Collin Petigna
Student Q & A
Pronouns: he/him
Hometown and state or country: Shawnee, KS
Year in School: Senior
College: Fulbright
Major of Study: BFA Graphic Design, BA Spanish
Tell us something about your academic passions and how those relate to your role in Student Affairs program or department?
Throughout my life, I have always loved student programming and being involved in my community. When I got to college, I knew I wanted to find an organization to continue this and that led me to Headliners. The Headliners Concert Committee plans various music events, including the Springtime of Youth music festival in the spring, and I knew I had to apply to be a part of that. During my time on Headliners, I have gotten to see the inner workings of what goes into planning large scale music events, and I have also gotten to put my graphic design major to use. As a graphic designer, what could be cooler than branding an entire music festival and designing their lineup posters? The answer is not much. There are not many places you can get this type of experience and I’m so glad I was able to join a committee like Headliners here at the U of A.
What has been your greatest experience outside of the classroom?
My greatest experience outside of the classroom was getting to study abroad in Madrid, Spain during the summer of 2019. While I was still in the classroom Monday through Friday, each weekend I got to explore a different region of Spain. Every city I visited had so much history to learn about and the beauty of Spanish architecture and artwork was unimaginable. I studied abroad for two months during the summer, but by the end of it, I wished I could have stayed for a whole semester. The U of A offers lots of opportunities and scholarships to study abroad and it was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I made during my time here at Arkansas.
What advice would you give new students about getting involved on campus?
There are so many different ways to find a community or an organization that you are passionate about. The best thing you can do is get involved early, during your Freshman and Sophomore years, because you will make so many connections that might lead you to even better opportunities. It’s also important to keep in mind that sometimes the first thing you get involved with isn’t the exact fit for you. There were organizations I tried to join and didn’t get in. Often, those things happen for a reason and will lead you to the right place. Don’t get discouraged and just put yourself out there!
What do you like to do with your time outside of the university?
Outside of school, I love to go thrifting, shoot film photography, and travel when I can.
When do you plan to graduate and what is coming next for you?
I will be graduating this May. While I don’t know exactly what the future holds, one of my biggest goals in life has been to become fluent in Spanish and that will likely be taking me to Spain this fall. I studied abroad in Madrid in the summer of 2019 and loved every minute of my time there. I am planning to move to Spain to teach English for a couple of years and then return to the States to pursue a career in Graphic Design.
Is there anything else you would like to add or let our readers know?
In my time here at Arkansas, I have tried to explore all facets of my interests. I’ve taken graphic design, photography, Spanish, political science, and countless other types of courses. Additionally, I’ve been involved with organizations from ASG, to Headliners, to the Razorback Marching Band, to mentoring international students. College is for growing into your passions and figuring out what you want to do with your future so use it to its full capacity. Join an organization, go to a free evening lecture you’re curious about, and meet new people. The University of Arkansas has so much to offer and it’s up to you to take full advantage of it!