Kimberley Massey/Rocky View Publishing

Springbank's Tyler Fedoroshyn placed second for rural Alberta students in the 2012 Calgary Stampede Western Art Scholarship competition in July. His passion for trains inspired the oil painting, "Locomotives in the Morning", which earned him a $1,750 scholarship he will put toward his education in engineering.

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Springbank student awarded Stampede art scholarship

A Springbank Community High School graduate was one of six high school students to have his talents rewarded through the Calgary Stampede’s Grade 12 Western Art Scholarship last month.

Tyler Fedoroshyn, who placed second in the Rural Alberta division of the annual competition in July for his oil painting, “Locomotives in the Morning,” said the $1,750 scholarship is important to continuing his education.

“It will be a really big help to me,” said the 18-year-old, who entered the competition at the urging of his art teacher, Erin Tysowski.

“I will be putting it right into my schooling this year.”

Fedoroshyn, who grew up in Calgary and has lived in Springbank for the past four years, will be attending Mount Royal University this fall to study engineering.

He said trains, the subject of his painting and something that has been a major interest of his for years, almost became his career.

“I used to want to go into locomotive engineering so I could actually be the one driving the train, but I decided to stray away from that because of my abilities in math and sciences. I thought it might be better to pursue mechanical or electrical engineering,” he said.

Fedoroshyn said he has loved locomotives since he was a child, when his mother would dress him up as an train conductor, so it was very easy to decide on a subject to paint for the competition.

“I decided to do a painting of a train because trains are a passion of mine and everything I do is train-related,” he said.

“It’s been an interest of mine for as long as I can remember. All kids like trains and I guess I just held onto that.”

While he was glad to be able to express his passion through painting, Fedoroshyn admits he was surprised to find he actually possessed a skill with the medium, which he only took up this year.

“I was totally surprised that I was good at it,” he said.

“I still surprise myself, it’s weird. I’m never totally sure if it’s going to work out, but it seems to be.”

The Stampede created its Grade 12 Western Art Scholarship in 1986 to encourage high school graduates with proficiency in art to pursue post-secondary education.

Every year, $10,500 is divided amongst three Calgary students and three from high schools throughout southern Alberta.

A significant portion of the funds for the scholarship come from the sale of art from the Quick Draw.

Another Springbank artist, Ursula Pagenkopf, participated in that event this year.

(See story on Pagenkopf at www.rockyviewweekly.com)

For more information on the Calgary Stampede’s Grade 12 Western Art Scholarship, visit www.westernshowcase.com

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