Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Design competition gives students golden opportunity
CEDARBURG, Wis. (CBS 58) -- If you asked a group of high schoolers what they want to be when they grow up, there may not be too many who said goldsmith.
But a fine jeweler in Cedarburg says it's an in-demand job. So, she took it on as a mission to introduce kids to the craft and a potential career option.
"I like to look at it," Sophia Seatz laughed.
Her pride is clear.
"The leaves go all the way around," she said, twisting a ring she designed in her hand.
She easily explained the concept behind a wrap ring she designed and created.
"It kind of came off of my dream engagement ring," she said of her inspiration. "The wedding band, as well as the engagement."
She spent second semester at Cedarburg High School working on the ring as part of the "Love Has Many Facets" design competition.
"We sketched ideas of our rings, what we want it to look like, and from there we got a malleable wax," Seatz explained.
Her hard work paid off -- her design got the most votes and won the competition. Last month, she was honored at a meet the artist party at the Pink Llama Gallery.
"I was so happy. And I wish I could go back and do it all over again. It was so fun," she said.
The competition is the brainchild of Patty Gallun-Hansen.
"It's a career option a lot of kids don't know about," she said.
Gallun-Hansen owns Gallun Fine Jewelry and said she sees a need in her industry.
"Everybody's yelling, we need more goldsmiths, we need more goldsmiths! But I wasn't really seeing a whole lot of people doing anything about it," she said.
Six years ago, she came up with the idea for the competition. It's a chance to expose Cedarburg students to a new opportunity.
"I knew if I was with her, she'd get it done," said Jack Henke. He co-founded the competition with Gallun-Hansen.
"Her excitement and enthusiasm, you can't, it's like infectious! So, she said she had an idea and I said, let's do it," Henke said.
Sophia named her winning piece "Intertwined."
Patty Gallun-Hansen
"The leaves represent kind of nature and vines, as well as love," she said, showing off the piece.
Her love of art and creativity is now entwined with possibilities for the future.
"There were so many doors that just opened up from this opportunity. And I'm so grateful to have it," Seatz said.
"You always hear the stereotype, you know, starving artist type thing. This is a way they can have a very viable career," said Gallun-Hansen.
You can buy Sophia's design and check out past student work at the Love Has Many Facets website. Money made from sales goes to the art department at the high school and to the artist.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].