While it takes some college students years to realize what they want to do in life, senior David Oicata had it all figured out by the time he was in second grade. He wanted to make ceramics.

“I remember being in elementary school and thinking, this is what I want to do.” Oicata said. “I would go after school and just play with clay, making little sculptures and things.”

Oicata has come a long way since then, winning a full scholarship to the University of Kansas, one of the best ceramics schools in the country. He and two other students were chosen out of 6,000 applicants to receive the money.

“When I first heard over the phone that I’d won, I went crazy and jumped everywhere,” Oicata said. “My friends had to hold me down; I was just that happy.”

The piece that Oicata entered in the scholarship competition was something he calls “The Jolly Green Giant.”

“It’s a wheel thrown piece, green with a dark blue lid,” Oicata said. “It was really shiny and took me about three days to make. After I won the scholarship, I ended up giving it away.”

While Oicata appears to be fully independent when it comes to making his pieces, he gives much credit to his mentor and ceramics teacher, William Kidd, for giving him guidance and advice.

“Mr. Kidd, hands down, is my biggest influence,” Oicata said. “Ever since I first entered his class I’ve been so impressed with everything he does. You see him create pottery with such ease and you just want to be like him. It makes you try harder.”

In turn, Kidd admires Oicata for his hard work and dedication.

“He’s always working,” Kidd said. “The only way someone can receive a full scholarship like that is if you work all the time. He clearly loves what he does and this is what he wants to pursue. He has such an advanced skill for someone his age and I think that’s great.”

Along with Kidd, Oicata’s parents have supported him as well.

“My parents are great,” Oicata admits. “They’ve been backing me up since the beginning. I’m lucky to have them.”

As far as future plans go, Oicata plans to continue his ceramic and pottery passion.

“I want to be a professional artist or a ceramics teacher,” Oicata said. “I want to help others the way I’ve been helped.”