-- Rebekah Strickbine, a December 2025 graduate of Newman University, returned to campus this spring to showcase her first major illustration series at the Steckline Gallery, one of the premier exhibition spaces in Kansas and the Midwest. The exhibition, titled "Walks with Joy," featured more than 45 original acrylic illustrations created as part of a children's book project. The collection represents both a professional achievement and the culmination of her artistic development through Newman's support system.
More information is available at https://newmanu.edu/academics/art
Strickbine's path from uncertain first-year student to working professional artist illustrates how Newman integrates creative training with career preparation. During her time at the university, she participated in the Honors Program, worked as a student graphic designer for University Relations, and completed graphic design internships. According to independent survey data, 91 percent of Newman students report employment one year after graduation. For Strickbine, these institutional touchpoints provided both artistic training and the professional development necessary to launch a freelance design career.
Faculty mentorship played a central role in helping Strickbine develop artistic clarity and purpose. Professor Shannon Johnston challenged her throughout art classes to think critically about the meaning behind her work, while Professor Emily Ritter fostered a culture of friendship and support within the department that made creating in community enjoyable. Newman's 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio enabled this level of individualized attention, allowing instructors to push students beyond technical skills toward meaningful artistic vision. "The amount of coaching I received during my time at Newman to be able to complete this project is unreal," Strickbine said.
Beyond classroom instruction, Strickbine gained practical experience through multiple real-world work opportunities. During the summer before her final semester, she secured an internship with McCurdy Real Estate and Auction, where she designed marketing materials, assisted with online auctions, conducted competitor research, and developed professional communication skills. Her role as a student graphic designer in University Relations provided additional hands-on experience, including designing pole banners displayed along campus sidewalks. Currently, she works on an indoor mural project for Country Acres Baptist Church and holds a part-time position with a T-shirt design company, demonstrating how Newman's experiential learning model translates into active professional work.
The thematic depth of "Walks with Joy" emerged from Strickbine's exposure to meaningful conversations in honors courses about grief, joy, beauty, and purpose. The series centers on four characters and addresses the difference between happiness and joy, a lesson Strickbine learned during a difficult personal season. "I found myself wrestling with the question, 'What does grieving joy look like?'" she said. This synthesis of technical skill and philosophical inquiry reflects Newman's liberal arts environment, where fine arts education extends beyond studio practice to engage students intellectually and creatively across disciplines.
Strickbine arrived at Newman knowing she loved art but uncertain how to turn passion into career. Through faculty guidance, internships, and on-campus work experiences, she graduated with both artistic confidence and professional direction. "I worked for real companies, experienced real work environments and was able to graduate with an art major and business experience, fully informed about my options going forward," she said. The Steckline Gallery, which hosts monthly exhibits for local, regional, national, and international artists, provided Newman students like Strickbine with opportunities to showcase their work in a recognized professional setting.
Prospective art students and their families can learn more about Newman University's fine arts program and the resources available to support artistic and career development at https://newmanu.edu/
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Organization: Newman University
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