Dakota Aschittino 

Artist Bio:

Dakota Aschittino is a first year Alverno College student majoring in Art Education and minoring in Spanish. Dakota's hope for the future is to be an elementary school art teacher, as her true passion is helping younger children discover a love for art. Dakota completed the IB Diploma Program in high school, excelling in Higher Level DP Visual Arts. Her senior exhibition focused on LGBTQ+ experiences, aiming to educate others on the struggles that come with being queer.  In her free time, she focuses on Digital Art, using a tablet and pen to master digital painting. Currently, Dakota is living in Milwaukee Wisconsin, though her heart is with her hometown in Minnesota. 

For 3 years, Dakota has been working at local YMCAs, teaching swim lessons to younger children, special needs adults, and children, and coaching a competitive swim team. In the summer, back home in Minnesota, she is a camp counselor at YMCA Day Camp Heritage where she is hoping to become the arts and crafts lead. 

Dakota's biggest drive is to create a welcoming classroom, where all can learn regardless of experience or skill. Dakota struggles with ADHD, and because of that, she understands how difficult it can be to be in a traditional classroom. She hopes she can create a space to thrive, promoting the individual strengths each student will have.