Andrew Purcell ’25 started his college career at Texas A&M University but transferred to Berry because he wanted to pursue his education in a smaller school setting. Arriving at Berry as an undeclared major, he took several classes to explore his interests. He landed on a major in creative technologies with a minor in art — a decision that allowed him to engage with his technical skills and creativity.
Andrew held several jobs at Berry. Through a connection on the Ultimate Frisbee team, he worked as an operations and logistics intern at the WinShape Camps, which provided unexpected opportunities to hone his other skills.
“I found inspiration for my creative tech projects here because I got to take home lots of discarded and damaged camp supplies,” he says. “For instance, I took home a torn parachute from work and turned it into a pair of parachute pants during a four-hour design competition called Hackathon.”
One of Andrew’s most original projects is a series of coloring pages of different Berry scenes called “Color Berry.” This project began as part of his creative tech capstone courses. He took photos of picturesque scenes on campus, such as the Old Mill, and used Adobe Photoshop to create coloring pages of these images. On completing the project, Andrew had coloring books printed to sell in Krannert and at the 2025 Spring Market organized by Berry College Student Enterprises. “Color Berry” placed in the college's annual PITCH competition, with a cash award of $2500.
While these passion projects were an important part of his time at Berry, Andrew found an opportunity in the field of architecture. He shadowed architects in his hometown and connected with people in the field, which sparked his imagination.
“I have always been a nerd about buildings,” Andrew says. “Since I was little, my favorite part about traveling was going to new cities and exploring its unique architecture. I knew I was curious about architecture going into Berry, so I thought I should take classes to help me explore this interest.”
A summer internship through the Georgia Tech PIN program helped solidify his decision to go into the field. Designing a public installation for the city of Dawsonville, Georgia, afforded him hands-on experience with government and city planning. After graduation, Andrew will pursue a Master of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
“Atlanta will be a great place to apply what I’m learning in the classroom, while also being able to have fun,” he says. “I am particularly excited to connect with different cultures and learn from people who are different from me at Tech and in Atlanta. I am eager to learn about architecture and to become prepared for an exciting and creative field. I look forward to getting plugged into the city, making new friends and continuing a lifelong habit of learning!”
Story by senior Abigail Dunagan
