Student Spotlight - Ava Breighner '26

Apr 27, 2026 10:00 AM

Bobcat Bulletin Student Spotlight highlights students who are successful inside and outside the classroom. This edition of Bobcat Bulletin features Ava Breighner '26.

Hometown: Cumberland, Md.

Major: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design with minors in Theatre and Art History

Why did you choose to attend Frostburg State University?

FSU's partner program with Northumbria University let me study abroad for an entire year without taking on any additional debt. I wanted international education and the chance to travel somewhere new. FSU made that possible without financial barriers.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I am a member of the President's Leadership Circle, WFWM Advisory Board, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. I formerly served on the Student Government Association, was president of Kappa Pi Art Honors Society, and performed/designed for the Theatre program. I volunteer with the Allegany County Historical Society, Savage Mountain Punk Arts, and serve as Co-Chair of the Artistic Committee at the C. William Gilchrist Museum of the Arts. I am also a student worker in Regional Engagement and University Advancement.

What is your favorite memory as a student?

Pulling an all-nighter in Room 202 of the Fine Art Building with Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me projected on the wall while sculpting pancake props for the Theatre Department's production ofNate the Great. That, or inviting Governor Moore to commencement during the PACE Conference, which only felt slightly more professional.

Which faculty and/or staff member has influenced you as a student?

April Pauza has been one of my closest mentors throughout my time here. She supported my work curating the Roper Retrospective in the Stephanie Ann Roper Gallery and has championed me at every turn. Dr. Travis English has consistently pushed me to pursue fulfillment over comfort in my practice and challenge the assumptions I bring into class. Between the two of them, I left FSU a much more thoughtful artist and person.

What advice would you give to a student currently studying your major?

What you put in is what you get out. Work hard, say yes to things outside your comfort zone, and don't be precious about staying in your lane. Interdisciplinary experience will deepen your studio practice.

Tell us about a class or activity at FSU that has had a surprising effect on your life.

Coordinating the Roper Retrospective reminded me, in the most concrete way possible, why I want to go into curation. Bringing Stephanie Roper's artwork back to campus and to the gallery that bears her name after 42 years felt like something that genuinely mattered beyond a grade or a resume line. Getting to meet her mother, Roberta, and the remarkable people from the MCVRC made it personal in a way I didn't anticipate. Watching alumni, students, and community members gather to celebrate Stephanie and her art is the most meaningful thing I've been a part of at FSU. I'm just glad I got to play a role in it.

What is a cause dear to your heart?

The Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center advocates for victims across the state of Maryland, including our isolated, western region. This incredible resource is the response of Stephanie Roper's family after their unimaginable loss. Additionally, my own family recently established a scholarship in honor of my grandmother, Lois. The McGreevy Family Visual Arts Scholarship has made advocacy for the arts feel even more personal. We're in a moment where that advocacy matters more than ever.

What do you do for fun?

Watch movies, ideally projected in a theater, the way they're meant to be seen. Whether a silent film at The Weinberg in Frederick, a classic at the Palace Theatre on Main Street, or an all-night marathon at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne, the cinema transports me when Ineed a break from the world.

What three words can you use to describe FSU?

Quaint, accessible, tenacious.

Pictured is Brieghner with her mother, Kathleen McGreevy , Honorary Alumnus, and sister, Kaitlyn Wharton '18/M'19 .