Ashley Careaga

Gig Harbor High School senior a talented artist with career plans in graphic design

Ashley Careaga discovered her talent and love for art while she was in high school. After learning about Photoshop, a digital-imaging program, she taught herself how to use it with her teacher’s notes and online tutorials.

Careaga said she fell in love with the program. Last year, she entered one of her photos into a national yearbook competition in Anaheim, Calif., and she won an excellence award in the category.

As she continued to develop her skill, Careaga started to create poster designs and other projects. She was even hired by a neighbor to take family photos at a local park.

“Ashley has an amazing eye as a photographer,” said Melanie Halsan, a Gig Harbor resident who has known Careaga for more than 10 years. “She is able to capture quite touching moments with her camera, as well as the silly, active ones. She also integrates multiple photographs into amazing images unlike anything I have ever seen. Her creative skills and abilities will only continue to bloom.”

One of Careaga’s highest achievements was when she created a video yearbook as part of her senior project. Although she previously hadn’t used a video camera or the program Final Cut Express, she again taught herself with online tutorials.

Careaga filmed student life, assemblies and events such as dances and club activities, then viewed all her footage to select the best images. The minimum requirement for the senior project is 25 hours of work — and Careaga quadrupled that.

Implementing an idea for the school’s Hall of Fame was another project Careaga considers among her highest achievements. The Hall of Fame is a yearbook section that includes seniors who are voted to have the best hair, most artistic, etc.

Not only was Careaga included in the Hall of Fame, she organized the voting, created ballots, then photographed 24 full-body shots of the winners and 24 portraits of the winners’ friends. She then created original graphics to use as backgrounds for each category. The entire project took a month.

“I put a lot of originality into it,” she said.

Careaga plans to study art and graphic design in college, with a goal of working in advertising or graphic design. She said creating layouts and using her creativity for the yearbook was the most enjoyable thing she’s done in high school, and she wants to continue developing her talent.

Careaga has been involved with various high school activities, including clubs and sports, as well as volunteering her time while holding a paid job.

“She faces challenges with grace, poise and perseverance, skills that will serve her well in her collegiate endeavors and throughout life,” Halsan said.

Ashley Careaga

Education: Senior, Gig Harbor High School

GPA: 3.5

Parents: Steve and Lisa Careaga

Activities/achievements: Golf letter (twice); Photography Club president; AP classes; swim team; yearbook editor; TideFest volunteer; video yearbook; Photoshop award at a competition in Anaheim, Calif.

Favorite teacher: Mr. Potasky, because “he is the teacher who helped me toward my path of photography,” Careaga said. “He lets me use the studio any time and work in his Mac lab.”

Best thing about high school: “Yearbook is the best because I have a chance to be really creative and make original layouts. I also love the trips we take to conventions, and the environment is great because we are like one big family.”