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Sophia Freudenberger was recognized at the November Board of Regents meeting for her winning holiday card artwork, Festive Feathers. The detailed pencil drawing of a Canada goose celebrates the College’s new mascot and earned her a $500 award from the �ֲ���ý Foundation.

When �ֲ���ý student Sophia Freudenberger learned her artwork was selected to appear on the 2025 �ֲ���ý holiday card, she was stunned. Her winning piece, Festive Feathers, was revealed during the November �ֲ���ý Board of Regents meeting to a room full of applause.

Freudenberger said the news took her by surprise.

“I was shocked. I saw some of the other entries, and mine felt plain in comparison,” she said. “One morning I refreshed my email and saw the message saying mine was selected, and I couldn’t believe it. I’m honored they liked it.”

But Festive Feathers is anything but plain. The pencil drawing shows a Canada goose with a holiday wreath draped around its neck in detail that shows feathers, branches, and even the texture of the bird’s feet. The design pays tribute to �ֲ���ý’s new mascot, Blue the Goose.

“When I saw the new mascot, I loved it. I grew up with Canada geese around my childhood home, so I’ve always loved them,” said Freudenberger. “I wanted to draw something simple, like a goose, but still make it look realistic.”

Freudenberger is from Stillwater and graduated from Stillwater High School. She’s been drawing since childhood and gravitates toward pencil as her main medium. Her style is simple but detailed.

“I’ve always loved drawing and painting and little arts-and-craft projects,” she said. “In the past few years, I’ve been working on drawings where I put in more time and detail. I love taking a picture of something and seeing if I can recreate it in pencil.”

Creating Festive Feathers required a focused stretch of work. Freudenberger spent two full days on the artwork that is not much larger than the holiday card it appears on.

“I like the simplicity of pencil and paper. You can erase mistakes, at least up to a point before it shows on the paper,” she said. “Drawing is really therapeutic for me.”

Her path to �ֲ���ý wasn’t immediate. After taking college courses right after high school, she stepped away from school and worked full-time. She eventually returned to school when she felt ready.

“I’d researched �ֲ���ý and even started the application process a couple years ago. I decided the time was right to enroll,” she said. “Right now, I’m wrapping up my prerequisites to apply to the dental hygiene program. That’s my goal.”

In addition to having her artwork featured on the official �ֲ���ý holiday card, Freudenberger received a $500 prize from the �ֲ���ý Foundation and 50 printed copies of her design. She hopes other student artists who submit to future holiday card contests will trust their instincts and choose subjects they genuinely connect with.

“Pick something you already feel connected to. It makes it easier to bring a little bit of yourself into the piece.”