When she arrived at �鶹��Ƶ, she planned to pursue international financial law. But as she considered her future, she began looking for a way to bring those two interests together. She reached out to department chairs across campus, asking questions about different majors and where they might lead.

A conversation with Professor of Public Health and Human Service Studies Cindy Fair helped her find that connection in public health. Studying its sociocultural dimensions alongside finance offered a path toward healthcare administration, a career she hadn’t previously considered.

For Gomez, the ability to explore that path began with the support that brought her to �鶹��Ƶ.

An Odyssey Program Scholar and Business Fellow from Sanford, North Carolina, Gomez receives the John L. Georgeo Scholarship. She credits the scholarship and the Odyssey Program with easing the financial pressure on her family and giving her room to make the most of college.

“I think without that, I don’t even know if �鶹��Ƶ could have been an option for me,” she said.

That support shaped more than her decision to attend. It allowed her to consider opportunities based on what she could learn, including an experience abroad supported by an additional Odyssey grant.

“It’s really nice to be able to go to college and just focus on being at college, not to focus about the financials of it,” she said.

Gomez came to �鶹��Ƶ after earning an associate degree from Central Carolina Community College while attending Lee Early College. The experience helped her develop study habits, explore possible careers and learn how to seek out resources. At �鶹��Ƶ, she continued asking questions and building relationships with people who could help her find her direction.

Her interests came together during an internship with Cura Systems in Singapore. There, she worked with nursing homes transitioning from handwritten records to a digital system.

Gomez helped set up tablets, developed instructions and guided staff through unfamiliar technology. Working with employees from different countries also challenged her to communicate across language barriers and build trust as they learned together.

As the company’s first intern, she had a chance to help shape her role. What began as an unfamiliar assignment became an opportunity to see how business processes and technology could support healthcare work.

“I didn’t ever think I’d be in a technology consulting role, but I really enjoyed it,” she said.

Her time abroad also gave her a clearer sense of herself. While studying in Australia, she began waking early to watch the sunrise and noticed how often people made time to be outside before and after work. She brought that routine back to Charlotte for her next internship, taking morning walks and walking to the office.

The experience helped her become more comfortable on her own and more deliberate about the life she wanted to build.

Back in North Carolina, Gomez applied what she was learning through a practicum with the Alamance County Health Department. Its baby closet provides donated clothing, diapers and wipes to local families. Gomez helped move its handwritten tracking process into a digital format, making information about visits and needed supplies easier to organize.

She has also explored food insecurity closer to campus. Through her PACE job as food justice coordinator in the Office of Environmental and Place-Based Education, Gomez works with Professor of Education Scott Morrison to research how universities help students access meals.

Being part of the Odyssey Program made her aware of the difference financial support can make. It also prompted her to think about students outside the program who might face similar needs. She has researched campus food pantries and meal swipe donation programs, hoping that work can contribute to additional resources at �鶹��Ƶ.

Gomez credits mentorship with helping her turn those interests into action. Business Fellows Director Tina Doss has been a consistent source of guidance, while Morrison encouraged her to become more involved in public health.

Those relationships have shaped how she approaches her own roles in admissions and student government. When younger students have questions, she wants to help them find someone who can answer.

“It’s just advocating for yourself and others is the biggest thing that you have to do,” she said.

After two summer internships with EY in Charlotte, Gomez plans to return to the firm full time after graduation. During her most recent internship, she worked with healthcare and life sciences clients, continuing to connect her finance education with her interest in health.

She also found a network of �鶹��Ƶ alumni at EY who made time to meet with interns and share advice. As she begins her career, she hopes to help develop more formal mentorship opportunities for interns in tax and audit.

The scholarship that helped Gomez attend �鶹��Ƶ gave her the freedom to explore an unexpected direction. The people she met along the way helped her pursue it. Now, she wants to offer that same guidance to students following her.

“I want everyone to succeed, honestly, more than I have,” she said.

But there are people who make it their mission to ensure those around them feel not only welcomed, but comfortable. At �鶹��Ƶ, Anette Cruz ’29 is one of those people.

“I like to bring a little bit of comfort to wherever I go,” said Cruz, a public health major from Graham, North Carolina.

Cruz brings that comfort with her to every program and organization she is involved in—the Odyssey Program, �鶹��Ƶ Academy and the Latinx-Hispanic Union.

When Cruz first arrived at �鶹��Ƶ, she found that comfort in the Mi Casa Living Learning Community. The community expanded her circle and helped her create a sense of home on campus. Through events hosted by Mi Casa, Cruz learned about new opportunities and met people she otherwise might never have known.

“I was able to find home here. I never once felt like I was alone,” Cruz said.

Cruz also knew she wanted to be a part of the Latinx-Hispanic Union, which she found on social media where she saw a close-knit community that shared its culture with the campus.

During her first year, she served on their executive board, and when the opportunity arose to serve during her sophomore year as president, she immediately took it. Cruz is now working to grow LHU’s presence across campus through collaborations with other student organizations and Latinx organizations at other universities. At the same time, she wants the �鶹��Ƶ community to know that everyone has a place at LHU.

“LHU isn’t just for Latinx and Hispanic students. It’s for everyone,” Cruz said. “Anyone can come to our events and have a good time.”

While Cruz has taken on several leadership roles at �鶹��Ƶ, she views leadership through the lens of helping others.

“I’ve always loved helping other people, or you could say mentoring people,” Cruz said. “I like seeing other people succeed.”

One of Cruz’s most significant experiences with mentorship at �鶹��Ƶ began before she officially enrolled as a first-year student. As a high school student, Cruz participated in �鶹��Ƶ Academy, where she found mentors and developed a desire to help younger students navigate experiences she had already been through.

One of those mentors is Manny Campos, the �鶹��Ƶ Academy assistant director of college success. He has seen Cruz grow during her time in the �鶹��Ƶ Academy.

“She has gone from being a quiet and reserved student in high school to becoming a leader in various spaces, including being President of LHU,” said Campos. “Anette leads by example, and I am beyond grateful to be a part of her support system as she continues her journey to her own success.”

Whenever someone in the program has shown interest in the advanced pathways PA program, she has tried to help them go in the right direction by giving advice and helping share what she had learned in the past.

“�鶹��Ƶ Academy really allowed for me to help these younger students,” she said.

For Cruz, Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a month of celebration. It’s about family, she said. It’s seeing everyone in the community get together and celebrate and sharing her culture with the rest of campus.

�鶹��Ƶ honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, �鶹��Ƶ is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latine communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.

“To be honest, I was purely shocked,” Cox said.

Cox was one of four students Williams highlighted as examples of the “well-rounded, talented, and compassionate” Class of 2030. The recognition also surprised his family. Cox said his father thought he had known about it beforehand and was upset that Cox had not told him so he could record the moment.

“I’m just as shocked as you are,” Cox remembered telling his father.

Before coming to �鶹��Ƶ, Cox had already gained experience in several of the areas that interested him. While at Archmere Academy in Delaware, he took part in football and track and received an AP Scholar Award. He also did annual athletic training internships with the Los Angeles Rams every year since 2018 and took part in a nine-week Boeing Explorers course that focused on aircraft manufacturing.

While Cox has explored different interests, he plans to major in civil engineering at �鶹��Ƶ, an interest that started from being around construction and building while growing up. His father owns a contracting business, and Cox said he has also always enjoyed math.

“I’m one of those weird ones that love math,” Cox said.

His interest grew after he took physics during his junior year of high school and an engineering course during his senior year. Those classes helped him see how engineering brought together subjects that he already enjoyed.

“I fell in love with the mixture of physics and engineering, design and creativity as well,” Cox said.

Cox’s interest in engineering gave him the chance to explore the field beyond the classroom. As a member of the Boeing Explorers, he participated in the nine-week program and gained a better understanding of aircraft manufacturing and the different areas of engineering involved in the industry.

Each week during the program, Cox went to the facility, where he was able to see various manufacturing machines and learn about fields such as electrical engineering.

“It was a cool experience to see different types of engineers in the workforce,” Cox said.

When it came time to choose a college, Cox said several things about �鶹��Ƶ stood out to him. One of the biggest was �鶹��Ƶ’s study abroad opportunities. In the past, Cox had traveled to Ghana and Europe, but he had never had the opportunity to study abroad through school.

“I want to take that opportunity, especially since I did not do it in high school,” Cox said. “I definitely wanted to enjoy that experience in college.”

Coming from Wilmington, Delaware, �鶹��Ƶ also gave him the chance to experience college farther away from home while still having family in the area. Along with the location and study abroad opportunities, Cox said �鶹��Ƶ’s campus and undergraduate programs helped him make his decision.

Now at �鶹��Ƶ, Cox is already looking for ways to take advantage of the opportunities available to him. As a scholar in the Odyssey Program and a member of the Engineering Fellows, Cox is already involved on campus, but he does not want to limit himself to only those experiences. Cox said he wants to “dip my toe in a lot of things” and experience everything �鶹��Ƶ has to offer. Along with having a social experience that comes with college, he also wants to prepare for his future and have a plan for his career after graduation.

For Cox, making the most of his time at �鶹��Ƶ also means preparing for what comes after college. He hopes his experiences at �鶹��Ƶ will help him figure out what he wants to do after graduation and prepare for his future. Cox intends to leave �鶹��Ƶ with a clear path for what comes next.

“I’m really excited for both the social life and being able to have a set, sustainable plan once I graduate,” Cox said.

Before beginning her first semester at �鶹��Ƶ, Binita Shaw ’30 had already spent three years researching an aggressive form of brain cancer, presented her work at a national conference and helped expand access to educational technology for students in Nepal.

Shaw’s interests were recently highlighted during New Student Convocation, when Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence, said she represented the “well-rounded, talented and compassionate” Class of 2030. Now, the first-year student and Odyssey Program scholar looks forward to building on those experiences at �鶹��Ƶ.

Shaw, who plans to study biology and neuroscience, was born in Kolkata, India, and grew up in Saudi Arabia. She attended Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, where a cancer immunology program introduced her to laboratory research.

After learning basic laboratory techniques, Shaw chose to focus on glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. She began by using bioinformatics to analyze gene expression in glioblastoma cells.

“There are a lot of cancer treatment options—radiation and chemotherapy—but even then, it’s very difficult for brain cancer patients to get treatment that helps them live longer,” Shaw said.

Her interest in science dates to her childhood in Saudi Arabia, but research opened a new avenue for that passion.

“I didn’t know how much I liked research until I got into high school, but I’ve always enjoyed a good biology class or a really fun chemistry class,” Shaw said.

Outside the laboratory, Shaw has also pursued her interests in education and service. Through Strive to Thrive, she virtually tutored students in Nepal and Egypt, teaching biology to sixth graders in Nepal and math to fifth graders in Egypt. She later helped secure a grant through her high school to support the organization that connected her with students in Nepal.

The funding was used primarily to purchase computers, allowing more students to participate in virtual classes.

“They would all be seated in front of one computer, and they would try to work through all of the problems that I was working through with them on paper,” Shaw said.

At �鶹��Ƶ, Shaw hopes to continue researching while building relationships with faculty mentors. She said the Odyssey Program, resources for international students and �鶹��Ƶ’s emphasis on experiential learning helped draw her to the university.

“The university guiding you through all of these things really matched with my goals for my college career,” Shaw said.

Only a few weeks into her �鶹��Ƶ experience, Shaw is already looking ahead.

“I’m very excited to work with these professors and maybe even get some more mentorship over my next four years here,” she said.

Their chapter, titled , is intended to serve as a comprehensive guide and “how to” resource for academics seeking to engage in partnerships with community organizations in international settings, using the principles of Fair Trade Learning as a lodestar. The abstract for their chapter is as follows:

This chapter explores the complexities and ethical considerations of international community-engaged learning, highlighting the experiences of sustained partnerships between �鶹��Ƶ and two international organizations (the Comprehensive Rural Health Project in Jamkhed, India and Sarvodaya in Sri Lanka). Drawing on the Fair Trade Learning (FTL) model, the authors emphasize core principles such as cultural humility, reciprocity, and critical global citizenship, while addressing challenges unique to international contexts including positionality, narrative humility, accessibility and sustainability.

Through practical guidance and case examples, the chapter conveys the importance of co-creating community-engaged learning programs with community partners, prioritizing mutual benefit, and avoiding exploitative or colonialist dynamics. The chapter highlights various assessment tools to measure community impact. By integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals and engaging with students’ identities and motivations, this chapter advocates for intentional, transformative community-engaged learning programs that support student, university, organization, and community development and global equity.

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While many students are away for the summer, July remained a busy month at �鶹��Ƶ. Student researchers shared the results of projects driven by curiosity and purpose, high school students experienced campus through summer programs and the university continued to welcome visitors for camps and community events. Take a look back at some of the month’s highlights through the eyes of the staff in University Communications.

�鶹��Ƶ Engage

The Engage program at �鶹��Ƶ provides an opportunity for incoming students to spend a week on campus before their first semester, learning more about the university and volunteering in the local community. It is one of �鶹��Ƶ’s First-Year Summer Experience (FSE) programs, which gives incoming �鶹��Ƶ students a preview of the university during the summer before their first semester

Adventures in Leadership

Another FSE program, Adventures in Leadership, allows incoming first-year students to explore the outdoors across North Carolina.

A combined College Coffee

�鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff visited Queens University for a day of collaborative learning, professional development and Queens’ first-ever College Coffee event fostering connection and community between both institutions.

Research together

More than 50 �鶹��Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte students came together for the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations on July 23 in Schar Hall.

The largest Odyssey

�鶹��Ƶ’s Odyssey Program welcomed its largest cohort in history during Odyssey Week, a collection of events that introduces the students to the scholarship program and college life.

Phoenix Summer

�鶹��Ƶ hosted its inaugural Phoenix Summer residential camp this month for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in preparing for the transition to college.

Twenty-six students participated in Phoenix Summer, held July 6-17 on �鶹��Ƶ’s campus, where they immersed themselves in hands-on, college-style academics while fostering curiosity, community and independence.

Off-the-Court

Seven incoming first-year students explored careers in the sport industry this summer through the Off-the-Court First Year Summer Experience, an immersive program designed to help students discover where they fit in the business of sport before declaring a major.

Led by sport management faculty members Cara Lucia and Khirey Walker, participants toured �鶹��Ƶ Athletics facilities, connected with alumni in Charlotte, toured Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, and visited organizations such as the Carolina Core Elite Training Center and the Burlington Sock Puppets, gaining firsthand insight into the many career paths within the sport industry.

The Odyssey Program is a merit-based scholarship that provides students with access to mentorship, community building, leadership development, service learning and more. The program also includes a stipend for books and supplies, and an �鶹��Ƶ Experiences grant, which will be used for global experiences.

Students admitted to the program come from a variety of backgrounds, including first-generation college students, Federal Pell Grant recipients and/or those who have achieved success despite hardship or other challenges. With 76 students in the Class of 2030, it is the largest yet and brings the program closer to its Boldy �鶹��Ƶ goal of 100 Odyssey Program scholars by 2030.

Throughout the week, the students worked on a collaborative project exploring “what it means to thrive as an Odyssey Scholar.” They also participated in sessions focused on academic planning, community building, financial aid, global learning, etc. The week concluded with a block party celebrating their accomplishments with music, lawn games, volleyball, food and more.

Eliza Scott ’30, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina plans to study strategic communications with a minor in poverty and social justice, and says she was nervous coming into the week, but has grown closer to her cohort.

“There’s so much diversity within the group, and it’s so lovely to figure out what things we share and what things we have differences in,” said Scott. “It’s so easy, in the world we live in, to think of someone and generalize and create a wall of division … It’s been so beautiful to connect as a cohort and a family.”

On Thursday, July 16, the cohort came together with �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff for “Pizza with the Pros,” an opportunity to network and also hear from and ask questions of a professional panel. Panelists included Luis Garay, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center; Brandy Propst, director of �鶹��Ƶ 1010; Abdul-Malik Harrison ’21, assistant director in the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education; Alaina Mills, community director for the Historic Neighborhood; John Moses Brownson, associate director of career advising pre-professional health; and Stephanie Baker, associate professor of public health studies.

The panelists gave a range of advice on topics including what they would tell their past self in college, how to build relationships with faculty/staff and how to manage social and academic life in college. They all emphasized that students should use the resources available to them at the university.

“Ask for help, even when it’s the most difficult thing for you to do; make sure you reach out to all the resources that we’re sharing with you,” Probst said.

The panelists advised the students that, while structure is important, college is also meant to be a time for exploration, and you shouldn’t be so strict that you miss out. Harrison, who graduated from �鶹��Ƶ in 2021, noted that it’s important to be flexible and also accept failure as a learning opportunity.

“You’re going to fall flat on your face a couple of times, but it’s how you get back up,” Harrison said. “You have this plan, either written down, physically or in your head. Take it, ball it up, throw it away because it’s not going to necessarily turn out like that. Now, the end goal might look kind of like what you wanted it to be, but how you got there, it’s not going to look like that.”

Brandy Davis ’30, from Charlotte, North Carolina, plans to study accounting and says she’s enjoyed meeting new people and “creating a sense of community and family” throughout Odyssey Week.

“Even though we have differences, everyone respects each other and, if anything happens at the end of the day, I can always come back to Odyssey,” said Davis.

For �鶹��Ƶ student Berenice Sanchez Rosaldo, the event marked a full-circle moment.

Berenice Sanchez Rosaldo ’29, a political science major who is in the �鶹��Ƶ Academy and The Mac Mahon Family Scholar in the Odyssey Program, participated as a first-time presenter. She presented alongside Danielle Lake, director of the Center for Design Thinking, and Shannice Sellars, executive director of the African American Cultural Arts and History Center.

Their presentation, “Participatory Place-shaping: How Community-led Counter Storying Encourages Civic Engagement,” highlighted Sanchez Rosaldo’s work with the Center for Design Thinking. It focused on developing counter-stories that reflect participants’ communities and environments as a form of civic engagement.

Sanchez Rosaldo drew from personal experiences, including her high school, her father’s workplace, and the Dream Center — spaces she identified as influential in her development as a student, athlete and individual.

“Seeing Berenice present her story was such a proud moment,” said Melissa Chacon Villalobos, coordinator for well-being with �鶹��Ƶ Academy. “Watching her grow from a high school freshman to a first-year student at �鶹��Ƶ, and seeing the impact she is already making in Alamance County, is incredibly meaningful.”

Sanchez Rosaldo began this work before enrolling at �鶹��Ƶ, first connecting with Danielle Lake while attending Alamance Burlington Early College at ACC, where she completed a summer internship with local summer camps across Alamance County, creating lesson plans for kids ages 6-12 during her junior year of High School.

She also credits �鶹��Ƶ Academy as instrumental in shaping her college journey.
“�鶹��Ƶ Academy opened my eyes to the idea of college and created many opportunities for me,” Sanchez Rosaldo said.

Now an Odyssey Scholar, Sanchez Rosaldo continues her work with the Center for Design Thinking through the Power + Place Collaborative and by leading design thinking workshops across campus.

The Center for Design Thinking focuses on creative, structured approaches to problem-solving. Its Power + Place Collaborative works with Alamance County leaders and community members to document and share stories that reflect the county’s diverse communities.

�鶹��Ƶ Academy supports academically promising, limited-income, and first-generation students, while the Odyssey Program provides merit-based scholarships and enrichment opportunities for students with demonstrated financial need.

“What Berenice represents is exactly why �鶹��Ƶ Academy exists – talented students who, with the right support and opportunities, go on to lead, contribute, and create change in their communities,” said Emily Wiersma, director of the �鶹��Ƶ Academy.

Together, the �鶹��Ƶ Academy and Odyssey Scholars Program reflect �鶹��Ƶ’s commitment to civic engagement and to supporting students and communities in Alamance County.

For Sanchez Rosaldo, the experience also carried personal and generational significance. Her mother attended the presentation, marking a milestone as she watched her daughter present at her first conference.

Her story reflects the broader impact of �鶹��Ƶ’s programs on students, their families, and their communities.

It also mirrors a larger, statewide commitment to civic engagement, as institutions across North Carolina continue this work through initiatives like the , which will take place in June 2026 and is hosted by North Carolina Campus Engagement. Together, these efforts highlight how experiences like the PACE conference are not just singular moments, but part of an ongoing cycle of learning, leadership and community impact.

“It’s the best when you hear the laughs and see the smiles,” Liam said. “To see that piece come to life was really special.”

For two brothers who had started filmmaking with a DSLR camera and the guidance of a high school teacher, it was a milestone in their careers worth remembering.

Liam and Julien Dupas, identical twins born and raised in Atlanta, had a passion for filmmaking long before they discovered �鶹��Ƶ. In high school, their broadcast teacher owned a production company outside of his teaching, where he would produce music videos for popular Atlanta artists.

“We started to build a close relationship with him,” Julien said. “Because he saw our passion, he hired us for some of his own projects, showing us a side of filmmaking we had never seen before.”

“I was saving up for my first-ever camera at the time. I worked a few side jobs to save up, and we both invested in a camera and started shooting a bunch of videos. It was a DSLR camera, the Lumix G85,” Liam said.

As both Liam and Julien were in the early stages of exploring their passion for film, they knew they wanted to continue pursuing it professionally. After touring �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Communications and learning what the program had to offer from day one of enrollment, they decided to apply for scholarships.

Both Liam and Julien were accepted into the Communications Fellows scholarship program, and Julien was also accepted into the Odyssey Program. They expressed their love for �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Communications and pointed out that with the help of their scholarships, they made the final decision to enroll.

Freshman year, they began their �鶹��Ƶ journey with FreshTV, a 15-week accelerated program that introduced first-year students to camera operation and video editing. The program, led by Bryan Baker, director of technology, operations and multimedia projects, was one of the biggest factors in their decision.

“It gave me the feeling that I know where I’m at, and I need to be here,” Liam said. “Bryan Baker has been more than a professor to me. Since the beginning, he’s been a friend and a mentor. It’s been such a professional relationship that he’s been able to pour into us. I am truly blessed with the opportunity to work with Bryan Baker inside the classroom and outside the classroom.”

Julien added, “Liam and I had some experience filming coming into college, so we knew �鶹��Ƶ had access to cinema-level cameras like the C70. I remember talking to Bryan and expressing our interest in shooting with the C70. Sure enough, he gave us access as freshmen to that camera, which shows how willing he is to help if he sees your passion.”

In their sophomore year, Liam and Julien collaborated with friends they met through FreshTV and Cinelon Productions, each with varying interests in film production, to create their own production company.

“One of our buddies is really interested in producing logistics, and our other friend was really good at directing and screenwriting. I was pretty skilled at shooting, so we all had different interests, and we came together over multiple meetings. We decided to start a production company,” Julien said.

Seismic Studios was born. Under the Seismic Studios name, their team created 30 to 40 videos.

“We did everything from weddings to music videos to corporate stuff and some film for our religious organization we are a part of, and some commercials, short films and short documentaries,” Julien said.

Sour Note was one of their award-winning short films that went on to be shown in a theater with an audience.

“I remember vividly we went to a screening in Raleigh and saw Sour Note on a big screen with an actual audience full of people I’ve never met, and hearing their reactions was a thrilling experience. It’s the best when you hear the laughs and see the smiles. To see that piece come to life was really special,” Liam recalled.

Their work was also shown at the Cinelon Productions Film Festival in Turner Theatre. Complete with a mini red carpet, the team’s family, friends and loved ones got the opportunity to gather for a celebration of the hard work that went into creating the short film.

“Watching our work on the big screen, with everyone around you, brings the film to life,” Julien said.

Their scholarships have launched their �鶹��Ƶ careers and set them up for success in their industry post-graduation.

“I always like to give thanks to the donors first and foremost for the opportunity to be a part of these scholarships. For both Odyssey and Communications Fellows, we’ve taken multiple trips to cities where the communications industries are thriving. We got to meet with professionals, do Q&As with them, pick their brains and it’s led to my understanding of the film industry in a whole new light,” Julien explained.

“This scholarship has given me a stepping stone into the industry,” said Liam of the Communications Fellows. “During the Fellows’ first-year January term Florida trip, we got to tour agencies and production companies. I secured a prestigious internship a year and a half later at Diamond Gear, where I was an editor. It was truly one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had.”

“I got to work with real professionals who were working on commercials with Publix, Red Bull, Amazon, WWE, and it was mind-blowing,” Liam added. “I attribute it all to the Communications Fellows because, had I not gone on that trip, I wouldn’t have been able to meet such incredible people and get that opportunity.”

Liam and Julien are so grateful for the donors who have made their �鶹��Ƶ experience possible.

“These projects and doing contracting work, starting a production company, working with professors in and outside of the classroom. That’s all because of the Communication Fellows program,” explained Liam.

“I’d like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart because without the scholarships I’ve received, I wouldn’t be here or have taken the classes that I have gotten to take, and I wouldn’t be as far in my career as I am,” Julien said. “I’m so grateful for the donors who generously give their money to students like me to have these opportunities and, as cliché as it sounds, make my dreams a reality.”

Gabriela Maldonado Alvarez ’28 built her �鶹��Ƶ experience around connection, opportunity and identity. As a first-generation college student, she has embraced campus communities that strengthen her character while also discovering her passion for strategic communications.

In her junior year of high school in Westchester, New York, Maldonado Alvarez signed up for the Immersion experience through the Emerging Journalists Program at �鶹��Ƶ, where she was flown to �鶹��Ƶ for a week to gain experience in her passion for news and broadcasting. Before the program, �鶹��Ƶ had not been on Maldonado Alvarez’s radar.

“The program changed my view of �鶹��Ƶ. I had a really good time and connected with the professors and the cohort I was in. So, I decided to come see �鶹��Ƶ as a result,” said Maldonado Alvarez, who notes communications faculty Colin Donohue, Kelly Furnas and Israel Balderas were influential in her experience.

Her campus tour was on Homecoming & Reunion weekend, where she spoke up about her interest in journalism, which resulted in the tour guide encouraging her to explore the newsroom. There, she was able to chat with alumni from the School of Communications, who shared their positive experiences from their time at �鶹��Ƶ.

After touring the communications facilities and connecting with these alumni, she knew �鶹��Ƶ was the place for her.

Her first year here, Maldonado Alvarez was a journalism major, and joining Live Oak Communications Agency became a turning point in her communications career. After contributing to the agency, Maldonado Alvarez realized her passions aligned more with the strategic communications major.

“I fell in love with agency life. I liked strategic communications better because there was more creative freedom for me. I enjoy helping businesses that are someone’s life’s work, blossom even further,” she said.

As a part of the Communications Fellows cohort, Maldonado Alvarez was able to attend a Winter Term Florida trip in her first year. She notes that this trip gave her the opportunity to explore different fields within communications, which reinforced her passion for strategic communications.

“I think the Fellows is an amazing program. It’s given me some of my best friends, and it opened doors for me to connect with professors,” said Maldonado Alvarez. “I’m so glad I met Professor (Vanessa) Bravo through a Communications Fellows networking event because, like me, she is Hispanic, and that’s very important to my identity. I connected with her, and I joined the Unity in Communications club that helped me connect with other people who are interested in diversity in the communications world.”

Maldonado Alvarez is also a proud first-generation college student. As the secretary for �鶹��Ƶ’s First-Generation Society, she is consistently making the most out of the opportunities offered to her.

“I really love being first-generation,” she said. “It’s a big part of my identity. I try to do as much as I can to make my parents proud and make their sacrifices worth it.”

In addition, she is also a Bill and Sue Smith Odyssey Scholar. Through attending workshops on financial literacy, discussions on how to stay motivated, and even mental health checks.

“Odyssey has pushed me to be a better person and a better leader who is not afraid to ask for help or try new things. I’ve become more aware of how to succeed in the future, and I feel prepared for post-graduate,” she said.

Through the many communities and cohorts Maldonado Alvarez is committed to, she has found belonging and purpose on �鶹��Ƶ’s campus.

“I think being a part of these communities, like Odyssey, First Phoenix and Unity in Communications, is a way for me to stay true to myself,” she explained. “I grew up in a Hispanic-centered community, so coming to a predominantly white institution was a bit intimidating, but joining these communities helped me connect to others who have similar backgrounds and qualities as me. It’s important to stay true to the characteristics that are important to you and what makes you, you.”

Her scholarships have been a “weight off her shoulders” throughout her experience at �鶹��Ƶ, allowing her the opportunity to see her dreams realized.

“Being able to tell my family they don’t have to worry so much about me and that I’ve worked hard in school and will continue to work hard is very rewarding. I’m very proud of myself. I’m proud to make my parents happy,” Maldonado Alvarez said. “I’m willing to fight for dreams and fight for what I’m passionate about, and my scholarships have made that possible for me.”