being so young in a brand new environment surrounded by my peers was such a surreal feeling and one that I’ll never forget. An inevitable reality of life is that some friends will eventually transfer or drop out, but not many are thinking about either of those options their freshman year, it’s just pure enjoyment.”

“My favorite spot on campus is the photography studio in the basement of the Johnson Art Center. I have created great art in there, and plan to continue utilizing that resource during my time here at Carthage.”

“The biggest surprise for me has been my personal journey here at Carthage. After taking a year off of school to heal from ACL surgery, I was conflicted about whether to enroll back or not. Now that I have enrolled back at Carthage, I know that this was the best decision for me. I have found my passion and am looking forward to improving my skills as an artist.”

“My eight-year-old self would not be too surprised of where I’m at today, since I grew up traveling every summer with a relative that was very big on taking photos everywhere we went.”

“I would recommend anyone with an artistic mind to pursue graphic design. Having the power to create your own reality is a special skill that not everyone possesses. A popular saying I’ve heard about graphic design and many other artistic careers is that ‘Our dinosaur hasn’t died yet,’ meaning that learning more artistic skills is never boring and does nothing but bring more life to your work. I would advise each graphic design student to create their own logo so that they can mark all of their work that will go out into the digital world.”

“I chose Carthage because it was the best school for me both athletically and academically. Although I am no longer playing football due to an injury, I still have the opportunity to succeed as a scholar at a high level. I am a very family-oriented person, so being close to home is another reason that I chose Carthage.”