Many Lincoln students plan to take just one art class at Lincoln in order to meet graduation requirements. Senior Selena Yao took six.

Starting her freshman year with graphic arts, Yao went on to take ceramics 1-2 and 3-4, draw paint print 3-4 and 7-8, as well as product design.

Outside of school, Yao traveled to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) to take a two-week art program. She also took a six-week graphic design course at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Yao has increased her art prowess by winning numerous awards throughout high school. Yao entered in her first contest her sophomore year, and won with her sketch of a pear, which was put on display at the Oregon College of Art and Craft.

Since then, Yao has entered the Scholastic Arts Competition, earning a gold key for one of her pieces, which was then put on display at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. This specific piece then went on to the National Competition for Scholastic Arts, winning silver.

Next year, Yao plans on “going to Pratt Art Institute in Brooklyn.” She explained that “Freshman year is a foundation year so you can have more options to do what you want and then sophomore year you get to choose your major, so I plan to major in graphic design”.

Yao’s dream job involves staying in New York after graduating.

“I kind of want to stay in New York. I want to take a business class and maybe open my own business. I mainly want to work creating designs for advertisements, billboards, posters, logos, something to do with graphic design or maybe painting like for murals, illustration books, cards and more,” she said.