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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mitchener’s connection to ������Ƶ began through an unexpected source: her mother’s nursing practice. Her mother was treating a patient who was attending ������Ƶ, which gave Mitchener access to explore the campus.

She recalls the day she visited for the first time: “While my mom was seeing her patient, she left me downtown. I went to Oak House and walked around the campus. And after the tour, I fell in love with ������Ƶ. I knew that this was my campus, and this was my home,” she said.

After this newfound love, Mitchener explored ways to begin her ������Ƶ journey through financial aid programs. She discovered and applied to both the Odyssey Program and Public Health Scholars.

She remembers the night her academic potential was recognized; it was the night of her final senior year dance concert. As the show wrapped up, she received a call from ������Ƶ’s Odyssey Program delivering good news of her acceptance into the program through the Kerrii Brown Anderson Odyssey Scholarship.

Now a senior double major in public health and policy studies, Mitchener is actively involved in creating solutions for the community’s public health problems.

“Growing up, I always thought the way to help others was just being a doctor,” she said. “I really love how public health is grounded in not only finding the root issue, but understanding the community that you’re working with.”

While Mitchener was in a public health course that was required for the Public Health Scholars Program, she recalls her professor, Associate Professor of Public Health Studies Stephanie Baker, stating: “If you’re going to be a healthcare professional and be upset at the systems that don’t allow you to help your patients to the full extent that you want to, being a healthcare professional might not be for you.”

“That stuck with me, because I think of insurance and how much medicines can cost, making it very difficult for people to access healthcare. I want to be a piece of the healthcare solution,” said Mitchener.

Now, Mitchener and her course group are currently working to revise the Public Art & Honorary Policy for the city of Burlington. This includes making an application form for any community member who wants to donate a piece of art or get a memorial plaque. Additionally, she created a resource for community members to connect with local and statewide art collectives.

“We share all of our deliverables with the city in hopes that they will implement the policy. They can make any edits they see fit, and it was a collaborative process where we were constantly in contact with the city,” said Mitchener.

Also involved with Periclean Scholars, Mitchener was able to mentor the sophomore class and go to their global partner in Sri Lanka.

“The Periclean cohort has honestly just been such a light in my ������Ƶ experience and not only given me community but also purpose,” she said.

Her initiative for change doesn’t stop there; Micthener is also a HealthEU Senator with ������Ƶ Student Government Association.

“A big piece of Student Government is writing legislation and advocating for the student body and what they need,” she said.

Through the SGA, she has already taken noticeable action to improve the ������Ƶ community through HealthEU policy. She identified a lack of seating accessibility at the bus stop near the Dalton L. McMichael Sr. Science Center. Now, there is now a covered seating area that sits beautifully outside the McMichael Science Center.

Mitchener also took the initiative to further amplify student voices at a dinner with ������Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book. Through her connection to the community and the students in it, she identified a common problem among ������Ƶ students having access to transportation to the airport during breaks. After she represented and stood up for community needs, changes were made. Students now have wider access to airport transportation through ������Ƶ-provided shuttles.

“It taught me how important having connections is,” she said. “If I didn’t have a connection with those students, if I didn’t take my time to ask and understand their needs and why they have them, the problem wouldn’t have been addressed or been on the radar.”

Remembering the help she received along the way, Mitchener states her Odyssey scholarship acted as a “launching pad” for her success in her public health and policy studies.

“The Odyssey Program doesn’t just keep you stagnant,” she said. “It empowers you to branch out and pursue whatever you want on campus. It’s allowed me to fully embrace the college experience.”

Mitchener describes a recent “melt your heart moment” she experienced with another student. While leading a tour of ������Ƶ to prospective students, one girl spoke up and said, “I love this school. I want to go here so badly. But I don’t know if I can afford it.” It was then that she offered to share the Odyssey and scholarship resources with the prospective student to help her achieve her dream ������Ƶ experience. Just a year later, the prospective student had committed to ������Ƶ on an Odyssey scholarship and is now Mitchener’s mentee.

“Donors get to empower a student,” said Mitchener. “I don’t think about it like you just give a student money and walk away. Instead, you’re empowering them and giving them the tools to pursue whatever it is that they want.”

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• Anna Matawaran ’25 takes the ������Ƶ ‘building blocks’ to Year of Service Fellows program
• Sam Hinton ’25 continues community commitment through Year of Service Fellows Program
• Abby Lee ’25 combines knowledge in public health and political science as an ������Ƶ Year of Service Fellow
• Jasmine Walker ’25 gives back to the community that shaped her through Year of Service Fellows Program

As an ������Ƶ Year of Service Fellow, Jasmine Walker ’25 was excited to have the opportunity to give back to the community that helped her grow, currently partnering with , an organization focused on education from “cradle to career.”

“When I found out it was through ABSS (Alamance Burlington School System), which I’m a product of, I wanted to help the school system since they helped me become who I am,” said Walker, who earned a degree in human service studies with a minor in poverty and social justice.

�ճ����Year of Service Fellows Program is an opportunity through the university’s Student Professional Development Center that allows recent graduates to work at local organizations to improve health, education and economic development in the Alamance County community.

Going macro

A native of ������Ƶ, Walker was a scholar in the ������Ƶ Academy in high school, and a scholar in the Odyssey Program. Now, she’s a Year of Service Fellow, an opportunity that allows recent graduates to work at local organizations to improve health, education and economic development in the Alamance County community.

“I wanted to do macro-work,” she said of her choice to do the fellows program. “I was doing a lot of micro work in my undergrad, and I wanted to try something different. I really appreciate the experience because I’ve never done anything like this before, and it’s building my knowledge.”

Walker started with Alamance Achieves in June 2025 and says she was immediately thrown in,” working on “Ready Freddy,” a three-week program preparing students for kindergarten.

“I have a lot of experience working with kids, and that’s something I’m passionate about,” said Walker.

She also assists with the Teachers Leadership Academy, a program for ABSS teachers focusing on leadership skills and opportunities, and “The Basics Alamance,” a community-wide initiative that uses evidence-based principles and a text-message platform to support caregivers in promoting healthy brain development from birth to age 5.

“There’s a misconception that people don’t need to work with kids until they’re in kindergarten, and that’s when they’ll start learning. But it’s very prevalent for children to start learning from the ages of 0 to 5, before they go to kindergarten,” said Walker.

A desire to help

Her desire to help others was a key factor in her decision to major in human services studies.

“I wanted to help people, and I’ve always been passionate about supporting others,” said Walker. “I grew up volunteering and doing different things with my church. When I was a freshman, I met a senior in the program, and I took the intro course and really liked it. I liked how personable the department was.”

Walker credits several faculty members with being her biggest cheerleaders, including Sandra Reid, Vanessa Drew Branch and Jessica Navarro. The Odyssey Program, along with ������Ƶ’s Periclean Scholars Program also advanced her education and global understanding.

“The Odyssey Program really changed my life,” said Walker. “I was able to study abroad in Florence, Italy, my junior year and I was there for three and a half months. That was cool, I never thought I was going to be able to leave the country because of finances.”

Healthier, smarter, stronger

Through the Periclean Scholars Program, a three-year, cohort-based learning experience that focuses on forming mutually-beneficial partnerships locally and abroad, Walker was also able to travel to Costa Rica for the Winter Term. It was an opportunity to practice the Spanish-speaking skills she learned through the ABSS Spanish-immersion program from kindergarten through 11^th grade.

“We studied Costa Rica as a whole and looked at what the specific community that we were going to travel to needed,” she said. “It was interesting, and I think it helped me because now I’m thinking, after the fellowship, either continuing to work in Alamance County, or pursuing a master’s degree in social work.”

Even though she’s from Alamance County and was educated in ABSS, Walker says she’s continuing to learn about her hometown.

“It’s cool to be able to meet different leaders and partners in the community, and hear what they do,” Walker said. “I don’t think I realized how many organizations and partnerships there are to make Alamance County continue to thrive. I can see the efforts being made to support Impact Alamance’s mission of making Alamance County healthier, smarter and stronger. Growing up and seeing the difference between what it was when I was a kid and what it is now in my 20s, it gives me hope.”

This story is part of a series of features on the 2025-26 Year of Service Fellows, highlighting the work they are doing in the Alamance County community.

had never slept on a boat before. By the time she woke up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – six hours off the coast of Costa Rica – she had already spent the night battling seasickness, clutching her camera, and worrying whether she’d get the images she hoped for. Five minutes after stepping onto the deck at sunrise, a hammerhead shark surfaced beside the boat, confirming months of preparation and giving Molina firsthand access to an endangered species few reporters document alive.

The encounter came during Molina’s three-week reporting trip last summer to Costa Rica as a 2025 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow, where the journalism and media analytics double major investigated illegal hammerhead shark fishing and the legal loopholes allowing the endangered species to be caught and sold. For Molina, whose parents immigrated from Costa Rica, the fellowship offered a rare opportunity to report in her family’s home country – placing her not only in government offices and fishing towns, but also aboard a research vessel in international waters alongside marine biologists tagging hammerhead sharks.

“I was really worried about visuals,” Molina said of her investigation. “I was like, ‘How am I going to get a visual of a hammerhead shark? They’re all the way out in the ocean.’”

That anxiety followed her offshore. Molina was the only journalist on board, far from land, without cell service and with no easy way out if something went wrong. The physical toll hit quickly.

“I was severely seasick the first night,” Molina said. “Like, I’ve never been that pale in my life.”

Despite the discomfort, Molina never questioned why she was there, staying alert with her camera at the ready.

Those hours at sea were just one chapter in a much longer reporting journey – one that began with a phone call to family. The project took shape after a conversation with Molina’s aunt, Sophia Gamboa, who lives in Costa Rica and raised concerns about illegal hammerhead shark fishing that she felt was largely overlooked.

Nearly two years after that conversation, Molina’s reporting culminated in a Pulitzer Center–published investigation titled “” an in-depth examination of how enforcement gaps continue to threaten the endangered species. Molina said her connection to the country shaped both the focus and the urgency of the work.

“Being Costa Rican is a central part of my identity,” Molina said. “I’ve returned regularly since I was very young to visit family, and I now hold dual citizenship.”

Throughout her three-week trip, Molina relied heavily on her aunt, who served as a translator during interviews with fishermen and local officials, and helped coordinate travel between coastal communities. That support allowed Molina to focus on reporting while gaining access she would not have been able to secure alone.

Molina’s reporting took her from government offices in San José to small fishing towns along the Pacific coast, before culminating far offshore with a team led by marine biologist Randall Arauz. “I was on my own reporting for about a week,” Molina said. “And then I was invited by Randall, whom I interviewed back in December (2024), to come out on the boat with him.”

The plan was to tag thresher sharks. Hammerheads were never guaranteed. When a hammerhead finally appeared one morning, the tagging process unfolded quickly.

“They make an incision right near the fin,” Molina explained. “They put in the tag … and then it goes with the shark, and it will eventually come off and send all that data back.”

As the scientists worked, Molina remained on deck with the fishermen, documenting the moment. “They were like, ‘You have to come here. This is a good angle for a photo,’” she said of the crew. “They were really nice people.”

By the end of the trip, the team had tagged three hammerhead sharks.

For Molina, seeing the sharks alive and released underscored the stakes of her reporting. Hammerhead sharks are elusive and endangered, and encounters outside of fishing contexts are rare. The experience offshore made tangible what had previously existed only in interviews, documents and preparation.

“I’ve gone through a lot for this story,” Molina said.

The experience also reshaped how Molina understood the investigation itself. What began as a project focused largely on enforcement failures evolved into something more complex once she began interviewing government officials, scientists and fishing advocates.

“I truly don’t think that they’re bad people and don’t care about hammerhead sharks,” Molina said of the regulators she interviewed. “I think it’s more like there are three people monitoring over 2,000 boats.”

That realization shifted the reporting away from individual blame and toward systemic limitations, including understaffing, resource constraints and the challenges of monitoring Costa Rica’s extensive coastline. For Molina, that nuance became central to the final piece.

In the final days of the trip, Molina shifted from reporting to writing. “I actually wrote the entire article before I even left Costa Rica,” she said. She worked from her grandmother’s house – a familiar place she had visited since childhood – drafting the investigation at the coffee table. After the intensity of the fieldwork, Molina finished her story as rain fell outside, dampening the orchids lining her grandmother’s backyard.

About Pulitzer Center’s Campus Consortium

������Ƶ is a partner in the Pulitzer Center’s Campus Consortium, a network of colleges and universities that support the center’s mission to promote journalism on critical global issues. Along with travel funding, the fellowship provides mentorship, journalism resources, and the opportunity to present work at an annual fall conference in Washington, D.C. Student projects are published in major media outlets nationally and internationally, as well as on the .

In fact, Molina’s main report was published by Latina Republic, a U.S.-based nonprofit media and research organization focused on bridging understanding between the U.S. and Latin America.

Related links

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Biggers has been enrolled in a business and legal studies pathway since high school. His consistent hard work throughout his early studies and his passion for change within the business world led him to strive for a rigorous graduation plan.

As a scholar in the Odyssey Program, through the Leon and Lorraine Watson scholarship, and actively pursuing his dual degree, Biggers has the opportunity to achieve his career dreams early.

“I feel like I can do anything,” he said. “It’s amazing because people from Gastonia don’t normally get exposed to the opportunities I’ve had here at ������Ƶ.”

Biggers has been interested in the intersection of business and legal studies since his high school accounting class, where he learned about the effect of the 2008 market crash and the Enron and WorldCom scandals that shaped corporate accountability.

“Studying those cases made me realize I wanted to be part of the solution,” Biggers said.

He recognizes the unethical practices of some corporations, expressing his sincerity for the real people affected and hurt by these practices.

“In accounting, they say we ensure the public’s trust,” he said. “I want to make sure that businesses are held accountable and that they are not just seeking to gain profit but also doing good for the world.”

This belief system heavily impacted his career aspirations. “I would love to be an attorney who protects consumers from corrupt behavior by businesses. I want to ensure that businesses act ethically and don’t harm consumers in small communities,” Biggers adds.

Recognizing his hard work in high school, he was drawn to ������Ƶ to continue his rigorous studies in the Odyssey Program and the 3+1 program. After setting foot on ������Ƶ’s campus, he knew this was the place for him.

“I fell in love with the campus when I visited for the first time. It was the first college campus that felt doable and I could see myself here, living and going to class, joining clubs and pursuing the opportunities they have here,” explained Biggers.

However, there was a financial barrier he would have to overcome to study here. After he received his dual degree program offer, which solidified his desire to study at ������Ƶ, he recalls that “the Odyssey Scholarship was the icing on the cake because it eliminated the financial barrier.”

His first year marked the beginning of his journey to explore opportunities outside of his comfort zone.

Starting with joining the Student Government Association, Biggers experienced firsthand how supportive ������Ƶ’s faculty and staff were in pushing him towards his goals in SGA and his aspirations beyond the organization. He expresses, “Since that initial push, I’ve continued to go even further, from running for SGA, doing undergraduate research or studying abroad. The faculty pushing me has been my fondest memory at ������Ƶ.”

His career aspirations are materializing due to his hard work and the extra push from ������Ƶ’s staff and the Odyssey program. He expresses that Odyssey taught him that he has the potential to achieve great things in his life and that he has to push to reach his goals, study abroad being one example he mentions.

This past August, Biggers studied abroad in London, England, at the London School of Economics and Political Science, taking a course in competition law and policy. He notes that, at first, he was fearful of traveling so far to an unknown place, but ������Ƶ’s faculty constantly pushed him to reach for and accomplish things he’d never done before.

“I was honestly afraid to go because no one in my family had ever traveled outside of the country. But faculty at ������Ƶ pushed and inspired me to do something that I’d never done before,” said Biggers.

Martha Lopez Lavias and Kenneth Brown Jr., two staff members in the Center for Access and Success, were instrumental in encouraging him to take advantage of the “once-in-a-lifetime experience”.

“I’m glad they pushed me because had I not gone, I would still have the fear of traveling abroad, and now I can’t wait to go back,” he said.” Once you go somewhere like that, you can go anywhere.”

Now, he is going to do just that. In January, he will be traveling to Portugal to study
environmental social governance reporting, which supports his academic and career aspirations.

Biggers extends his gratitude for his “family on campus,” which he fondly calls the people he’s met through the Odyssey program.

“Now that I’ve had these experiences, I get to share with other students in the Odyssey program who are also looking to join. It’s like we’re all in this together, and my success is your success,” he said.

“Growing up, I was always making things for people, whether it was for profit or just out of love,” Lee said.

With her passion for creating art and her business-minded approach to expressing intellectual creativity, ������Ƶ’s entrepreneurship program encourages Lee to pursue both passions while supporting her to make her dreams a reality.

Lee is originally from Waldorf, Maryland, where a friend of her mother’s recommended she consider ������Ƶ for soccer. From there, she booked a campus tour, where she immediately fell in love with the campus, the town and the people who lived there. On her campus tour, Lee was introduced to the scholars in the Odyssey Program as well as Honors Fellows. She would later apply to and earn a place in both programs.

“Once I heard everything the Odyssey Program had to offer, it made me want to be a part of ������Ƶ even more.” She notes the strong connection with her future Odyssey mentor, “sealed the deal” on her desire to come to ������Ƶ.

At ������Ƶ, Lee is now pouring her artistic and driven energy into the campus she loves so much. On top of being an Honors Fellow and a scholar in the Odyssey Program, through the Leo M. Lambert Odyssey Program Scholarship, she is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honors Society and a member of the President’s Student Leaders Advisory Council. She is the president of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and a member of ������Ƶ’s Track and Field team. In her free time, she enjoys expressing her artistry, turning to drawing and painting as well as listening to music and journaling.

“Both scholarship programs have awarded me with experiences that helped cultivate me in ways that the classroom can’t,” she said.

Through her hard work and numerous opportunities for involvement, Lee was able to continue her studies while still expressing her passion for creativity she’s had since she was a child. Being a scholar in the Odyssey Program allowed her to make the most of the opportunity to study in Florence, Italy, where she has been able to express herself through painting, a dream since she was little.

“I couldn’t believe I was there without having the financial burden,” she said. “It was an amazing opportunity for me to continue my passion for art. I made it a mission to tap into that side of myself while I was abroad.”

As a result of her experiences abroad, she now works as a part of the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center as a student coordinator and ambassador.

This extracurricular growth continues with her recent research on the enhancement of black Entrepreneurs within Alamance County, and making sure they’re receiving the proper recognition and support they deserve.

“My research has definitely helped me prepare myself for what I see in the future with my career, as I love helping people,” Lee said.

These extracurricular experiences have led Lee to be a well-rounded student and future employee. As a result of her hard work in optimizing her opportunities at ������Ƶ, she was able to develop and maintain a promising relationship with Ernst & Young, one of the four largest and most influential professional services networks globally. She earned two summer internships with Ernst & Young and eventually secured a full-time offer as a Technology Risk Consultant under the Assurance Practice.

During her time with Ernst & Young, ������Ƶ alumni Lisa Kelly and Regan Glembocki became her unofficial mentors. This overwhelming amount of success and prosperity Lee worked for at ������Ƶ makes her feel unstoppable.

“I feel like I can literally do anything,” said Lee. “I stepped onto this campus, accomplishing my dreams that I genuinely didn’t think would happen until years and years later. It makes me emotional.”

Lee has been able to see the Odyssey scholarship affect her family in a full-circle way. As she is preparing to graduate at the end of this year, she is hopeful to leave a legacy with her younger brother, who is now enrolled as a freshman.

“As the years have gone on, I’ve grown in more appreciation of the scholarship and especially seeing the benefits it has on my little brother, even though he just got here, it’s been amazing to see.”

Her little brother, Carlos Lee Jr., is now enrolled at ������Ƶ with the same Odyssey scholarship she is so grateful for.

“When I experienced it, I couldn’t help but think, I want this for him when he gets to college, and the fact that he has it is more than what I could ever ask for,” Lee said.

Due to this full circle of opportunity for her family, Lee has made it a goal to one day donate in the same way to help another underfunded student achieve their academic and personal goals.

“I’ve been set up for so much success that it pours into generational success within my family,” said Lee. “I can’t wait to give somebody else an Odyssey Scholarship in the future. That’s how much this program has impacted me.”

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“I’ve made my own family here at ������Ƶ.”

As president of ������Ƶ’s Latinx Hispanic Union (LHU), Edward Hernandez ’27 can easily describe the purpose he’s discovered in fostering community across campus and in the surrounding communities where he was raised.

“Whether it’s my LHU family, my El Centro team, or my Odyssey cohort, those connections feel like home,” said the double major in marketing and business analytics from Burlington, N.C. They’re also the foundation of a legacy he hopes to leave for future Hispanic and Latinx students.

Roots of Legacy

Hernandez’s legacy begins with the blending of two identities. As the son of a Mexican mother and Salvadoran father, he grew up surrounded by traditions that emphasized the value of family and community.

His most cherished memories are Christmas Eve gatherings with more than 60 relatives, opening presents at midnight and celebrating until morning.

“Every year, we’d drive down to Florida to see my grandparents. Christmas Eve was always the biggest gathering,” Hernandez said. “Those are some of my favorite memories, just being surrounded by family and celebrating together.”

These traditions shaped Hernandez’s understanding of belonging, a value he now carries with him through his college experience.

Cultivating Community at ������Ƶ

Hernandez was first introduced to ������Ƶ through the “It Takes a Village” Project, but it was ������Ƶ Academy, the university’s college access and success program for academically promising high school students from families with little or no history of college, that truly showed him college was within reach.

“������Ƶ Academy was the biggest help for me,” he said, “It showed me what college could be and [that it] was attainable.”

After choosing to attend ������Ƶ, the recipient of the Douglas and Edna Truitt Noiles ’44 Scholarship in the Odyssey Program found spaces like El Centro and LHU to celebrate his heritage. He progressed from visitor to student coordinator at El Centro, helping to host programs such as Perspectivas, where the Hispanic and Latinx community shared their experiences.

“Last year, my department hosted a panel on machismo,” he said. “It was powerful to hear how different people grew up with those cultural norms and how our generation is pushing to move away from them.”

His involvement with LHU grew just as quickly. By the spring of his first year, he was on the executive board, later serving as treasurer, vice president, and now president.

Inspiring the next generation

Mentorship has become one of the most meaningful ways Hernandez carries his values forward. Hernandez is both a College Access Success Team (CAT) mentor and summer mentor with ������Ƶ Academy, where he offers the same encouragement he once received as a scholar.

“The mentors I had there made such a difference in my life, and that’s why I now give back as a CAT mentor and summer mentor because the program gave me so much,” he said.

He also volunteers weekly with the Dream Center in Burlington, supporting primarily Hispanic and Latinx students through its SPIN program, which provides academic assistance, mentorship and community engagement.

“We act as mentors, but also as older siblings, playing games and helping out,” Hernandez said.

Together, these experiences reflect the core of his impact: inspiring younger students to lead, give back and see themselves as part of a thriving community.

Shaping the future

Hernandez sees his legacy not in recognition but in impact, a truth underscored when students he mentored through ������Ƶ Academy enrolled at ������Ƶ.

“It was really a full circle moment. The scholars that I mentored during the summer going into my sophomore year are now here at ������Ƶ,” he said. “Seeing them join and even ask me about LHU or El Centro shows me that my work is making a difference.”

Looking ahead, Hernandez hopes to carry his values of family and community into a career in marketing and business analytics, advocating for more inclusive practices and challenging stereotypes.

“A lot of the time, marketing uses very harsh stereotypes of people,” Hernandez said. “I think there can definitely be changes. Whenever people market or design campaigns, the voices of different cultures need to be in the room so communities aren’t stereotyped.”

More than a story

In the end, Hernandez’s vision of legacy is simple: giving back, community and family — both the one he was born into and the one he created at ������Ƶ. His story also reflects this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme, “Más Que Una Historia: Living Our Legacy,” as he honors the traditions that shaped him while inspiring future generations.

“It really feels good to see that I am making a difference,” he said. “My hope is that the students I’ve helped will do even more than I did at ������Ƶ and continue to make a difference here.”

������Ƶ honors Hispanic Heritage Month

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

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Like many ������Ƶ students, Lilliana Molina ’27 is incredibly involved on campus. She teaches Spanish conversation classes in El Centro, works in the Gear Room in the School of Communications, reports for ������Ƶ News Network and mentors students in the Odyssey Program.

This summer, Molina added another accomplishment: she spent three weeks in Costa Rica investigating illegal hammerhead shark fishing as part of the 2025 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship.

While reporting was the highlight, the experience also gave Molina the chance to reconnect with what she calls her “second home.” Growing up, she often spent summers in Costa Rica with her grandparents. Returning there to work on a story close to her heart made the fellowship especially meaningful.

“I came up with my pitch during my first-year,” Molina explained.

She spent six months prepping for the story, including three months before knowing she received the fellowship.

“I came up with my pitch my first year,” Molina said. She spent six months preparing, including three months before she officially learned she had received the fellowship.

Her assignment took her far out of her comfort zone as Molina spent three days on the ocean, which challenged her as a self-described “indoorsy” person.

“If I can do that, I can pass this quiz. I can do anything,” she remembered thinking while on the boat. The experience, she said, gave her confidence and perseverance that no classroom lesson could have matched.

Mentorship Matters

After returning from Costa Rica, Molina jumped back into campus life during Odyssey Week. As a scholar in the Odyssey Program, through the Edward W. and Joan K. Doherty Odyssey Scholarship, she served as a mentor for incoming students, helping them prepare for their first year at ������Ƶ.

“I wouldn’t be here without it, so I want to pay it forward,” she said. “It’s my way of saying thank you and dedicating two weeks of my summer.”

Mentorship, Molina said, is an essential part of her ������Ƶ journey. The university fosters a relationship-rich environment where peer and faculty mentorship are equally valued.

“There’s no point in doing what I do—getting the Pulitzer fellowship, writing these articles, all of these accomplishments—if I can’t turn around and extend my hand to the next person, bring them up and give them advice,” Molina said.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

When choosing ������Ƶ, one of Molina’s biggest deciding factors was El Centro, the university’s center for Latinx and Hispanic communities.

“I go there as much as I can, and I just love being in that space,” she said. While she often teaches Spanish there, El Centro also provides community and connection.

El Centro plays a key role in organizing events during Hispanic Heritage Month, showcasing diverse Hispanic identities throughout September and October. From the kickoff celebration on Medallion Plaza with music, dance and food, to the closing Gala Latina, the month highlights culture and community.

For Molina, the celebration is about more than events—it’s about honoring identity.

“It’s about being proud of our identity and showcasing that identity,” she said. “To have that recognition for many of our students whose parents are immigrants and have given so much for them to be here—that is important.”

������Ƶ honors Hispanic Heritage Month

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