Presiding over the ceremony were The Hon. Catherine C. Eagles of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, The Hon. Stephanie L. Reese of the North Carolina Superior Court and The Hon. Bill Davis of the North Carolina District Court. Graduates were presented to the court by sponsoring attorneys before being admitted to practice before the state bar, the federal bar or both.

鈥淭oday is the day you can represent people, represent clients and call yourself a lawyer,鈥� Eagles said during the Thursday, May 21, session. 鈥淚t鈥檚 your job to stand up for people and to stand up for the rule of law. It is your job to conduct yourself uprightly and according to law, and to look after our system of justice every day in everything that you do.鈥�

The ceremony was hosted by the 鈥檚 Young Lawyers Section, one of many held across North Carolina and the nation as members of Elon Law鈥檚 Class of 2025 complete their legal studies after December graduations and successful performances on the February 2026 bar examinations. Dean of Elon Law Zak Kramer delivered remarks welcoming new attorneys, calling the ceremony 鈥渢he culmination of years of work and sacrifice by our graduates and their families.鈥�

Jonathan M. Parisi, president of the Young Lawyers Section, encouraged newly licensed attorneys to engage in the legal profession and broader community as they begin their careers.

鈥淭his is not the end of your learning journey. It鈥檚 just the beginning,鈥� Parisi said. 鈥淪eek out mentors, get involved in your legal community, and find ways to serve.鈥�

Davis reminded them that their professional reputation will shape their careers.

鈥淵our reputation is your greatest tool and your greatest asset,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淏e thoughtful about how you interact with judges, lawyers, clients and court staff. Build a reputation that will serve you well and help you succeed.鈥�

Reese emphasized the responsibility attorneys assume when clients place their trust, livelihoods and futures in lawyers鈥� hands.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e shown incredible strength and character in making it to this point,鈥� Reese told the newly admitted attorneys. 鈥淧eople put their very lives in your hands. From today forward, you have that responsibility, and no one else can carry it for you. You are their voice. You are their guide and their strength in the storm.鈥�

Eagles also encouraged the graduates to pursue civic leadership beyond courtrooms and law offices.

鈥淟awyers are often the people making the nonlegal parts of our community work,鈥� Eagles said. 鈥淔ind your place where you can make a contribution beyond the courtroom and your office.鈥�

Presiding over the ceremonial court sessions were:

The Hon. Catherine C. Eagles of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

The Hon. Stephanie L. Reese of North Carolina Superior Court for the 24th District

The Hon. Bill Davis of North Carolina District Court for the 24th District

Elon Law graduates admitted to federal and state court

Elon law graduates seeking admission only to federal court

Elon Law graduates seeking admission only to state court

听尝’25

福利亚洲国产精品 Elon Law

Elon Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

Elon Law has graduated more than 2,000 alumni since opening its doors in downtown Greensboro in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, maintaining an A+ rating each year since 2023. Elon Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

福利亚洲国产精品 has applied to the American Bar Association to open a full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program in Charlotte beginning in fall 2027. The Elon Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched there in 2024. Designed for students balancing work, family and other commitments to earn their J.D. in under four years, it will enroll its third cohort in fall 2026.

For the second consecutive year, the university was is the only North Carolina private school featured by the magazine in its list of “25 Best Drama Schools in the World.” The University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also made the list.

The publication said it consulted with educators and industry insiders to determine the best schools for an acting degree. It also weighed overall training, cost, facilities, alumni success, industry connections and more.

The 16 students accepted to the undergraduate musical theater program go through a rigorous training process, which begins with classes in acting, voice and dance, and then allows students to explore individualized paths, including taking part in student-driven cabaret performances. Seniors also take part in a two-semester course on professional readiness and artistic identity, which includes bringing in casting directors and talent representation, with many students gaining representation or jobs out of this process. To that point, Campy Rodriguez, a current student in the senior class, is on Broadway in聽Aladdin, in addition to such alum as Taylor Trensch, who recently led the off-Broadway production of聽Bat Boy. Tuition and fees are close to $51,000.

福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 Department of Performing Arts聽offers seven degree programs: Acting, Arts Administration,聽Dance Performance & Choreography,聽Dance Science, Drama and Theatre Studies,聽Music Theatre聽and聽Theatrical Design and Technology. Four programs require an audition or interview.

福利亚洲国产精品 福利亚洲国产精品

福利亚洲国产精品 is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. Elon is ranked No. 1 for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

Elon鈥檚 academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Related Articles

• Commencement 2026: Kate Cooper 鈥�26 unlocks her path from Elon to real estate
• Commencement 2026: Allie Schult 鈥�26 embodies the 鈥榟eart and future of nursing鈥�
• Commencement 2026: Kaitlyn Lewis 鈥�26 advances through Alamance-Elon education pipeline
• Commencement 2026: Jonathan Weaver 鈥�26 found dream career path through Elon involvement

What started as a conversation between friends in 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 dining hall has grown into a startup venture with roots in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Bernardo Vargas-Lopez 鈥�26, a sport management major from Austin, Texas, and Juan Daniel Chiriboga 鈥�26, an entrepreneurship major from Quito, Ecuador, are developing , a plant-based energy drink inspired by guayusa, a leaf long used by Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The idea first took shape after the two friends traveled to Ecuador during Thanksgiving break in 2024 and visited the Amazon rainforest.

鈥淲e came back from visiting the Amazon forest and were just talking through the trip,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when the idea came out. What if we took one of those plants and built a drink around it?鈥�

From that early conversation, the idea quickly became something more serious. The two students began researching the beverage industry, speaking with community members in Ecuador, gathering feedback from mentors and testing whether the concept could become a real business.

For Chiriboga and Vargas-Lopez, YAPA has become more than a passion project. It has also become a way to explore how entrepreneurship can connect product development, cultural learning and long-term impact.

Building a business from the ground up

As they began shaping the company, the pair focused on a growing interest in cleaner, more transparent beverage options.

鈥淚 think the issue we were looking at was the energy drink industry and what a lot of those products contain,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淲e saw people looking more for clean-label, natural ingredients and more transparency in what they consume.鈥�

That focus helped define YAPA鈥檚 early direction. The students describe the drink as plant-based and made without preservatives, with an emphasis on ingredient transparency and product quality.

The company鈥檚 name also reflects that approach. In Ecuador, 鈥測apa鈥� refers to a small extra that someone gives you, something unexpected and added with generosity. The students say that the idea shaped both the brand name and the kind of experience they hope to create.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little extra you were not expecting,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淭hat is what we want the product to feel like.鈥�

Turning that idea into a business, however, has required far more than product vision. The students have spent months navigating sourcing, formulation, packaging, shipping and compliance, all while balancing the demands of college life.

鈥淭he biggest thing is persistence,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淲e could have stopped a long time ago, but we just kept going.鈥�

They also made an early decision to prioritize product quality, even when that meant making tougher financial choices.

鈥淲e decided there were a few strategic points where we would not go for lower quality,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淪tarting from ingredients and sourcing, we were not going to sacrifice what the product stands for.鈥�

Learning through mentorship and hands-on experience

Both students say their experience in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business helped them approach the company with more confidence and curiosity.

They pointed to classroom experiences and faculty connections as central to how they approached building the company, often working closely with professors including Sean McMahon, professor of entrepreneurship, Elena Kennedy, associate professor of entrepreneurship, and Brittany Mercado, associate professor of management and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.

鈥淭he ability to communicate clearly with people who know a lot more than we do has been huge,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淭he Love School of Business does an amazing job of making professors approachable.鈥�

That accessibility changed how they engaged with their coursework and mentors.

鈥淭here are professors that I鈥檝e ended up talking to just because I saw them in the hallway,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l come up to you, ask what you鈥檙e working on and start giving advice. You don鈥檛 feel intimidated asking questions.鈥�

As the idea for YAPA developed, those conversations became more intentional.

鈥淲e started staying after class and asking more specific questions,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淭he professors would connect what we were learning directly to what we were building.鈥�

Faculty feedback also helped refine the venture as it evolved.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 need people to just cheerlead,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淲e need people who will tell us what worked, what didn鈥檛 and how to improve. That鈥檚 what has really helped us move forward.鈥�

Their time studying abroad also played a role in shaping the venture, even as they were in different parts of the world.

鈥淗e was in Australia, and I was in Japan,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 really work on operations, so the only thing we could do was talk to people.鈥�

Instead of slowing progress, that shift pushed them to focus on learning.

鈥淲e talked to people in the jungle, we talked to people at big companies and we talked to mentors in finance,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淲e were just trying to understand everything we could.鈥�

鈥淲e were sponges during that time,鈥� Chiriboga added. 鈥淲e just gathered as much information as we could.鈥�

Those conversations helped them return with a clearer sense of direction.

鈥淲hen we came back, we had a better idea of what worked, what didn鈥檛 and what problems we needed to solve,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said.

Friendship at the center

At the heart of YAPA is not only a product idea, but also a partnership built on trust.

The two met during their first year at Elon and became close friends before ever becoming business partners, something they say has made navigating the ups and downs of building a company more manageable.

鈥淚f I cannot do something right now, I know Juan Daniel can do it, and vice versa,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淭hat trust was built before the business.鈥�

That foundation has shaped how they approach both their work and their time as students.

鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten really good at knowing when to talk business and when not to,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 not working time, we try to focus on being friends and being present with other people.鈥�

Living together has only strengthened that balance, allowing them to stay in sync while also setting boundaries.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not always 50-50 all the time,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淏ut we know we鈥檙e in this together, and that makes it easier to handle everything that comes up.鈥�

For Chiriboga, the partnership is one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more grateful that my best friend is also my business partner,鈥� he said.

As they prepare to graduate, both say some of the biggest milestones are still ahead.

鈥淭he biggest one is getting the cans,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when it becomes real, when you can actually hold the product and take that first sip.鈥�

Even so, the process has already reshaped how they think about risk, learning and what it means to build something from scratch.

For other students considering a venture of their own, their advice is simple.

鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to start,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 believe in yourself, no one else will.鈥�

Vargas-Lopez added that one of the most valuable lessons has been staying open to what others know.

鈥淯se your resources,鈥� he said. 鈥淎sk questions. Learn from every conversation. We haven鈥檛 had a single meeting where we didn鈥檛 learn something.鈥�

Elon has been repeatedly recognized for the number of its alumni who participate in the Fulbright Program as teachers, graduate students, and researchers and has been named a top-producer of Fulbright students in six separate years. Students and alumni interested in the Fulbright Program or other nationally competitive fellowships are invited to contact the National and International Fellowships Office. The deadline to notify the office of your intent to apply for Fulbright in this upcoming cycle is June 1, 2026. Rising seniors are required to work with the National and International Fellowships Office to apply for Fulbright, and alumni are highly encouraged to do so.

Those who received awards this year are:

Azul Bellot 鈥�26

Azul Bellot, a double major in psychology and sociolinguistics with a minor in TESOL, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain. She is The Elon Commitment scholar in the Odyssey Program and a student scholar with The Center for Engaged Learning.

Bellot has been preparing for an experience like Fulbright long before she arrived at Elon. Reflecting on her early years, she says, 鈥淕rowing up as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I was my family鈥檚 translator from a young age. I navigated formal systems, adult conversations, and bureaucratic spaces in both English and Spanish long before I had the language to describe what that experience was doing to me. It gave me a deep understanding of what it means for language to be a gateway, and what it costs when that gateway is closed.鈥�

These formative years laid the groundwork for her time at Elon, where she developed her own independent sociolinguistics major, volunteered as an English tutor for children and adults, and conducted research on meaningful mentoring relationships. To Bellot, a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain is 鈥渢he most honest intersection of everything [she鈥檚] been working towards:聽language, identity, education, and community.鈥�

After Fulbright, Bellot plans to pursue more international fellowships before returning to academia to earn her PhD in Applied Linguistics. Her Elon mentors include Archie Crowley, assistant professor of English; Nina Namaste, professor of Spanish; and Sylvia Mu帽oz, assistant dean of students and director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.

Anya Brati膰 鈥�26

Anya Brati膰, a double major in international & global Studies and public policy with a minor in public health, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Vietnam. She is an Elon College Fellow, a Periclean Scholar, and the Student Government Association Student Body President.

To Brati膰, Fulbright represents the intersection of her two greatest passions: global engagement and teaching. She found ways to blend these passions during her time at Elon. As a Periclean Scholar, she had the opportunity to study abroad in India to understand what mutually beneficial relationships look like in practice, not just in theory. As a student consultant with the Center for Design Thinking, she developed a love for teaching and facilitation, specifically the challenge of guiding others through the structured process of finding meaningful solutions to 鈥渨icked鈥� problems. Serving as an English teaching assistant will allow her to refine her intercultural and teaching skills while strengthening diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam.

After Fulbright, Brati膰 is interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy or global social impact. 鈥淪imply put, I want to work at the intersection of people, policy and purpose,鈥� she says. Brati膰鈥檚 constellation of Elon mentors includes Amanda Tapler, associate teaching professor of public health studies; Safia Swimelar, professor of political science and public policy; Sean McMahon, professor of entrepreneurship; and Danielle Lake, director of design thinking and associate professor of human service studies.

Molly Moylan 鈥�26

Biochemistry major Molly Moylan has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain.

At Elon, Moylan took every opportunity to foster and blend her passions for STEM research, teaching and service. As a researcher, Moylan worked with chemistry professor Dan Wright to study trace metals within medicinal herbs and spices. She refined her teaching skills by serving with America Reads, the Village Project, the CityGate Dream Center, and more. Most notably, Moylan found a way to combine her passions by co-founding Imagine Science, a program designed to address declining student engagement in science education by bringing hands-on experiments and activities to local after-school programs.

In Spain, Moylan will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Galicia, a region that is especially interested in promoting students鈥� scientific thinking skills. This Fulbright year will serve as crucial preparation for Moylan as she applies to medical school. The language and cultural skills she will gain in Spain will allow her to better serve Spanish-speaking patients in the future.

Moylan鈥檚 most influential Elon mentor has been Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dan Wright. 鈥淒r. Dan Wright has been instrumental in my success at Elon,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough his continued support, my confidence in both my personal and professional capacities has grown immensely, and I am extremely grateful to have had him as a mentor.鈥�

Madison Powers 鈥�25

Madison Powers, who graduated in 2025 with a degree in journalism and a minor in Spanish, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain. At Elon, Powers was a communications fellow and a 2023 Pulitzer reporting fellow. Since graduating, she has served as an editorial intern at Garden & Gun Magazine in Charleston, South Carolina.

Powers has long had her sights set on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. During her undergraduate years, she spent a semester in Sevilla and fostered her dual passions for cross-cultural exchange and global education. Eager to return, she applied for Fulbright in last year鈥檚 application cycle and was named a semifinalist. She remained so committed to the value of a Fulbright experience that she chose to reapply this year, and her hard work and persistence paid off.

Powers will serve as an English teaching assistant in Madrid. She is excited to live and work in a large, diverse city while improving her Spanish language skills and forming connections with her community. Serving in Madrid will also allow her to work closely with students on Global Classrooms/Model UN projects, which are important to the development of their critical thinking and cross-cultural skills.

This Fulbright year will serve as a bridge between Powers鈥� current and future journalistic work. Upon returning to the U.S, she plans to work as a journalist reporting on and working in Spanish-speaking communities. Her Elon mentors include Kelly Furnas, associate teaching professor of journalism; Jan Register, administrative assistant for the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life; and Pablo Celis-Castillo, associate professor of Spanish.

Aryanna Vindas 鈥�25

Aryanna Vindas, a graduate of the class of 2025, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in South Korea. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a minor in Asian studies.

Serving as an English teaching assistant in South Korea is a natural extension of the work Vindas began at Elon. She completed a two-year undergraduate research project about Korean Buddhist mindfulness, studied abroad for a semester in South Korea, and undertook a rigorous course of Korean language study. Simultaneously, she developed her teaching skills by serving as a volunteer English teacher, tutoring Spanish, and leading and assisting dance classes.

Because her grant does not begin until January 2027, Vindas has chosen to go above and beyond to prepare. She will spend this summer in South Korea completing intensive language study at Yonsei University in Seoul, which will help her integrate more successfully into her future host community and build more meaningful relationships with her students.

After Fulbright, Vindas plans to enroll in graduate school to continue the research on Buddhist mindfulness she began at Elon. Vindas鈥� Elon mentors include Renay Aumiller, associate professor of dance; the 鈥渨onderful鈥� dance staff; and Pamela Winfield, professor of religious studies and associate director of international & global studies.

In addition to these students, one senior has been named an alternate. Alternates are still in the competition and have the chance to be promoted to finalists (recipients of the grant) up until the official start of the grant period. We will update this story as we continue to hear news of their progress.

Rebecca Lovasco 鈥�26

Rebecca Lovasco, a psychology major with minors in women鈥檚, gender, and sexuality studies and neuroscience, has been selected as an alternate for a Fulbright study/research grant in Taiwan to earn a master鈥檚 degree in Mind, Brain, and Consciousness at Taipei Medical University.

Lovasco is an Elon College Fellow who went on to win the Lumen Prize. Her research, which integrates cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, and philosophy of mind, explores how anxiety and depression affect reinforcement learning and conscious visual perception. Outside of her research, Lovasco is proud to have served as a law enforcement crisis counselor with the Campus Alamance program.

Lovasco鈥檚 Elon mentors include Kristina Krasich, assistant professor of psychology; William Schreiber, associate professor of psychology; Kim Epting, professor of psychology; Alexa Darby, professor of psychology; and Jill McSweeney,聽assistant director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning聽and assistant professor of wellness.

As Sofia聽Galazzi聽鈥�19 first navigated her university opportunities, she was looking for a place where she聽wouldn鈥檛聽just be a number. Coming from the聽vibrant聽city of聽Piacenza, where she spent the first two years of her dual-degree program at Universit脿 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the oaks of North Carolina offered exactly the cozy environment she needed.

鈥淚 was looking for a place where I could feel welcomed,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved the fact that Elon was smaller. I thought the engagement with the students聽and the professors聽would be higher. I really wanted to be taken care of during the time I was going to spend there.鈥�

That personal attention quickly translated into a professional advantage. While European universities often focus heavily on traditional exams and theory,聽Galazzi聽found that Elon鈥檚 college culture was obsessed with the world of work. She spent her days doing weekly assignments, leading group projects, and standing up in front of her peers to deliver presentations; aspects she said shaped her personality as much as her resume.

鈥淭he university really prepares you,鈥� she said. 鈥淒oing those presentations and working with other people gave me the confidence to stand up and speak in front of others. In Europe,聽it鈥檚聽mostly just you and the book. At Elon,聽it鈥檚聽about the people.鈥�

After graduating in 2019,聽Galazzi鈥檚聽path took her into the high-fashion聽world of Milan. She spent聽nearly four聽years working in merchandising and data analysis for luxury giants Gucci and Zegna, where she managed KPIs and sales planning. But even as she navigated the private sector, she felt a pull toward public service. She eventually made the pivot to Brussels, joining the European Commission through its prestigious “Blue Book” traineeship program before rising to her current role as a Budget Officer.

Today,聽Galazzi聽works within the Directorate-General for Budget (DG BUDG). Her daily life involves defining and implementing the annual EU budget, a role that requires her to work across different languages,聽cultures聽and legal systems.

鈥淭he European Commission is a very international environment,鈥澛燝alazzi聽said. 鈥淐oming from a dual degree, where I was already used to moving countries and adapting to new environments, it was much easier for me to step into this role. Elon鈥檚 global community prepared me to work with people from all over the world.鈥�

Despite the high-stakes nature of her work in Brussels,聽Galazzi聽remains聽a major advocate for the Elon network. She is particularly passionate about encouraging current students to look beyond the U.S. and Italy for opportunities. She notes that the European Commission offers a massive traineeship program twice a year. While it鈥檚聽mostly for EU citizens, there are spots specifically reserved for non-EU nationals, including Americans.

鈥淚 don’t think Americans know very well how the European聽Union聽works, and Europeans don鈥檛 always know how the U.S. works,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f someone has ambitions in the public sector or political affairs, this is such a good opportunity to bridge that gap.鈥�

When reflecting on why Elon alumni seem to thrive in these high-pressure global roles,聽Galazzi聽points back to that聽initial cozy feeling. She believes that because Elon makes students feel like they belong, they leave campus with the confidence to take on big responsibilities early.

Her advice for the next generation of Phoenix, especially those currently navigating the Dual Degree program, is to lean into the discomfort of being in a new place.

鈥淕et to know the people and the culture as much as you can,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on鈥檛聽just stick with people from your own country. If I could go back to my 18-year-old self,聽I鈥檇聽tell her:聽don鈥檛聽be afraid. Everything will work out if you stay curious.鈥�

North Carolina Teaching Fellow Kaitlyn Lewis 鈥�26 used to 鈥減lay school鈥� as a young girl, setting up her bedroom as a classroom, teaching her stuffed animals. Now, Lewis is no longer pretending.

On May 22, she will graduate from 福利亚洲国产精品 with a degree in elementary education and begin teaching full-time in the Alamance County community.

鈥淚鈥檝e always had such amazing teachers growing up. They鈥檝e always had a positive impact on my life, and they鈥檝e inspired me through my schooling,鈥� said Lewis, who is from Alamance County. 鈥淭hey showed me what I want to be for my future students.鈥�

Lewis鈥檚 path to and through Elon has included all three primary scholarship programs within the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education: Alamance Scholars, NC Teaching Fellows and post-graduation, Teach for Alamance. Lewis came to Elon through the Alamance Scholars Program, a partnership between Elon, the Alamance-Burlington School System and Alamance Community College. The program provides a pathway from high school to a college degree, preparing students to become teachers within their local community.

Designed to attract students with financial need from diverse backgrounds, the Alamance Scholars program supports those pursuing education degrees while helping address teacher shortages in Alamance County and beyond. Lewis spent two years at ACC before transferring to Elon as a junior, a transition she says the program made seamless.

鈥淚f I ever needed anything, I knew I could go straight to them and they would be right on it, and they would help me immediately,鈥� Lewis said.

The program has had such a strong impact on Lewis that she now mentors future scholars.

鈥淲e鈥檒l show them around the campus, and they鈥檝e even been able to sit in on some of my classes, so they get the Elon experience before they are an actual Elon student, which is something that solidified my decision on going to Elon,鈥� said Lewis.

For the past three semesters, Lewis has been student teaching at Garrett Elementary in Mebane, the same community where she attended grade school.

鈥淚 love it. The staff and all the cooperating teachers that I have worked with have been amazing. They have provided me with the resources to help me grow as an educator,鈥� said Lewis.

And her co-teacher happens to be Elon alum: Meredith Barger 鈥�18.

鈥淜aitlyn is an amazing student teacher to work with,鈥� said Barger. 鈥淪he brings a positive attitude, a caring heart and great work ethic into the classroom. She has been a joy to work with this year, we have been able to co-teach this semester to best support our students! It鈥檚 not often that you have a student teacher who can pick up and co-teach with you as Kaitlyn did.鈥�

While Lewis says adjusting to a real classroom can be challenging, she credits Elon鈥檚 education program with preparing her for a wide range of situations.

“Elon has definitely equipped me knowledge-wise and showed me different strategies for teaching because not every student learns the same way,鈥� said Lewis. “You need different strategies to teach different students. They got us into the classroom as soon as they could, which I think is one of the most beneficial things because that is where you do the most learning, is in the classroom.鈥�

Faculty in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education have also been key sources of support, including Portia Wade, assistant teaching professor of education; Lisa Thompson, adjunct instructor of education; and Katie Baker, associate professor of education, who taught Lewis in three courses, including a mathematics content course.

鈥淜aitlyn put extensive effort into all of her courses and was open to exploring new ways of learning mathematics for the sake of her future learners. She was so intrigued by various mathematics approaches that she found ways to immediately integrate the content in her field placement classroom, and additionally, her coursework was done at such an exemplary level, I now use her submissions as the models for future semesters,鈥� Baker said.

After graduation, Lewis plans to remain at Elon. She has been accepted into the Teach for Alamance program, which provides full tuition remission and a small stipend to graduates of the School of Education who enroll in Elon鈥檚 Master of Education program. Participants commit to two years of teaching in the Alamance-Burlington School System and must be employed by the district throughout their graduate studies.

鈥淥ne of my favorite things is when I am working with students and you can see when the content finally clicks in their heads. It is such a rewarding feeling,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y main goal is to be a welcoming adult for students.鈥�

Ahead of 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 136th Commencement on May 22, 2026, Today at Elon is highlighting several graduating seniors who have made the most of their Elon experience.

Macy AI is a聽consulting company聽that educates organizations on how to聽confidently and ethically use AI. Akben also developed and teaches the Elon NEXT聽AI Certificate for Professionals.

Amanda聽Traugutt, senior associate director of聽career services for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, said聽the Porter Center聽wanted to put on this workshop to make sure that students had the information and education to use these tools聽properly.

鈥淸AI tools]聽can be聽really powerful聽if you know how to use them right,鈥� Traugutt said.

Before beginning to teach students the specifics of these AI tools,聽Akben聽made a point to聽emphasize that, while AI is good at recognizing patterns, it聽can鈥檛聽make judgements. It鈥檚聽up to聽human聽users to聽determine聽what聽content聽matters聽from the output AI has given them.

While some think聽that educating聽students聽on AI use supports聽them聽offloading their thinking and blindly using these tools,聽Akben said聽that鈥檚聽not the聽reality.

鈥淭he more you learn how to use AI ethically, the more you are able to see what skills are uniquely human, how we can amplify those skills, and when AI should be pulled in and when it should not,鈥澛燗kben聽said.

During the workshop,聽Akben聽first聽taught students how to use聽NotebookLM聽to store their resumes, writing samples, class work, etc. Then, using Gemini, students were able to create a Gem聽鈥斅爓hich is a repeated task聽鈥斅爐hat used what they had聽put into NotebookLM聽to聽determine聽if a certain job or internship posting was the right fit for them. The Gem also聽gave suggestions as to how they could tailor their resume and skills聽for specific聽job聽opportunities.

In addition,聽Akben聽showed students how聽to聽create a recurring job search through Gemini, that聽took聽location, interests, work format, and more into consideration. Each tool聽Akben聽taught聽was designed to聽streamline the job search process, while keeping the human element聽of writing and making decisions about what suggestions to pursue.

Ava Paolino-Sarcia 鈥�28 said she came to the event to learn how to聽utilize聽AI when searching for summer internships.

鈥淚 think searching will be a little bit easier and more efficient with AI, and I鈥檒l probably be able to find some more opportunities than I could have before,鈥� Paolino-Sarcia said.

Junior Alex Roberts聽also appreciated the efficiency聽that聽using AI as a tool could bring to his job search, and said he liked how easy it was to learn how to use the tools taught through the workshop. Roberts pointed out聽how rough the job market can seem to students聽who will soon enter聽the聽workforce,聽but聽said that using these tools can make it easier聽to get ahead of the pack.

鈥淩ather than you having to do the work,聽it鈥檚聽letting the machine do the work. You just do all the writing and make it human and sound like yourself,鈥� Roberts said.

The event had a large turnout, with聽every聽seat filled, showing not only the desire of students to learn how to effectively use these tools but also the importance of hosting workshops to聽educate on how聽to use AI properly and ethically.

Looking to the future,聽Traugutt聽hopes that students continue to make use of these AI tools in tandem with the resources provided through the Porter Center.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to start with AI,鈥澛燭raugutt聽said. 鈥淏ut having someone to talk to about what you’re learning about yourself聽and what guidance you might be getting from AI is really, really helpful.鈥�

Pereyra majored in cinema & television arts with minors in entrepreneurship and French. Her undergraduate years were defined by a need to get involved, serving as a tour guide, diversity ambassador, orientation leader and a member of the student government.

Of all her roles, she highlights her time as a tour guide as particularly transformative for her current career.

“Being a tour guide helped me tremendously sharpen my people skills, adaptability, presentation skills and my communication clarity,” she explained.

Pereyra’s post-grad journey was a testament to her grit and determination. She had completed a summer with Elon in LA in her junior year and ended up falling in love with the city, so just one week after graduation, she decided to move to Los Angeles with little to no plan.

She ended up finding success in LA working in production assistant roles, which she describes as the “project management” precursor to her current career. Once LA no longer fit her lifestyle, a tip from a friend who worked in rental properties convinced her to look into real estate. She eventually took his advice and pivoted to the housing market, and today, she operates under her own LLC, working directly with clients to help make their dreams come true.

Despite the shift from TV to real estate, Pereyra still utilizes the lessons learned at Elon. She frequently recalls a lesson from former Elon faculty member Paul Castro, who taught that storytelling is about having a simple plot with complex characters. In Pereyra’s world, the “plot” is the sale, but the “characters” are the people navigating major life changes. This perspective was never more vital than when she handled her most personal transaction to date, selling her parents’ home.

“That transaction encompassed every challenge all at once. The deal fell through twice with two different buyers. And then the third buyer, almost fell through,鈥� she said.

Real estate, she emphasized, can be especially challenging.

鈥淵ou’ve got to be extremely careful and cautious with timing, protecting your client鈥檚 money, protecting their efforts and protecting their emotions,” she explained. 鈥淭he most complex clients are the ones who may be up against the wall, where they don’t have a choice on whether to sell.”

鈥淚 believe that I have become immensely emotionally mature and intelligent through this process because of the different personalities and characteristics that I’m able to adapt to regularly.鈥�

Now, Pereyra is paying it forward through her seminars. Inspired by a networking event, she realized she had a unique ability to deliver a message based on her own life observations. Her workshop, which explores how self-sabotage can be any professional’s “biggest villain,” has expanded from her initial idea of teaching to real estate agents to now working with professionals in every industry.

Pereyra was honored to be chosen as one of Elon鈥檚 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni. Right now, she is focused on her career and hoping all the hard work she put in early on will continue to pay off.

Since 2011, 福利亚洲国产精品 has honored 10 recipients each year with the Elon
Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award, recognizing their significant professional
achievements. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade
who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their
communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please share your feedback or those stories online:

Doug Williams ’13 has a specific rule about writing news copy: You can only use the phrase “only time will tell” if your story is about clocks. It’s a piece of advice he received from Professor Emeritus Richard Landesberg, and he uses it subconsciously every morning behind the anchor desk for CBS New York.

Whether he is recapping a local strike or reporting from a war zone, those lessons from his professors remain the backbone of his daily scripts.

“I realistically use those teachings with every single script I write,” Williams said. “Everything is copy. Everyone has a story.”

Anthony Hatcher, professor of journalism and chair of the Journalism Department, vividly remembers that drive.

“Several things stood out about Doug when he was my student,” Hatcher said. “He was naturally curious and asked good questions. He was also smart and a go-getter. When he was assigned stories in my Media Writing class, he had an instinct for finding people… and getting good quotes.”

For many, the Jane and Brian Williams Studio in McEwen is a landmark of the university鈥檚 state-of-the-art facilities. For Doug, it is a reminder of why his parents “bought into” the Elon experience. Though neither attended the university, they were impressed by the real-world training Doug received as a broadcast journalism major. They were blown away that he was already writing, shooting and editing as an undergraduate.

“I think the ‘legacy’ was made possible by the professors I learned from and the education I left with,” Williams said. “It was a way for my parents to express their gratitude for that, while paying it forward”.

Hatcher notes that Williams’ composure was evident even during a study abroad trip.

“He has a calm demeanor that sets other people at ease,” Hatcher said. “When he traveled with me on a Winter Term study abroad, I never worried about him getting left behind. He absorbed the material quickly and made the most of his time.”

Initially, Williams believed his future was set in stone; in a 2017 interview, he intending to stick strictly to sports. However, after seven years at SNY, a period he describes as “magic,” he began to feel the risk of becoming too comfortable.

Following the advice of his mentor and former boss, Curt Gowdy Jr., Williams decided to diversify his skillset. The transition was a “humbling leap” that didn’t immediately lead to a new desk. Williams spent a year navigating the “crickets” of the job market, an experience that forced him to build his networking muscle from scratch.

During this time, he embraced an entrepreneurial spirit, taking overnight shifts and freelancing for MLB Network Radio, CBS Sports Radio and WFAN. He credits these grueling live radio sessions with making his current TV ad-libbing feel easy by comparison.

Since starting at CBS New York in January 2023, Williams has found a new sense of purpose in local journalism. While he traded clubhouse interviews for the unpredictable world of breaking news, the move was put to its highest test in late 2023 when he spent . This assignment remains his most challenging to date, leaving him with a profound perspective on his own luck and a professional hope to be called for such vital reporting again.

Today, the “magic” of his career has evolved from the baseball diamond to the grit of the morning news cycle. He now reports on high-stakes human interest stories, from the to sensitive criminal investigations.

“The job shatters the walls of your comfort zone every day,” Williams said, noting that the lack of routine is exactly what he now loves about the role.

Professor Hatcher, a print journalist by trade, isn’t surprised by Doug’s success in the transition.

“I stress accuracy, context, fairness, self-editing, and completeness… I’m not surprised Doug puts those qualities into practice as he writes news copy, primarily because he’s a consummate professional.”

While his professional excellence is expected, Williams continues to surprise the industry through his dedication to his alma mater. Hatcher emphasizes that Williams’ willingness to mentor current students and network with majors has a “huge impact on elevating the Journalism Department.”

Throughout his rise in the New York market, Williams has navigated the unique pressure that comes with a famous last name. It was a challenge his parents prepared him for early on, advising him that he would often have to “destroy assumptions” people might have about his path.

“People will assume you’re going to be a certain type of person before they meet you,” Williams said, echoing his parents’ guidance. “It’s up to you to surprise them.”

While he credits his family for that foundation, Doug has made that mission his own, focusing on his unique craft to ensure his work, not his name, defines his reputation in the newsroom.

Now a father to a one-year-old son, Williams’ current advice to students is focused on balance. He warns that while fun doesn’t disappear after graduation, it stops happening by accident.

“Fun is now something I have to put on my calendar,” he said.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online: elon.edu/u/advancement/alumni-in-action-feedback/.

鈥淎s soon as I finished moving in, I walked over to the McEwen Communications Building and met a guy named Joe Bruno and a woman named Julie Morse, and not 72 hours later, I was in a car on my way to Charlotte, as part of Elon Local News鈥� (Elon News Network) Democratic National Convention coverage,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淪ure, I was carrying a tripod around the streets of Charlotte for one of the senior reporters, but I was there. And that was just the beginning.鈥�

That “beginning” launched a trajectory that would take him from the student-run newsroom of Elon Local News to the heart of the nation’s capital as a reporter for NBC News. Today, Grumbach is a key player in the network鈥檚 reporting, covering everything from the Supreme Court to the criminal trials of some of the most important people in American politics.

Grumbach credits his success to the immersive, high-pressure environment of Elon Local News.

鈥淲e took ourselves very seriously at Elon Local News. Some might say too seriously,鈥� he said. “But we did that, because we loved it. We loved learning, we loved reporting, we loved breaking news, and we loved the people we did all of that with.鈥�

Over the next four years, Grumbach traveled from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Des Moines, Iowa; from Concord, New Hampshire, to Jo茫o Pessoa, Brazil, reporting on everything from North Carolina鈥檚 controversial bathroom bill to the future of the internet.

Reflecting on the fast-paced newsroom environment at Elon, Grumbach sees how directly those experiences translated to his career today.

鈥淲hether it was 1 a.m. in the edit suites finishing a piece for the morning show, or 5:59 p.m. in the control room trying to load all of the video into the system, the adrenaline kept you going,鈥� he explained. 鈥淎fter graduating, I realized that same feeling crosses the stage with you.鈥�

The hustle and dedication he developed at Elon Local News carried over to national television, where, as Grumbach puts it, 鈥渢he show goes on the air at its scheduled time, whether or not you鈥檙e ready.鈥�

He points to specific mentors, like Professor of Journalism Janna Anderson, whose Reporting for the Public Good class pushed students to find, write and submit stories within hours.

鈥淚t was a fast, exhilarating, stressful experience鈥攂ut so is real-life journalism,鈥� he said.

Grumbach also credits recently retired professor Richard Landesberg, along with faculty members Anthony Hatcher and Staci Saltz, as key influences in shaping him into the journalist he is today. Grumbach knew Elon was the school for him after his first tour, led by a family friend.

鈥淚 picked Elon because of the incredible broadcast journalism program,鈥� he said. 鈥淔rom top to bottom, there is no School of Communication like Elon鈥檚. Professors don鈥檛 just know about broadcasting鈥攖hey鈥檝e worked in broadcasting.鈥�

That foundation helped Grumbach transition seamlessly from the classroom to a career at one of the biggest broadcast news organizations in the country.

鈥淎t NBC News, millions of viewers and readers rely on you for fast, accurate, and digestible information,鈥� he explained. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to learn those core tenets through Elon Local News and in the classroom was invaluable.鈥�

Since joining NBC News, Grumbach has been on the front lines of history. He has traveled to 41 states and Canada, covering Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the 2020 campaign trail, and as part of the NBC News White House team covering the G-20 Leaders鈥� Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

On the trail, his daily life often resembled a one鈥憁an production crew.

鈥淚 did it all with a camera, tripod, LiveU satellite backpack, luggage and two phones in my pocket,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 shot video, logged video, broke news, walked backwards following the candidate in a parade鈥攁nd that was just before lunch.鈥�

One of Grumbach鈥檚 proudest professional moments came during the 2024 Hunter Biden gun charges trial. Inside a federal courthouse where phones and computers were prohibited, Grumbach needed a creative way to beat the competition in reporting the verdict.

鈥淚n the media room of the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, there are windows that look down to the street below,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭he nice thing about windows is that they work both ways.鈥�

Grumbach and his team devised a plan using color鈥慶oded pieces of paper labeled 鈥淕鈥� for 鈥淕uilty鈥� and “N” for 鈥淣ot Guilty.鈥� As the verdict was read, Grumbach held up the papers for each count. By the time the judge finished, three pieces of paper read 鈥淕.鈥� NBC News beat every other television network to the story.

鈥淭he other networks may still be trying to get out of that building,鈥� he jokes.

Grumbach notes that some of the hardest moments in his job come while covering high鈥憈ension events such as protests. He emphasizes the importance of situational awareness as conditions can change quickly.

鈥淚鈥檓 thankful NBC News takes our safety and security in the field seriously and doesn鈥檛 take any chances,鈥� he said.

On the technical side, large crowds such as those at protests present additional challenges.

“When tens of thousands of people are streaming, tweeting and texting at the same time, it can be difficult to get a quality live signal,” Grumbach said. That requires creativity and ingenuity.鈥�

Despite the intensity of his career, Grumbach says one of his favorite parts of the job has been connecting with people on the ground.

鈥淲hat I found most interesting, particularly from covering candidates on the campaign trail, is that from Nevada to Iowa to South Carolina to Vermont, the answers from voters weren鈥檛 all that different,鈥� he said. That realization has reinforced his commitment to reporting the truth and helping connect people across the country.

Despite his national success, Grumbach remains deeply connected to his roots. He was recently selected as one of Elon鈥檚 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni, a recognition he views with immense gratitude. For him, the “Elon bubble” never truly burst; it just expanded. He now lives and works with fellow alumni and had nearly two dozen of them attend his wedding.

Looking ahead to the next decade in a rapidly changing media landscape, Grumbach鈥檚 goal remains simple鈥攖o keep the public informed.

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing I love more than explaining breaking news to colleagues and viewers鈥攆rom the latest lawsuit filed to a complicated Supreme Court decision,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to tell people something that could truly impact their lives, and making sure that information is easy to understand and fact鈥慴ased, will always be important.鈥�

Since 2011, 福利亚洲国产精品 has honored 10 recipients each year with the Elon Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award, recognizing their significant professional achievements. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please share your feedback or those stories online: