Designing Success

Sage Norton, a 30-year-old visual communication design senior at Eastern Washington University, was named as a recipient of the Golden Eagle Scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year.

Norton earned her Associate of Arts in graphic design from Spokane Falls Community College, before transferring to EWU to earn her bachelor’s degree.

“I never thought I’d do something with art for a job,” she admits, “but I decided to go for it.”

Now immersed in classes focused on web development, front-end coding and animation, Norton is excited for the future. She plans to become a front-end web developer and designer, which melds her artistic talents and technical skills together, and, also, has a larger dream of creating a video game. “I already have a game I’m conceptualizing,” she says.

Norton grew up in Dana Point, California during the school year and spent summers visiting her dad in Spokane. As a married homeowner juggling full-time classes with working nights and weekends at Europa Restaurant & Bakery, she appreciates that she can take courses at the Catalyst, in Spokane, and online. “The faculty and students are amazing—it’s been a really good experience.”

A competitive classroom project turned into applied learning when she and a classroom partner were chosen to work for 40º North Mountain Resort designing educational signage honoring tribal lands and connections.

Norton and her partner collaborated with the ski hill and Kalispel and Spokane tribes to design 15 signs featuring native animals with their names in a form of Salish that honors both tribes. “It was real-life work experience that turned into a freelancing gig,” she says proudly.

Norton, who receives a WAVE vocational excellence scholarship from the state, was thrilled to be chosen as one of four EWURA Golden Eagle Scholarship recipients this year. She received the news a few months after losing her father, who was an enthusiastic supporter of her education and career goals.

“It felt like a weight was lifted,” she says of the mental boost the scholarship provided. “It meant so much, not just for the money but for the validation of my hard work. It’s amazing to know someone’s looking out for you.”