by: Andrew Waner
Madison Willcoxen is a graphic designer for the Prospectus and is the newest member of the team. So far, the design task has been an exciting one for her. “I’ve been loving laying out the newspaper. It’s been such a great experience that really pushes me out of my comfort zone and has already taught me how to think both rationally and outside the box,” Willcoxen said.
Willcoxen is 19 years old and has a younger sister named Morgan; Willcoxen is family person. “My sister is one of the people I go to to joke around with and let loose. My parents, Renee and Dave, have been the best supporters I could have asked for, they always know the right times to push me to do something and when to be a shoulder to cry on. I also think that they are where my sister and I get our creative minds from,” she said.
She is currently studying graphic design here at Parkland and after she graduates, hopes to get a job around Champaign so she can still be close to her family.
She decided to pursue graphic design when she joined the yearbook committee in high school. Before joining the yearbook committee, she was not sure what career path she wanted to pursue. Being a part of the committee gave her a lot of room for creativity and brainstorming.
Willcoxen is from a small town 40 minutes from Champaign called Penfield, where has lived most of her life. She graduated from Armstrong Township High School in May of 2018 and started attending Parkland in the fall of 2018, which has been a rewarding experience for her. “Parkland has been a huge and important steppingstone in my life,” Willcoxen said. “I’ve learned the most about both the world and myself while attending Parkland. My first job, my first applied graphic design experience, my professional knowledge, and my first adult friendships all thanks to Parkland College.”
Willcoxen’s favorite classes at Parkland have been the graphic design classes. In these classes, she has learned many technical skills that are incredibly important for building her portfolio. One of her favorite things about graphic design is seeing the finished product. “I am most passionate about my work. The most rewarding thing for me is to be finished with a piece of work and feel accomplished and proud of what I have created. It’s always an awesome feeling,” Willcoxen said.
Not only does she work for the student newspaper, but she also works at the Parkland Library where she has been able to interact with a variety of faculty, students, and staff. She works there as a student assistant and helps with questions and runs the library’s social media pages.
Outside of work and school, she enjoys photography and videography. Willcoxen likes taking photos and recording videos as personal projects. She also enjoys participating in various creative activities and dabbling in many different categories of art. Willcoxen is also super passionate about traveling, and she would love visit Paris or London someday.
To learn more about Willcoxen, please visit the ‘Meet the Staff’ section of the website.
