When asked by the Newton High School guidance counselor what Deb wanted to do after graduation, she replied, “I just want to be a wife and a mother.” The counselor met with her parents to discuss how Deb could make use of her art talent to earn a living. It was decided that she would apply to be a Commercial Art student at Salina Area Vocational Technical School. She was accepted.

     Being a Commercial Artist is a creative and ever-evolving journey. Deb keeps fresh and current by landing new art opportunities. She has designed for hundreds of clients through employment at advertising agencies and as a freelancer. 

     “Ms. Akers” had great opportunities to teach Art to a couple thousand K-8 students and computer art programs to JUCO students. A professor at Bethel College recommended Deb to give private art lessons to numerous middle-schoolers in her home. While attending Bethel, Deb received a first-place award from KAPC journalism competition for her “Scoop” comic strip that she developed for the Collegian campus newspaper. She put herself through college with her children, Lynn, Holly and Kelsey, at home. The idea of becoming an Art Teacher was to have a similar school schedule and steady income for them. She got her wish to me a Mom.