Cathy’s Person of the Week is Lacey Large-Schlaudecker, an artist who was honored with the Ars Poetica Award at WCCC’s 32nd Commencement Celebration.

By Cathy Miller

It’s a bittersweet time of year as colleges launch their graduates into the wild blue yonder.

Among those facing a wide-open future is Lacey Large-Schlaudecker, who walked in Warren County Community College’s 32nd Commencement Ceremony on May 18, earning an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts.

Earlier in the day, during the College’s Graduate Achievement Awards breakfast, Lacey received the Ars Poetica Award. Presented by English professors Brian Bradford and BJ Ward, the award is conferred upon a graduating student who, as a writer, visual artist, or editor, has contributed in a consistent and significant manner to the caliber of Ars Poetica, the college’s annual student art and literary magazine. In addition to her work with Ars Poetica, Lacey was also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Now that she has her Associate degree, she says she plans to attend a vet school and then to study art therapy.

Lacey’s interest in art goes back for years. “I’ve always loved art. I was always in the art room at school. I love to paint and make charms.”

Lacey originally attended Warren Hills Regional High School but transferred to Hunterdon Preparatory School in Annandale in her sophomore year. The transition to college was difficult at first: “WCCC was a close school and easy for me to get to. … It was an okay transfer, but I didn’t like how many students were in each class, coming from a school that only had five students in the class.”

But the college gave her an opportunity to explore her artistry. Concerning her art and inspiration, Lacey detailed, “I enjoy acrylics, and would love to get into oil painting. The picture I painted for Ars Poetica is called ‘Gnome of Light.’ It was more of a painting ‘in the moment,’ no specific reasoning for it. I just paint with the sounds of music and flow with it. Whenever I get stuck, I just listen to the music. Just like the song ‘Franklin’s Tower’ by the Grateful Dead said, ‘If you get confused, listen to the music.’”

“That painting [‘Gnome of Light’] is acrylic paint on a flat canvas,” she added. “I really enjoy painting on scrap wood and old cutting boards.”

Though active in the visual art aspect of Ars Poetica, she shied away from creative writing: “I write on my own time, not too much to share with others.”

What brings Lacey joy? “I enjoy being outdoors, hiking, making jewelry, and drawing. I love music. I have tons of pets—ferrets, dogs, cats, tortoises, frogs, chickens, ducks, quail, geckos, bearded dragons.”

What’s next for this young scholar? “I plan on going out west. I’d love to work with kids and animals on a campground as a therapy retreat for mental health.”

It’s a beautiful thing to successfully combine one’s passion and one’s career. It appears Lacey is well on her way to mapping out her destination as she heads to an artist’s dream—the land of open blue skies. Congratulations, Lacey Large-Schlaudecker.

When it comes to the people and happenings of Warren County, you can count on award-winning photographer Cathy Miller to be there to record the moment.