Bo is completing his Associate of Applied Science degree in graphic design at Northeast. He discovered his talent for drawing while in high school and decided to turn that passion into a career pathway. Bo will graduate in May and plans to transfer to the Kansas City Art Institute, where he will continue developing his illustration skills. One day, he hopes to pursue a career as a comic book artist.
Actively engaged in the TRIO program, Bo regularly takes part in events and utilizes the academic and personal support resources offered throughout the school year. He is also a member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and earned a bronze medal at the SkillsUSA competition this year.
Bo credits much of his growth to the mentorship and encouragement of his graphic design instructor, Phil Schimonitz, known to students as Mr. S. Bo shared that he originally had no intention of transferring to a four-year institution. However, Mr. S.’s honest feedback and encouragement “broke through” and challenged him to think bigger about his potential. Bo described Mr. S. as a teacher who only acknowledges a student’s talent when it is truly earned, which made his encouragement especially meaningful. When Mr. S. suggested that Bo consider an art institute, Bo took the advice to heart.
When asked who inspires him most, Bo pointed to individuals who took risks to pursue their creative visions and succeeded by staying true to themselves. One of those inspirations is filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. “He was successful because he wasn’t afraid to do things his own way, even when others didn’t like it,” Bo said. He also named comic book artist Todd McFarlane, who inspires him to take pride in his personal style and creative voice.
Schimonitz shared high praise for Bo’s growth and talent:
“I have known Bo since August of 2024, and during that time he has shown himself to be a very imaginative and creative artist and designer. Those two traits quickly made him one of the pacesetters in his class. While Bo’s graphic design skills have consistently ranked among the best, it was during a project called The Fours, in which students create four one-inch-by-one-inch illustrations on a theme for each class. That is where his imagination and skills truly began to shine. After further conversations with Bo and reviewing his sketchbooks, I felt strongly that he needed to continue developing his talents at a four-year institution.”
Schimonitz noted that Bo explored several options, including Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI). Bo ultimately applied to KCAI and was accepted with scholarship support for the next three years.
TRIO is proud to recognize Bo Bockelman as its April Student of the Month. His dedication, involvement, and courage to pursue his creative dreams serve as an inspiration to his peers and to future generations of TRIO students.
