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Henry Abney grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Charlottesville, Virginia, where he graduated from Tandem Friends School. At Tandem, Henry’s passion for filmmaking and film analysis prompted him to start his high school’s first film club. During the past several summers, Henry participated in a number of filmmaking camps involving screenwriting and narrative filmmaking. One film he helped write, create, edit and produce was selected to be featured and won laurels in two national film festivals.  Henry participated in multiple extracurricular activities during his time in high school including varsity lacrosse, history bowl and Model United Nations. Henry also directed, assistant directed and acted in multiple school plays and musicals at Tandem. Because of his interest in foreign cultures and languages, Henry attended Virginia’s Japanese World Language Academy where he spent three weeks in an intensive program on a college campus learning to read and write Japanese. Outside academics, Henry has been involved in martial arts since the first grade. He has studied karate, kung-fu and boxing. Henry enjoys drawing comics, playing video games, and watching movies with family and friends. When the weather is nice, Henry can usually be found walking or biking along the trails in his neighborhood. Henry loves animals and is especially fond of his dog Fuji, whom he loves to snuggle with on the couch. Henry plans on double majoring in Cinema & Television Arts and International and Global Studies. He cannot wait to meet new friends and make lifelong memories at Elon in the fall.

Natalie Alascia-Dittfurth is from Sykesville, Maryland, where she graduated from Century High School. Natalie’s passion for storytelling began with storybooks written on computer paper with crayons and markers and later evolved into endless words in Google Docs. As an independently published author, Natalie commits time to exploring fantasy worlds and developing complex characters. When she’s not writing or reading, she makes vlogs with friends and produces music videos. In 12th grade, she took a video production course where she gained hands-on experience with live broadcasting, sound design, editing, lighting design and shot composition. She has also gained knowledge in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere and Blender through interactive media courses. She is excited to dive deeper into video production in her time at Elon. Throughout high school, Natalie participated in nine of Century’s drama productions as a member of the props crew and as the props manager, gaining leadership experience and joining International Thespian Society Troupe #6598 her freshman year. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and National English Honor Society, and she served as the co-president of Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. She was a member of Century’s orchestra, earning membership into Tri-M Music Honor Society her junior year. Natalie is passionate about community service and has completed over 400 service learning hours, serving as the social media manager for Century’s branch of LEO Club and staying involved in Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court #2300. Natalie plans to double major in Cinema & Television Arts and Digital Content Management and minor in Creative Writing. She is is honored to be a member of the Communications Fellows and to live in the Communications LLC.

Sara Alfonzo Betancourt was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and raised in Wendell, North Carolina. She graduated from East Wake iTech and Design Magnet High School and was a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society, having graduated with summa cum laude honors. She participated heavily in her school’s performing arts department, having acted in every play and musical her school offered, and headed the marketing for the Drama Club. Her junior year, she was selected to participate in WRAL’s Explorer Post 5 program, which furthered her interest in the broadcast industry and increased her love for storytelling and giving back to the community. In her free time, she is an avid reader (when she’s not busy) and enjoys listening to music and hanging out with friends. Sara plans to major in Journalism with a minor in Marketing and is ecstatic to have been selected as a Communications Fellow.

Isabella Birnbaum grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia, where she graduated from Chattahoochee High School. Isabella’s passion for visual media and community engagement has led her to serve as editor of photography and design for her school’s yearbook. She works as a photographer for her community, sporting events and local concerts. She has held an internship with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s marketing team. Isabella is an active Jewish leader who served as president after three years on her BBYO chapter board and as her school’s JSU club president. She spent the summer working as a counselor at Camp Ramah Darom. Isabella looks forward to joining the Elon community this fall as a Communications Fellow majoring in Strategic Communications with a minor in Photography.

Kendall Broadie is from Harrisburg, North Carolina, and graduated with honors from Hickory Ridge High School, where she was an active leader both academically and creatively. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, the International Thespian Society Troupe #7306 and the Drama Club. As a charter member and two-year secretary of HRHS’s TRIANCE organization, she helped promote its core values of community, awareness and future, while also serving on the town of Harrisburg youth council, volunteering, encouraging civic engagement and fostering positivity. Kendall has always been drawn to artistic expression, whether through drawing, one of her favorite hobbies, or performing on stage. Serving as creative director for the school’s production of “Something Rotten!” and publicity director for “The Little Mermaid” allowed her to marry her love for art and theater. She grew in her ability to shape the visual identity and storytelling behind each production. Through those experiences, she discovered a passion for visual storytelling and for communicating a story in meaningful ways to different audiences. Inspired by the strategy behind successful events, brands and products, she plans to major in Visual Communication, with a possible double major in Cinema & Television Arts or a minor in Psychology. Kendall is honored to be a Communications Fellow and looks forward to approaching this next chapter with purpose, creativity and commitment.

Chloe Brown was born and raised in Sharon, Massachusetts, where she graduated from Sharon High School. Throughout her four years in high school, she was an active member of her video production club and became president her senior year. She plans to major in Cinema & Television Arts in fall at Elon and is very excited. She also plans to explore the new Digital Content Management major to further develop her skills in media production. Outside her academics, Chloe was a part of her school’s volleyball and softball teams. Additionally, Chloe was active in volunteering in her community both through National Honor Society and Friendship Circle of Sharon. Chloe is excited to be part of the Communications Fellows cohort and is excited to explore all that Elon and the School of Communications has to offer.

Maia Cabrera grew up in Canton, Massachusetts, and graduated from Canton High School. Throughout high school, she combined her passion for creativity, entrepreneurship and communications through a variety of experiences in marketing, content creation and small business ownership. Maia was an active member of the National Honor Society and served in leadership roles within the National Charity League, where she helped organize community service projects and volunteer initiatives. Maia launched an Etsy business selling custom sweatshirts, gaining firsthand experience in branding and social media marketing. She later turned her passion for nail art into an at-home nail business, where she continues to grow her client base while developing her skills in entrepreneurship and digital marketing. A competitive gymnast for more than a decade, Maia has learned the value of discipline, perseverance and leadership. She is excited to continue exploring her interests in communications, marketing and entrepreneurship as a Communications Fellow at �þ���.

Matthew Chapman was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and plans to study Cinema & Television Arts at Elon. He has always been interested in storytelling and creative media, and he is excited to explore that passion through his studies at Elon. Outside the classroom, Matthew enjoys sports, superheroes and running, and he looks forward to bringing that energy and curiosity to campus. He is excited to begin this next chapter and grow both personally and academically as part of the Communications Fellows community.

Bailey Clark is from Smyrna, Georgia, where she graduated from The Lovett School with honors as a member of the National Honor Society. At Lovett, Bailey was the captain of the swim and dive team, as well as the president of Lovett’s chapter of Girl Up, an organization focused on female empowerment and service. She also served as second chair violin as a member of Lovett’s Honors Collegium Strings. Bailey has always had an interest in media, �þ��� herself how to edit videos when she was around 9 years old. Her skills continued to evolve over the years and paved the way for her being the editor for the award-winning student film “Mother’s Song,” which won the Peer Award at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and was recognized in other film festivals. Bailey is excited to continue her interests at �þ��� as a Communications Fellow majoring in Strategic Communications. She is excited about seeing everything this program has to offer.

Megan Coffey grew up in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and graduated from Cuthbertson High School. There, she served as senior class president, competed as a varsity soccer and basketball athlete, and remained actively involved in National Honor Society, Beta Club, Best Buddies, Film Club, SkillsUSA and Student Council. She also competed at the SkillsUSA North Carolina State Conference in 2025 and 2026, placing third and fourth in the TV/Video Production competition. Megan discovered her passion for filmmaking and videography through her school’s weekly variety television show, “The Cut,” for which she served as an executive producer and editorial board member. Through this experience, she gained hands-on skills in storytelling and video production by filming and editing sports, school culture and entertainment videos. At Elon, she plans to major in Cinema & Television Arts and is excited to collaborate with like-minded peers while taking advantage of the many opportunities Elon has to offer.

Abigail Cunnup was born in Hanoi, Vietnam, and raised in Siler City, North Carolina. She graduated from Chatham Central High School, where she was actively involved in Beta Club, the National Technical Honor Society, Student Government, Future Business Leaders of America, FFA, the Acts of Random Kindness Club, the varsity volleyball team and the yearbook, as the social media manager. Abigail’s passion for communications began in middle school when she joined her school’s news broadcasting club and continued to grow in high school as the statistics manager for the varsity basketball team and the public address announcer for the softball team. She also enjoyed editing highlight reels for friends who could not afford professional videos, combining her creativity with her love of sports. Outside school, Abigail is actively involved in her church community and volunteers each year with Operation Christmas Child. In her free time, she enjoys reading, shopping and trying new restaurants with friends. Abigail plans to major in Sport Management with a minor in Health Communications and is honored and excited to have been selected as a Communications Fellow.

Ruby Danaceau was born and raised in Colorado, where she graduated from Arapahoe High School with high honors.  While pursuing her diploma, she grew her love for storytelling through the art of live theater. With the support of her school’s theatre program, Ruby was able to discover not just the thrill of being on stage but also the significance of being behind the scenes of a story. A defining moment in her life was when she was awarded a Thespy at the International Thespian Festival for a scene she directed. This propelled Ruby down the path she intends to pursue next year at Elon. This upcoming year, Ruby plans on majoring in Cinema & Television Arts and could not be more honored and excited to be a part of the Communications Fellows program.

Avalyn Emerson was born and raised in Dry Fork, Virginia, where she earned her associate’s degree from the Pittsylvania Governor School of Math, Science, and Technology on top of her achievements from Tunstall High School. She plans on double majoring in Cinema & Television Arts and Neuroscience with the intention of incorporating behavioral science into character development. Avalyn’s fascination for human behavior is what drives her passion for storytelling and the creation of complex characters. Her goal is to tell layered stories that have a deep connection to the natural world and are driven by individual characters. Avalyn’s creative work has been acknowledged by Olympic Gold Medalist Amber Glenn, who inspires Avalyn to grow in her artistic abilities. While she spends most of her time strengthening her imagination, she also prioritizes athletics and physical strength. She participated in four varsity sports during her high school career, including softball, cross country and track, and she served as the captain of her soccer team. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, hiking, telling jokes and admiring the world around her.

Juliana Filapek was born and raised in Aurora, Illinois, and graduated from Waubonsie Valley High School, where her passion for storytelling grew through years of involvement in dance, theater, show choir and community service. She discovered an interest in journalism after taking a media production class her sophomore year of high school. Inspired by the opportunity to inform others through storytelling, she continued studying media throughout high school, gaining hands-on experience editing, producing and hosting her school’s weekly student-produced news program, “Warrior Update.” Juliana enjoys meeting new people, hearing their stories, and sharing information that can make a meaningful impact in her community. At �þ���, she plans to major in Journalism with a concentration in broadcast and minor in Dance. She hopes to study abroad in Italy, gain hands-on experience through student media, and continue developing the communication skills that will prepare her for a successful career in broadcast news. She is honored to be selected as a Communications Fellow and looks forward to learning alongside a community of passionate storytellers.

Alessandro (Ale) Furano was raised in Connecticut, where he graduated from Greenwich High School. While there, he completed many challenging honors and AP courses, while remaining actively involved outside the classroom. For the past two fall seasons, Alessandro volunteered with the local youth football team, the Glenville Mavericks, where he helped coach the defensive linemen, �þ��� proper techniques, reviewing game film to help players improve, and studying opponents to help prepare the coaching staff for each week’s game. Alessandro’s passion for sports began at a young age, spending every Sunday watching the Dallas Cowboys with his family. As he grew older, that passion inspired him to pursue a career in the sports industry. As a Communications Fellow at �þ���, Alessandro is excited to learn more about the sports world while developing the leadership and communication skills that will help him succeed in the industry. He plans to major in Sport Management and looks forward to taking advantage of the opportunities Elon offers, meeting new people, and growing both personally and professionally as a Communications Fellow.

Maddy Girsch grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, and has lived in Greensboro, North Carolina for the past couple of years. She graduated from Greensboro Day School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and served as an officer for the Spanish National Honor Society. She has been involved in numerous extracurriculars, including varsity and club field hockey with Greensboro Day and TarDevils, student council as class secretary, president of the club Hearts 4 Hope, the Bengal Big mentorship program, and YMCA Camp Weaver as an overnight counselor. She also founded her school’s chapter of Bring Change 2 Mind, a club focused on reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, a cause she cares strongly about. Maddy has gained experience in communications and marketing through internships with her school and Boulton Creative, a digital marketing agency based in downtown Greensboro. At Greensboro Day, she managed social media accounts, created content and helped draft press releases. During her internship at Boulton Creative, she worked with its client The Prominent Dog to help improve website design and develop social media strategies. Maddy is grateful for the opportunity to be a Communications Fellow and is excited to begin her next chapter at �þ���, where she plans to major in Digital Content Management.

Campbell Goodburn was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Annapolis, Maryland. She graduated from Indian Creek Upper School, where she was involved in all aspects of student life. She played lead roles in the play and musical, helped foster a collaborative environment on the lacrosse team and led the mock trial team. Additionally, she held leadership positions in both Key Club and EMPOWER, a club that creates a safe space for female students to uplift one another. Beyond school activities, Campbell finds joy in working with her community. During the school year she was secretary of the Anne Arundel Youth Advisory Council, in which she and her peers worked on legislation that would benefit marginalized youth in the county. She also worked alongside the mayor during his campaign, specializing in speaking to community members to better understand the issues that were important to them. During the summers, she continues her community outreach working as a camp counselor for elementary school children. She also participates in PALS, in which she helps create lifelong memories for teens and young adults with down syndrome. Though she always had a passion for storytelling and writing, it was through her completion of AP Language and Composition that she understood she wanted to continue that work at a collegiate level. Campbell’s love for writing and chronicling, along with a drive for delivering unbiased news, influenced her decision to major in Journalism. Campbell is thrilled to be a part of the Communication Fellows and eagerly awaits all of the experiences and knowledge she will gain.

Allison Gordon was raised in Douglas, Massachusetts, where she graduated as valedictorian from Douglas High School. Throughout her academic career, she challenged herself through AP and honors coursework, while balancing athletics, leadership and community involvement. Allison developed her love for sports from an early age, growing up with three older brothers who helped foster her passion for competition and athletics. She played soccer for both Douglas High School and Spirit of Liverpool FC, serving as captain of the varsity team during her senior year. As a junior, she helped lead Douglas to its first MIAA state championship in 22 years. Throughout her high school career, Allison has also earned Conference All-Star and Central Massachusetts All-Star honors. Beyond athletics, she has developed leadership and communication skills as vice president of DECA and involvement in the National Honor Society, student council, peer leaders, yearbook, and her work as a waitress. Outside school and work, Allison enjoys reading and exploring the connections between literature, music and film, an interest that has deepened her appreciation for storytelling across different forms of media. Combined with her passion for sports, this inspired her interest in journalism and sports media. Allison plans to major in Journalism, while exploring Sport Management with the goal of pursuing a career in the sports industry. She is honored to have been selected as a Communications Fellow and is excited to contribute to the Elon community.

Alexis Jacobs was born and raised in Westport, Connecticut, where she graduated from Staples High School. She found her love for journalism while working on her school newspaper, Inklings, a nationally recognized newspaper that has most notably been named a 2025 and 2026 CSPA Gold Crown Recipient. Under Alexis’s leadership as website managing editor, the site was named a SNO Distinguished Site. She also led a staff of 20 editors and oversaw 90 writers. In addition to her contributions to the leadership board for Inklings, Alexis was an ambitious journalist who favored investigative feature articles. She wrote four Best of SNO articles and won the 2025 CSPA Features News Story of the Year. Beyond journalism, Alexis is a dedicated ballet dancer. She has had the opportunity to perform in 10 productions of “The Nutcracker” and has spent her summers training at ballet intensives across the country. Dance and journalism have been meaningful creative outlets for Alexis, �þ��� her the importance of being part of a hardworking, collaborative community that continually pushes her to grow.

Elisabeth (Elise) Jones grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and recently graduated summa cum laude with an International Baccalaureate diploma from Broughton High School. She was on the dance team for three years and was a captain senior year, as well as a dance company member and president of National Honor Society of Dance Arts. Elise was also a member of Service Club (her high school’s highest non-academic honor) and National Honor Society, as well as the Spanish, English and Math honor societies. She founded Broughton Blooms, a club that made and delivered bouquets biweekly to every staff member at her high school. Outside school, Elise loved her involvement with YoungLife, especially her time as a leader for the Capernaum (special needs) group. In addition, she was a member of National Charity League for seven years, serving on the executive board twice. She enjoyed her time as a marketing intern at Wine & Design her senior year, using creativity and strategy to effectively advertise and promote a brand. She is excited and grateful to be a Communications Fellow, double majoring in Strategic Communications and Digital Content Management, and she ultimately hopes to have a career in public relations.

Gus Knoedler was born and raised in Boston and graduated from Beaver Country Day School. During his time there, he was the leader of the Jewish Cultural Club and a member of the varsity lacrosse team, and he earned High Honor Roll recognition for three years.  Growing up surrounded by Boston’s championship sports culture, he developed a strong passion for sports at a young age. He first pursued this passion by managing his high school’s boys varsity basketball team, where he traveled with the team and tracked individual player statistics during games. Most recently, he continued his passion through an internship with Leyton Orient F.C., a professional soccer club in England, where he gained experience learning about the financial, business and operational sides of running a professional sports organization. Outside school, he enjoys going to the gym and spending his summers working as a counselor at his former summer camp. Gus plans to study Sport Management and hopes to build a career in the sports industry. He is excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a Communications Fellow and looks forward to continuing to expand his skills in sports media and communications.

Sarah Lebovitz is from Northbrook, Illinois, and is a graduate of Glenbrook North High School. Throughout high school, she was involved in speech and debate, theatre, and choir, experiences that fostered her passion for storytelling, public speaking, and connecting with others through communication and humor. Sarah further developed her communication skills by completing a college-level speech and debate course, where she focused on effectively conveying messages to diverse audiences. She also participated in show choir and theatre throughout high school, strengthening her confidence as both a performer and communicator. As a four-year member of Glenbrook North’s Speech Team, Sarah gained valuable experience engaging audiences through thoughtful storytelling and persuasive speaking while competing in six different events. These opportunities deepened her appreciation for strategic communication and reinforced her passion for public speaking. Sarah is honored to be a member of the Communications Fellows program within �þ���’s School of Communications. She looks forward to expanding her skills and pursuing her passion for effective communication as a Strategic Communications major.

Jason (Harper) Lucas II was raised outside of Cleveland and graduated from St. Edward High School. Throughout his four years there, Harper excelled academically, was a student ambassador and member of the National Honor Society, and served as president of the Sports Broadcasting Club. Additionally in his high school years, Harper began his broadcasting career, which is something he had dreamed of doing since he was a young child. Harper created his own weekly show called “Eagle Winners” in his senior year, where he interviewed some of the school’s most impressive athletes. Along with creating “Eagle Winners,” Harper also broadcast volleyball, basketball and football games all four years. Harper was also the sideline reporter for the school’s varsity basketball team for his junior and senior years, which allowed him to interview seven-time NBA All-Star and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell. When he is not broadcasting, Harper enjoys writing for Flight Magazine and other publications, spending time with family and friends, and watching the NASCAR Cup Series, which he hopes to broadcast one day as a part of a national sports network. Harper intends to be a Journalism major at Elon and is honored to be a Communications Fellow because of the opportunities and friendships the program enables.

Katie Marshall was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, where she graduated from St. Andrew’s school. She partook in the International Baccalaureate curriculum, achieving the program’s complete diploma. Along with pursuing her education, she participated in numerous extracurricular activities, her favorite being leading a weekly film seminar for students hoping to better their visual literacy. Katie spent her high school years dancing competitively with her local studio, Gretchen Greene School of Dance. Here, her interest in creative media was encouraged not only by the artistic nature of dance but also by exposure to the entertainment industry. While training as a dancer, she assisted the production of promotional content for the company’s media presence. She created digital advertisements for both her school and dance studio, seeking opportunities via partnerships and independently. As well as creating in a professional context, Katie enjoys filming and editing short videos in her free time, documenting time spent with friends and family. She plans to major in Strategic Communications with a Spanish minor. Katie is both excited and honored to join the Elon community as a member of the Communications Fellows program.

Suzy Marshall is originally from Dallas but relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, prior to her freshman year at St. David’s School, from where she later graduated. Throughout her academic career, Suzy maintained a strong commitment to the performing arts and media production. In addition to participation in the chorale vocal ensemble, Suzy has an extensive background in theater including notable lead roles, such as the title character in “Matilda” and Claire Ganz in “Rumors.” This was complemented by leadership roles as an assistant stage manager, tech crew member and youth theater assistant director. Suzy also developed her communication skills by periodically contributing to the school newspaper, The Warrior Word, and assisting with digital content and social media strategy for local youth theater programs and at St. David’s School. An inductee of the National Honor Society, Suzy balances her academic achievements with a passion for time with friends and time at the lake. She looks forward to continuing her education at �þ��� and is excited to be a Communications Fellow, pursuing a double major in Cinema & Television Arts and Digital Content Management.

Abi Maryo was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, and is a graduate of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. Deeply invested in storytelling and community leadership, Abi served as a newspaper senior editor during high school, where she mentored junior editors on editing, design layouts and collaborative journalism. She also stepped into leadership as the vice president for the Hispanic Appreciation Club, organizing official group meetups and community gatherings. Dedicated to service, Abi has spent years volunteering with the New Arrivals Institute, providing childcare and assisting with fundraising efforts for Saint Paul Catholic Church. In her free time, she enjoys exploring media design and digital content creation. Abi is thrilled to attend �þ��� this fall, where she will major in Journalism as a Presidential Scholar, Odyssey Scholar and Communications Fellow.

McCauley Masley was born and raised in Arlington, Virginia. She graduated from Wakefield High School after 13 years in the county’s Spanish immersion program. At Wakefield, she earned distinction as an AP Capstone Scholar, member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and varsity swim and dive teams. She has additionally enjoyed volunteering for Planted (Arlington immigration law nonprofit), the Arlington Food Assistance Center and with students at local immersion elementary schools, feeding her interest in community interaction and human relationships. Her pursuit of a degree in communications is fueled by a passion for nurturing intrapersonal understanding through storytelling and vulnerability. In her free time, McCauley enjoys writing, watching movies and working at her local live theater. She is honored and excited to learn alongside creative and driven peers as an incoming Communications Fellow.

Reese McCarthy is from Long Island, New York, and graduated from Wantagh High School. She discovered her passion for journalism and storytelling as an anchor for her school’s broadcasting program, where she reported on local events, interviewed guests and developed confidence in front of the camera. Reese further explored the power of media through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, creating stories that highlighted the positive impact of therapy dogs on senior citizens. In high school, she was active in academics, athletics and service, earning the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, while competing in varsity volleyball and track, coaching youth volleyball and serving as a summer camp counselor. Reese looks forward to developing her storytelling skills and connecting with communities through journalism at Elon.

Wenda McLaurin was born and raised in Kernersville, North Carolina. As a first-generation college student, she graduated from the NC Leadership Academy as both a National Honor Society member and vice president of the Spanish Honor Society, while also being on track to earn her AP Capstone Diploma. In her freshman and sophomore years, she was involved in her school’s news production team as a scriptwriter and section editor. A member of various clubs and organizations, such as Crosby Scholars, Sources of Strength as a peer leader, and the Keep High Point Beautiful Youth Advisory Council as a leader, Wenda is an advocate for change and awareness regarding matters such as mental health, environmental justice and more. Having learned Spanish since Kindergarten, she aims to communicate with a wider audience and use her love of the language in her future career. The summer before her senior year, Wenda was selected to participate in Elon’s Emerging Journalists Program, which furthered her love and interest in journalism and media. Outside academics, Wenda is a big bookworm, loves journaling and enjoys volunteering for different service organizations, such as Backpack Beginnings, where she packages food supplies for families in need. Mixing her love for writing and law, Wenda plans to double major in Journalism and Political Science, with a minor in Spanish. She is extremely honored to be a Communications Fellow and is eager to begin her journey at Elon.

Jack Melton was born in Manhattan, New York, but raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School. In the classroom, Jack was an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society. He served as the junior varsity baseball team manager during his freshman and sophomore years and as the varsity baseball team manager during his junior and senior years. Jack was an active member of the Gibbons News Network, reporting on Carolina Hurricanes hockey by creating the “Storm Watch.” Jack received the Crusader Award at Cardinal Gibbons for his character on and off the field. Outside school, Jack plays ball hockey and practices martial arts, training for his third-degree black belt in To Shin Do. Jack remains loyal to his New York roots as an avid New York Yankees, Giants and Knicks fan, but in hockey he is a loyal Carolina Hurricanes fan. His love of sports led him to pursue the Sport Management major at Elon, where he is excited to learn more about sports, community, service and his future role.

Joe Michaeli grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, where he graduated from Westfield High School. Throughout high school, Joe combined his passion for storytelling, leadership and live production through his involvement in both broadcast journalism and the performing arts. Through his work with Blue Devil Television (BDTV), Westfield High School’s daily live morning show, he led live broadcasts, produced feature packages, directed multi-camera productions and shaped the show’s creative direction, while leading daily productions behind the scenes. Working in live television allowed Joe to display his ability to think on his feet and thrive in a fast-paced production environment. Joe also served as the student supervisor of theater technology for Westfield High School Theatre, overseeing live production elements for performances and events. Alongside his involvement in television and theater production, Joe served as drum major of the Westfield High School marching band, leading rehearsals and performances for one of New Jersey’s most recognized music programs. He also served as co-president of the band council, helping organize events and strengthen connections throughout the band community. Through both BDTV and band, Joe developed a strong interest in communication, collaboration and leadership, while learning how to connect with audiences in meaningful ways. Joe is honored to join the Communications Fellows program this fall as he pursues a future in television and media production.

Kylie Morton is excited to be joining the Phoenix family from her home in Chesapeake, Virginia. She attended public school through the fourth grade and was homeschooled fifth through 12th. Being homeschooled allowed Kylie to incorporate her Catholic faith into her rigorous curriculum and customize her learning experience to her interests. Throughout high school, she took many honors classes, attended dual enrollment classes at Tidewater Community College, took part in co-ops,and earned the lead role in her junior year’s drama production. She also volunteered over 236 hours of service and participated in utimate frisbee, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and archery, as some of her favorite extracurriculars. As someone who always strived for academic heights, Kylie graduated summa cum laude from Morton Academy in May of 2026. In her spare time, Kylie loves to build playlists and Lego cars, and she considers herself a “master builder” at both. She discovered her enjoyment in respectfully discussing controversial topics with others in a Catholic morality and theology class she took in her sophomore year. She plans to channel that passion to host her own podcast, where she will address such topics and converse with others of similar and differing viewpoints in the hopes of helping people stop seeing each other as red or blue, and rather as fellow Americans. Kylie can’t wait to see what being an Elon Phoenix and Communications Fellow holds in store for her.

Max Orme was born in Atlanta before moving to Seattle and later Washington, D.C. He attended Gonzaga College High School, where he played for the national championship-winning rugby team and was involved in the sports broadcasting club and live school news broadcast, gaining valuable insight into the media industry. More recently, Max was part of the analytics crew for one of Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football games, where a story he developed was featured during the broadcast. He also pitched multiple ideas to a panel that included several directors and vice presidents from the team. In his free time, Max enjoys playing basketball and soccer with friends, watching TV and movies, cooking, and working out. He’s excited to further his knowledge and experience as a member of Elon’s Communications Fellows program.

Addison Orr was raised in LaGrange, Georgia, where she graduated from Lagrange High School. Throughout high school, Addison was involved in multiple student organizations, such as Service Club and Circle of Friends, as well as being accepted to and participating in the International Baccalaureate program for her junior and senior years. In May, Addison graduated as a Distinguished Honor Graduate in the top 10% of her graduating class and received her IB diploma. Outside academics, she has devoted herself to the study of ballet at Lafayette Society for Performing Arts for the past 15 years, in which time she has had amazing opportunities to perform ballets such as the “Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake” and “Coppelia” for her local community. Through these experiences, Addison has been privileged to develop into a well-rounded, creative and ambitious student. Addison plans to double major in Strategic Communications and Digital Content Management and hopes to continue her training in dance. Addison is excited to continue to grow and explore all the opportunities Elon has to offer and is honored to be a Communications Fellow.

Ryann Parker was born and raised in Dallas, where she graduated from the Episcopal School of Dallas. Growing up she listened to talk radio and news channels in the car with her parents, inspiring a deep interest in broadcast journalism within her. In high school, she was involved in the journalism program all four years the yearbook staff for three. She was teams and clubs editor her junior year and senior people pages editor her senior year. She was also involved in her school’s ambassador club, in which she found her love of reaching out to people and hearing their stories. During the summer before senior year, she went to a journalism program at Nottingham Trent University in the England and discovered a love for different people and cultures. She also began a podcast with her friend during her junior year, in which they interviewed different people and discussed different topics. Through her high school career, she volunteered for a summer camp in which she got to lead the younger students, and she also volunteered at an elementary school to help students read. Ryann is incredibly grateful to be a part of the Communications Fellows program and excited to be a communications major.

Sophie Patterson was born in Bac Ninh, Vietnam, and was raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from St. Mary’s Episcopal School, where she participated in clubs and sports including Bella Vista (film publication), Belles Melodies (music club) and the varsity swim team. Outside school, she took bass guitar lessons at School of Rock and played in multiple shows year-round throughout her high school career. Sophie found her passion for filmmaking at an early age through iMovie trailers but became more serious about it in high school. The summer before her senior year she spent three weeks at Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts in the film program and that experience taught her about the film industry and how being on set looks, which solidified her love for all aspects of filmmaking. Along the way, she blended her affinity for writing with creating films and discovered she was highly interested in screenwriting. She submitted one of her scripts to the Scholastic Writing Awards and won honorable mention. Sophie plans to major in Cinema & Television Arts with a minor in Creative Writing and is excited for all the opportunities Elon has to offer and to be a part of the community as a whole.

Kelsey Rangnow was born in Marshfield, Massachusetts, and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School. While in school, she developed a passion for storytelling through theater, where she also learned leadership and the benefits of teamwork. Even before high school, Kelsey always knew she wanted to tell stories for a living and devoted herself to becoming an avid reader and writer. In high school she was part of National Honor Society, participated in almost every musical and play, directed and choreographed her own projects, took creative writing courses, became a leader of the LGBTQ+ club, and even wrote and acted for a short-filmmaking club. In her free time, she enjoys reading, analyzing film and television, dance, singing, and collaborating with friends in the arts. As a  Cinema & Television Arts major, she is hoping to further her education in learning how to use the arts to tell stories that highlight the injustices of the world because if there is one thing theater has taught her, it is that the arts are not an escape from reality, but rather a reflection of the current state of the world. Planning to take courses in filmmaking and screenwriting, Kelsey is honored to be part of Elon’s Communications Fellows this fall.

Amayah Rogers was raised in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and graduated from Cuthbertson High School, where she developed a deep passion for storytelling and keeping audiences engaged. A dedicated student-athlete, Amayah was a four-year varsity basketball player, serving as a team captain in her final two seasons and earning all-conference honors alongside the most valuable player award. Beyond her performance on the court, she discovered a love for sports media by serving as the reporter for the girls’ volleyball and soccer teams, for which she delivered live play calls, managed rosters, and produced and published game coverage, recaps and feature articles on her high school’s official website. Amayah strived for excellence in the classroom by tackling a rigorous curriculum of honors and AP courses, while also developing her leadership and communication skills as an active member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Beta Club. Committed to serving her community, she regularly volunteered with Common Heart to help distribute food to families with food disparities, while also challenging herself through a summer immersion program and a College LAUNCH Leadership program. Amayah is honored and enthusiastic for the opportunity to learn and grow as a Communications Fellow at �þ���, where she plans to major in Journalism and contribute her passion for engaging storytelling to the campus community.

Eliza Scott is originally from Philadelphia but moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the summer before her ninth grade year. She graduated from Chapel Hill High School with honors and during her time there was an active member of both the school’s theatre department and her acapella group, Lucky 13. As a follower of Christ, she is passionate about helping others and hopes to work in the nonprofit sector one day doing just that. She greatly enjoys reading, writing, visiting local coffee shops, singing, exploring nature, moving her body, volunteering, and attending service at her church and can be found doing a mix of such on the weekends and in her spare time. Believing strongly in the power of effective communication to drastically change the world, Eliza plans to major in Strategic Communications with a minor in Poverty & Social Justice. She feels blessed to have been chosen as a Communications Fellow and is ecstatic to discover all the opportunities and connections the program may bring.

Fia Sterry, of Celebration, Florida, is pursuing a degree in Sport Management and hopes to combine her lifelong passion for sports with academic and professional aspirations in sports broadcasting, sports law and analytics. Having been involved in girls flag football for many years, she has developed a strong appreciation for teamwork, leadership and perseverance both on and off the field. During high school, Sterry served as student class president and National Honor Society treasurer, demonstrating a commitment to leadership and service. She was also actively involved in community service through youth sports programs and local nonprofit organizations, mentoring younger athletes and giving back to her community. As a member of the Fellows Program, Fia looks forward to building meaningful relationships, learning from faculty and peers, and exploring opportunities that will help prepare her for a future in the sports industry. Outside her studies, she enjoys attending sporting events, staying active, and spending time with family and friends.

Mary Suozzo grew up in Bedford, New Hampshire, and graduated from Bedford High School. Throughout high school, she demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and service, serving as vice president of the National Honor Society and as an active member of the National Art, Math and English honor societies. She was also deeply involved in student leadership as junior vice president and senior officer-at-large of her class Student Council. Passionate about communications and media, Mary served as publicity manager for her local Rotary Club and managed the school store’s Instagram account. Her love for storytelling and visual media led her to create a senior-year film project and produce YouTube vlogs, combining creativity with audience engagement. Outside the classroom, Mary has been a dedicated dancer for more than 13 years at Bedford Dance Center. As a member and captain of the Bedford Dance Center Ensemble, a pre-professional performance team, she has developed strong leadership, collaboration and performance skills, while pursuing her passion for the arts. Mary is super excited to join this year’s cohort of Communications Fellows.

Charlie Wood grew up in Centennial, Colorado, where he graduated from Regis Jesuit High School. During his time there he was an active member in the student run media outlet RJ Media. He was the executive producer of RJ Media’s Raider Sports Network and also served as a media intern for Regis Jesuit’s athletics department. Charlie spent most of his time broadcasting sporting events, providing play-by-play commentary. Charlie was the 2026 Colorado Student Media Broadcast Journalist of the Year and is excited to continue his journalistic career at Elon. In his free time, Charlie enjoys watching soccer and keeping up on the latest from the sporting world. Charlie is excited to be a Communications Fellow and to explore everything the School of Communications has to offer. Charlie will be majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sport Management.

Ilan Zelig was born in Staten Island, New York, and raised in Manalapan, New Jersey, where he graduated from Manalapan High School. Throughout high school, he developed a passion for sports storytelling as a sports anchor for Bravecast, his school’s student news program, where he researched, wrote and delivered weekly sports broadcasts. Outside the studio, Ilan was a three-sport athlete, competing in soccer, football and track and field, experiences that strengthened his leadership, teamwork and communication skills. He also spent several summers working as a camp counselor and volunteered with programs supporting children with special needs, helping foster his commitment to serving others. Drawn to the intersection of athletics and media, Ilan plans to major in Sport Management while pursuing opportunities in sports broadcasting and communications. He is honored to join the Communications Fellows program and looks forward to gaining hands on experience, building meaningful connections and growing as a storyteller at Elon.

Sam Zucco was born and raised in Marlton, New Jersey, where he graduated from Cherokee High School. At Cherokee, Sam was an honors student and active leader in several academic and athletic extracurriculars. Whether it be in or out of the classroom, Sam enjoys competition and teamwork. As an award-winning member of DECA, Sam qualified for the state competition in the category of Sports and Hospitality Marketing each year. Sam was on the advisory board of the Renaissance Club for community service. He also earned membership to the Business and Tech Honors Society. Outside the classroom, Sam was a multi-event varsity track athlete and captain of his club baseball team, and he played intramural basketball. Sam’s leadership on the baseball diamond earned him the opportunity to work as a coach for the organization he played for, helping develop younger players during summer camps and as an assistant coach during the season. Eyeing a career in the sports industry, Sam has also worked at Topgolf for two years. In his free time, Sam enjoys spending time with friends, golf and fishing. This fall, Sam will begin the next chapter of his academic and professional journey at �þ���, where he will major in Sport Management and participate in the School of Communications Fellows Program.