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Show FEATURES St 1 . ent ardst sh ) BY MIKENLEY - - IT T certain line of work because it looks obscene or anything." Hong said his inspiration lies along fluidity, feminine form and basic functional pottery. But what starts the creative spark in his mind is finding other artists through Instagram. "I resonate with what I feel is attractive, and then I try to emulate them and make it my own," Hong said. Before Hong found ceramics, he said he had been sculpting for a while as well as doing other forms of artwork, such as watercolor and illustration graphics; none of them gave him the same feeling of excitement and creativity as ceramics had, Hong said. Others in the art department have noticed how fast and far Hong has come with his ceramics skills just from last year. "Whenever I'm in here, Elliott is in here," said Jill Bennett, a sophomore ceramics major from Salt Lake City. "He has just worked so hard and has MCQUISTON For Dixie Sun News Dixie State University ceramics students have found their second home in the art department, finding themselves spending hours working on their creations until they are perfect. Elliott Hong, a sophomore ceramics major from Saigon, Vietnam, is one of those students. He found his passion a year ago in a beginning ceramics class. Hong is considered one of the most advanced students who has worked his way to the top, but he doesn't let it get to his head, his fellow classmates said. It wasn't an easy start, but he is determined and he never stops trying, Hong said. "I hated ceramics at first because I feel like I cannot do anything, but when it starts clicking it's like a whole new world of possibilities," Hong said. "Sounds corny, but you can make anything, man; like, we don't restrict a - 0 tatmittromits es clay, future 11K; Cundi 0!. , 4811111110MAIIIMMIll - $, $ - , t A zr-- ,, , ' ' , '''', ; , - 4'141 0 . '''''''''' ., . ' , ' , . u . rt, ''''', , ; - ), Z Z "........., ,,,,,, - Jew 1 ,....,...-."- , j ,, Alomil,;Ioo LI,Z$00,101110111sonak.. Elliott Hong, a sophomore ceramics major from Saigon, Vietnam, inspects the beginning of his latest project while it is still pliable. The student artist has found a passion for ceramics, saying it is a "whole new world" when something he dreaded simply "clicked." really just become an advanced student really fast, so he had to be in here a lot of hours." Many of his professors and other art professors have grown very close to Hong and are amazed by what he brings to the table for his own art work as well as helping others. "Hong is very passion ate; he's a ball of energy," said Glen Blakley, a pro- in ceramics. Hong said she is the "ceramics mom," a figure in the art department that he and many other students have felt comfortable going to for help and critiques. fessor of ceramics. "He's always kind of here in the art department when he's not in other classes, or when he's not in his apartment cooking food for other students." Alumna Anna Oakden graduated from DSU in 2013 with her bachelor's "Pretty nice, pretty intense, vibrant personality," Oakden said. "We kind of have a group, we kind of just share infor mation; it's a really loose kind of group with lots of different types of personalities." Hong said he hasn't decided on a minor yet, but he said education is a possibility. He said he wants to be a ceramics teacher one day and can see himself doing this for the rest of his life. Student entrepreneur builds empire from love , , ', , , t4, ., - "1--" ' . ,,,,,," - r- .e. e'f.-- ' ''''' , - ''''',t , , - , -i- - - 1, , , -- , 7 t. , 1,,, , -e ' '. ' , !, , ' ,-.. . ' '1 'k. ",, NI; ' t It ... ,e' ''''," '''''',, 1 r ' ,, --,. , - e , 1 , , - t . , '" ' ' "'"'.',N.',' 0 . '1 ;' ' I ,..- I ,'- ' - - ,,, ,..,, , ' ' '' ''i t 1 , , t , f,--7- -- ' - , t .0.. t , , , . , , 1 - ' E e - t- . . ,, i. , , i , , I .... C C , - .er-- c 1 - f: 4 ' '''' , ' I . , . . 1 ' 4 c , I wr.Z.:--- - ? 6 ''',' A , ..,...,.'''''''''''' . , - I L .....,'""".".46 te , '......1 . , Myles Morrison, a senior communication major from Los Gatos, California, practices what he preaches by maintaining healthy and active lifestyle. His company, SwolM8, focuses on motivation through love and respect. BY KRISTI HARRIS kristihDSN There is a company dedicated to active living and "active love" that was started by a Dixie State University student who had a vision of combining love and fitness; this company is called SwolM8. Myles Morrison, a senior communication major from Los Gatos, California, founded SwolM8 in March 2018. Morrison said he thought of his business idea when he saw an unfit couple working out and motivating each other at the gym. He said he wanted to take that exact feeling and put it onto a shirt. "I'm a big cheese-ball,- " Morrison said. "I'm in love with love. Love motivates me." SwolM8 is a play on the phrase "soul mate," and the number eight represents an infinity sign because Morrison said he believes love goes on for an eternity. Each shirt has a heart on one sleeve to represent that he wears his heart on his sleeve, and an American flag on the other sleeve to represent his time in the National Guard. Although the idea of SwolM8 started with a couple, your SwolM8 doesn't need to be someone you're romantically involved with; it is any a one who motivates you. selling, Morrison said. Morrison said he met Blake Kelley and Kyle Loftin, the owners of Hustle Sports Nutrition, a protein and nutrition store, while promoting his business on the street. They offered him a manager job at Hustle and a spot in their shop to sell his product, which includes sweatshirts, tank tops and long and short Morrison sleeve said. "My favorite thing about Morrison's brand is the message behind it, and that it brings people together to push each other to be better," Loftin said. Anyone can create a brand, but it requires a vision of what you want, hard work, dedication and money, Morrison said. Morrison said the first step he took in starting his business was following the golden ci,rcle rule he learned from a Ted Talk, "what you're going to do, how you're going to accomplish it, and why you're doing it." Morrison said his next step was promoting his brand to the public. He spent a lot of time talking to people about his brand and asking them for their opinions. This led him through the networking cycle, which helped him to meet famous gym athletes, such as Steve Cook. One of the toughest parts about starting up a business is that not everyone is going to believe in the product you're He said to push through the negativity and not quit on yourself; remember why you started in the first place. The money portion of starting a business is another tough aspect. Morrison said he spent a big chunk of his own money to start his business, and he even had to sell his motorcycle Morrison said he hit some lows where he wondered what he was going to do, but couldn't bear to quit on himself. Chris Brown, instructor of entrepreneurship, said starting a business when you're younger is the best route to take because you will have more time on your hands and a little less financial risk. Brown said the most recommended way to start a business would be to first enroll in an entrepreneurship program; it's a way to learn how to start a business and avoid the common pitfalls many entrepreneurs and small business owners face. This program allows students to find mentors, which is a crucial step in having a successful business. "The pros of starting your own business are, when done right, the opportunity to really control your time and remove any ceiling on your earning power," Brown said. "However, if an SEE SWOLM8 PAGE 6 |