Rose State College is proud of our students – past and present. We’re excited to introduce you to the next Raider in our “Glad I Chose Rose” series, highlighting Rose State College alumni!
Meet Candice Ford. Class of 2025.
Candice earned an Associate of Arts in Fine Arts before transferring to the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art degree. She discovered RSC while researching colleges close to her hometown.
During her time at RSC, Candice loved being part of the art program. One of her most memorable projects was creating a ceramic mural in Professor Suzanne Thomas’s mural class.
Because Candice was the only student enrolled in the class that semester, she completed the mural by herself. Knowing Candice’s passion for ceramics, Professor Thomas encouraged her to create a ceramic mural rather than painting directly on the wall.
Candice titled her mural “Chickasaw Spirit.” The piece features earthenware tiles, grout, a wooden frame, and PVC trim and measures 44.25 x 44.25 x 5 inches.
Candice described the project:
“Each tile was formed, sculpted, and painted by hand. The imagery features important Chickasaw elements. In the inner circle, you can see a stomp dance being performed around the fire, or sun. Below this you can see a meal being served, including the ‘Three Sisters’ stew (beans, squash, and corn). Sunflowers surround the inner circle, while the Chickasaw logo can be seen above and below. Finally, each corner features an animal important to the Chickasaw people. I designed this project in my final semester at Rose State to honor and learn more about my tribe.”
Candice expressed her gratitude to Violet Salazar for helping her with the mural.
When we asked Candice who most influenced her time at RSC, she said it was her art professors: Professor Thomas, Professor Tracy, and Professor Austin.
Candice’s advice for future RSC students is to visit campus and ask questions. “Rose State College has so much to offer with great faculty and staff who want to help you succeed.”
Visit Rose State College to learn more.