Opportunities that shape a student’s future begin with potential and a community willing to invest in it. For Marietta College junior Rose Lansana ’27, that investment opened a door to study this summer at the Penland School of Craft, where she received a full scholarship: the Lucy Morgan Scholarship.
In addition to earning the Lucy Morgan Scholarship, Lansana was selected by Marietta College’s Art Department as this year’s recipient of the Foraker Family Endowed Prize, which supports an experiential, “life-changing” learning opportunity for art majors during the summer before their senior capstone year. Established by Daniel G. Foraker ’73 and Kathi P. Foraker, the endowment funding ranges from $1,000 to $2,900, depending on the number of applications and merit, with priority given to proposals that demonstrate the most transformational impact. A native of Westerville, Ohio, Lansana will spend a week in May 2026 studying at the renowned Penland School of Craft ahead of her senior capstone year.
Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Penland School of Craft is celebrated nationally for its rigorous, studio-based approach to craft education. Founded in 1920, the institution is highly regarded for its selective programs, scholarships and residencies. The rural campus offers an intensive environment where artists live and work alongside internationally recognized faculty and peers. At Penland, students gain access to exceptional studios, mentorship, and cross-disciplinary dialogue that encourages experimentation and artistic risk-taking.
A double major in studio art and psychology, Lansana originally discovered Marietta College through a theatre audition, having been involved in theatre throughout middle and high school. Once she toured Marietta’s historic campus, she fell in love with it, as it reminded her of Westerville’s uptown.
Lansana entered Marietta intending to become a children’s psychologist, drawn by her long-standing fascination with the mind. During her first year, she rediscovered her passion for art, which she has loved since childhood. The desire to reincorporate art into her life led her to research art therapy. Realizing she wanted to be a children’s art therapist, Lansana switched trajectories from a theatre minor to a studio art minor but soon elevated it to a full major. Lansana hopes to blend her interests in psychology and art to help children express themselves through creative practice, and believes the disciplines complement one another as she shapes her future.
Receiving the Foraker Family Endowed Prize affirmed her path. “Doing this, taking art head-on and applying for the scholarship, is regaining my love for art,” Lansana said. “It’s a sense that what I’m interested in doing is the right thing for me and what I’m meant to be doing. Receiving this scholarship gives me extra motivation to keep going and shows that I’m making the right choices.”
McCoy Professor of Art Jolene Powell noted that this experience accelerates technical and conceptual growth that will potentially propel Lansana’s senior capstone to a high level.
“Rose is a wonderful student, always putting extra time into her artwork to make it top-notch, and the selection committee at Penland School of Craft clearly saw what we, in the Art Department and at Marietta College, already know. Being selected to attend Penland is a remarkable achievement for a young artist because it represents entry into one of the most respected and immersive art and craft communities in the United States,” said Powell. “Admission is competitive, with participants chosen for their artistic merit, creative potential, and readiness to engage seriously with their discipline. For emerging artists, this recognition affirms that their work has already reached a level of promise that resonates beyond the classroom and sets them on track for a career after graduation.”
For Lansana, the opportunity to study at Penland will enable her to explore new mediums and bring her artistic skills into her psychology work. She looks forward to creating art that isn’t only for assignments and being surrounded by like-minded individuals.
“This is going to give me opportunities to explore a new medium that I can translate into my psychology sessions,” said Lansana. “People see something in my art and see the love that I am putting into it. It feels good to know that I have not only the backing from the College but the organization itself that I applied to, saying they believe in me.”
Beyond her coursework and studio practice, Lansana draws inspiration from her family and her first-generation heritage. Originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, her family has been her biggest motivator. She hopes her work can create safe spaces for Black children and children of all ethnicities to explore their emotions and identities through art. Lansana also credits the guidance of her professors, particularly Powell and her psychology instructors, for helping her navigate studies and prepare for the next steps in her career.
“I try to have as much open communication with my professors as possible. They always give guidance and have been very helpful in my education journey and next steps,” Lansana said. “Having a great support system at home and on Marietta’s campus has been invaluable.”
Lansana plans to pursue graduate study as she continues shaping a path that fully integrates her interests in art, psychology, and child development. She believes strengthening both her art skills and her understanding of the mind will prepare her for a meaningful career. This summer in North Carolina, she looks forward to immersing herself in a focused, creative environment alongside artists who share her passion for meaningful work.
Marietta College celebrates Lansana’s achievement as a reflection of the confidence, creativity, and perseverance of its students. The art department remains deeply grateful to the Foraker family for their generosity and continued support of the College’s emerging artists. Investments like the Foraker Family Endowed Prize demonstrate Marietta College and its alumni’s shared commitment to supporting hands-on, transformational experiences that prepare students for meaningful careers and lives of purpose.