Gabriela Alvarez ’28 built her 黑料不打烊 experience around connection,聽opportunity聽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, Alvarez signed up for聽the Immersion experience through the Emerging Journalists Program at 黑料不打烊,聽where she was flown to 黑料不打烊 for a week to gain experience in her passion for news and broadcasting. Before the program, 黑料不打烊 had not been on Alvarez鈥檚 radar.

鈥淭he program changed my view of 黑料不打烊. I had a really聽good time聽and connected with the professors and the cohort I was in.聽So,聽I decided to聽come see聽黑料不打烊 as a result,” said Alvarez, who notes communications faculty聽Colin Donohue, Kelly Furnas and Israel Balderas were influential in her experience.

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

After聽touring聽the聽communications聽facilities and connecting聽with聽these聽alumni,聽she knew聽黑料不打烊 was the place for her.

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

鈥淚 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鈥檚 life鈥檚 work, blossom even further,鈥� she said.

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

鈥淚 think the Fellows聽is an amazing program.聽It鈥檚聽given me some of my best friends, and it opened doors for me to connect with professors,鈥澛爏aid Alvarez.聽鈥淚鈥檓聽so glad I met Professor (Vanessa) Bravo through a Communications Fellows networking event because, like me, she is Hispanic, and聽that鈥檚聽very important聽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.”

Alvarez is also a proud first-generation college student.聽As the聽secretary for聽黑料不打烊鈥檚 First-Generation Society,聽she聽is consistently making the most out of the opportunities offered to her.

鈥淚 really love being first-generation,” she said. “It鈥檚聽a聽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.鈥�

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

鈥淥dyssey has pushed me to be a better person and a better leader who is not afraid to ask for help or try new things.聽I鈥檝e聽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 Alvarez is committed to, she has found belonging and purpose on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus.

鈥淚 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,鈥� she聽explained. 鈥淚 grew up in a聽Hispanic-centered community, so coming to a聽predominantly white聽institution was a bit intimidating, but joining these communities helped me connect to others who have similar backgrounds and qualities as me.聽It鈥檚聽important to stay true to the characteristics that are important to you and what makes you, you.鈥�

Her scholarships have been聽a 鈥渨eight off her shoulders鈥� throughout her experience at 黑料不打烊, allowing her the opportunity to see her dreams realized.

鈥淏eing able to tell my family they聽don鈥檛聽have to worry so much about me and that聽I鈥檝e聽worked hard in school and will continue to work hard is聽very rewarding.聽I鈥檓聽very proud聽of myself.聽I鈥檓聽proud to make my parents happy,鈥澛爏he said.聽鈥淚鈥檓 willing to fight for dreams and fight for what I鈥檓 passionate about, and my scholarships have made that possible for me.鈥�

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

She recalls the day she visited for the first time: 鈥淲hile 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 黑料不打烊. I knew that this was my campus, and this was my home,” she said.

After this newfound love, Mitchener explored ways to begin her 黑料不打烊 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Odyssey Program delivering good news of her acceptance into the program through the聽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鈥檚 public health problems.

鈥淕rowing up, I always thought the way to help others was just being a doctor,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 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: 鈥淚f 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.鈥�

鈥淭hat 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.

鈥淲e 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.

鈥淭he Periclean cohort has honestly just been such a light in my 黑料不打烊 experience and not only given me community but also purpose,” she said.

Her initiative for change doesn鈥檛 stop there; Micthener is also a HealthEU Senator with 黑料不打烊 Student Government Association.

鈥淎 big piece of Student Government is writing legislation and advocating for the student body and what they need,鈥� she said.

Through the SGA, she has already taken noticeable action to improve the 黑料不打烊 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 黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book. Through her connection to the community and the students in it, she identified a common problem among 黑料不打烊 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 黑料不打烊-provided shuttles.

鈥淚t 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.鈥�

Remembering the help she received along the way, Mitchener states her Odyssey scholarship acted as a 鈥渓aunching pad鈥� for her success in her public health and policy studies.

鈥淭he 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.鈥�

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

鈥淒onors 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.鈥�

Related Articles

• Anna Matawaran 鈥�25 takes the 黑料不打烊 鈥榖uilding blocks鈥� to Year of Service Fellows program
• Sam Hinton 鈥�25 continues community commitment through Year of Service Fellows Program
• Abby Lee 鈥�25 combines knowledge in public health and political science as an 黑料不打烊 Year of Service Fellow
• Jasmine Walker 鈥�25 gives back to the community that shaped her through Year of Service Fellows Program

As an 黑料不打烊 Year of Service Fellow, Jasmine Walker 鈥�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 鈥渃radle to career.鈥�

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

罢丑别听Year of Service Fellows Program聽is an opportunity through the university鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊, Walker was a scholar in the 黑料不打烊 Academy in high school, and a scholar in the Odyssey Program. Now, she鈥檚 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.

鈥淚 wanted to do macro-work,鈥� she said of her choice to do the fellows program. 鈥淚 was doing a lot of micro work in my undergrad, and I wanted to try something different. I really appreciate the experience because I鈥檝e never done anything like this before, and it鈥檚 building my knowledge.鈥�

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

鈥淚 have a lot of experience working with kids, and that鈥檚 something I鈥檓 passionate about,鈥� said Walker.

She also assists with the Teachers Leadership Academy, a program for ABSS teachers focusing on leadership skills and opportunities, and 鈥淭he Basics Alamance,鈥� 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.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a misconception that people don鈥檛 need to work with kids until they鈥檙e in kindergarten, and that鈥檚 when they鈥檒l start learning. But it鈥檚 very prevalent for children to start learning from the ages of 0 to 5, before they go to kindergarten,鈥� 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鈥檝e always been passionate about supporting others,鈥� 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.鈥�

Walker credits several faculty members with being her biggest cheerleaders, including Sandra Reid, Vanessa Drew Branch and Jessica Navarro. The Odyssey Program, along with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Periclean Scholars Program also advanced her education and global understanding.

鈥淭he Odyssey Program really changed my life,鈥� said Walker. 鈥淚 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.鈥�

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.

鈥淲e studied Costa Rica as a whole and looked at what the specific community that we were going to travel to needed,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was interesting, and I think it helped me because now I鈥檓 thinking, after the fellowship, either continuing to work in Alamance County, or pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in social work.鈥�

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

鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to be able to meet different leaders and partners in the community, and hear what they do,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淚 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鈥檚 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.鈥�

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 鈥撀爏ix hours off the coast of Costa Rica 鈥撀爏he had already spent the night battling seasickness, clutching her camera, and worrying whether she鈥檇 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 home country 鈥撀爌lacing her not only in government offices and fishing towns, but also aboard a research vessel in international waters alongside marine biologists tagging hammerhead sharks.

鈥淚 was really worried about visuals,鈥� Molina said of her investigation. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥楬ow am I going to get a visual of a hammerhead shark? They鈥檙e all the way out in the ocean.鈥欌��

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.

鈥淚 was severely seasick the first night,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淟ike, I鈥檝e never been that pale in my life.鈥�

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 鈥撀爋ne that began with a phone call to family. The project took shape after a conversation with Molina鈥檚 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鈥損ublished investigation titled 鈥溾�� 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.

鈥淏eing Costa Rican is a central part of my identity,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淚鈥檝e returned regularly since I was very young to visit family, and I now hold dual citizenship.鈥�

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鈥檚 reporting took her from government offices in San Jos茅 to small fishing towns along the Pacific coast, before culminating far offshore with a team led by marine biologist Randall Arauz. 鈥淚 was on my own reporting for about a week,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淎nd then I was invited by Randall, whom I interviewed back in December (2024), to come out on the boat with him.鈥�

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

鈥淭hey make an incision right near the fin,鈥� Molina explained. 鈥淭hey put in the tag 鈥� and then it goes with the shark, and it will eventually come off and send all that data back.鈥�

As the scientists worked, Molina remained on deck with the fishermen, documenting the moment. 鈥淭hey were like, 鈥榊ou have to come here. This is a good angle for a photo,鈥欌�� she said of the crew. 鈥淭hey were really nice people.鈥�

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.

鈥淚鈥檝e gone through a lot for this story,鈥� 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.

鈥淚 truly don鈥檛 think that they鈥檙e bad people and don鈥檛 care about hammerhead sharks,鈥� Molina said of the regulators she interviewed. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 more like there are three people monitoring over 2,000 boats.鈥�

That realization shifted the reporting away from individual blame and toward systemic limitations, including understaffing, resource constraints and the challenges of monitoring Costa Rica鈥檚 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. 鈥淚 actually wrote the entire article before I even left Costa Rica,鈥� she said. She worked from her grandmother鈥檚 house 鈥� a familiar place she had visited since childhood 鈥� 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鈥檚 Campus Consortium

黑料不打烊 is a partner in the Pulitzer Center鈥檚 Campus Consortium, a network of colleges and universities that support the center鈥檚 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鈥檚 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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• 鈥溾��
• 鈥溾��
• 鈥溾��

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.

鈥淚 feel like I can do anything,” he said. “It鈥檚 amazing because people from Gastonia don鈥檛 normally get exposed to the opportunities I’ve had here at 黑料不打烊.”

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.

鈥淪tudying 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.

鈥淚n accounting, they say we ensure the public鈥檚 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.鈥�

This belief system heavily impacted his career aspirations. 鈥淚 would love to be an attorney who protects consumers from corrupt behavior by businesses. I want to ensure that businesses act ethically and don鈥檛 harm consumers in small communities,鈥� Biggers adds.

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

鈥淚 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,鈥� 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 黑料不打烊, he recalls that 鈥渢he Odyssey Scholarship was the icing on the cake because it eliminated the financial barrier.鈥�

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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty and staff were in pushing him towards his goals in SGA and his aspirations beyond the organization. He expresses, 鈥淪ince that initial push, I鈥檝e 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 黑料不打烊.鈥�

His career aspirations are materializing due to his hard work and the extra push from 黑料不打烊鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty constantly pushed him to reach for and accomplish things he鈥檇 never done before.

鈥淚 was honestly afraid to go because no one in my family had ever traveled outside of the country. But faculty at 黑料不打烊 pushed and inspired me to do something that I’d never done before,鈥� 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 鈥渙nce-in-a-lifetime experience鈥�.

鈥淚鈥檓 glad they pushed me because had I not gone, I would still have the fear of traveling abroad, and now I can鈥檛 wait to go back,” he said.” Once you go somewhere like that, you can go anywhere.鈥�

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 鈥渇amily on campus,鈥� which he fondly calls the people he鈥檚 met through the Odyssey program.

鈥淣ow that I鈥檝e had these experiences, I get to share with other students in the Odyssey program who are also looking to join. It鈥檚 like we鈥檙e all in this together, and my success is your success,” he said.

鈥淕rowing up, I was always making things for people, whether it was for profit or just out of love,鈥� Lee said.

With her passion for creating art and her business-minded approach to expressing intellectual creativity, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 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鈥檚 recommended she consider 黑料不打烊 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.

鈥淥nce I heard everything the Odyssey Program had to offer, it made me want to be a part of 黑料不打烊 even more.鈥� She notes the strong connection with her future Odyssey mentor, 鈥渟ealed the deal鈥� on her desire to come to 黑料不打烊.

At 黑料不打烊, 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 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.

鈥淏oth scholarship programs have awarded me with experiences that helped cultivate me in ways that the classroom can鈥檛,” 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鈥檚 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.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 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.鈥�

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鈥檙e receiving the proper recognition and support they deserve.

鈥淢y 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 黑料不打烊, 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, 黑料不打烊 alumni Lisa Kelly and Regan Glembocki became her unofficial mentors. This overwhelming amount of success and prosperity Lee worked for at 黑料不打烊 makes her feel unstoppable.

鈥淚 feel like I can literally do anything,” said Lee. 鈥淚 stepped onto this campus, accomplishing my dreams that I genuinely didn鈥檛 think would happen until years and years later. It makes me emotional.鈥�

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.

鈥淎s the years have gone on, I鈥檝e 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鈥檚 been amazing to see.鈥�

Her little brother, Carlos Lee Jr., is now enrolled at 黑料不打烊 with the same Odyssey scholarship she is so grateful for.

鈥淲hen I experienced it, I couldn鈥檛 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.

鈥淚鈥檝e been set up for so much success that it pours into generational success within my family,” said Lee. “I can鈥檛 wait to give somebody else an Odyssey Scholarship in the future. That鈥檚 how much this program has impacted me.鈥�

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鈥淚鈥檝e made my own family here at 黑料不打烊.鈥�

As president of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Latinx Hispanic Union (LHU), Edward Hernandez 鈥�27 can easily describe the purpose he鈥檚 discovered in fostering community across campus and in the surrounding communities where he was raised.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 my LHU family, my El Centro team, or my Odyssey cohort, those connections feel like home,鈥� said the double major in marketing and business analytics from Burlington, N.C. They鈥檙e also the foundation of a legacy he hopes to leave for future Hispanic and Latinx students.

Roots of Legacy

Hernandez鈥檚 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.

鈥淓very year, we鈥檇 drive down to Florida to see my grandparents. Christmas Eve was always the biggest gathering,鈥� Hernandez said. 鈥淭hose are some of my favorite memories, just being surrounded by family and celebrating together.鈥�

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

Cultivating Community at 黑料不打烊

Hernandez was first introduced to 黑料不打烊 through the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project, but it was 黑料不打烊 Academy, the university鈥檚 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.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� Academy was the biggest help for me,鈥� he said, 鈥淚t showed me what college could be and [that it] was attainable.鈥�

After choosing to attend 黑料不打烊, the recipient of the Douglas and Edna Truitt Noiles 鈥�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.

鈥淟ast year, my department hosted a panel on machismo,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was powerful to hear how different people grew up with those cultural norms and how our generation is pushing to move away from them.鈥�

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 黑料不打烊 Academy, where he offers the same encouragement he once received as a scholar.

鈥淭he mentors I had there made such a difference in my life, and that鈥檚 why I now give back as a CAT mentor and summer mentor because the program gave me so much,鈥� 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.

鈥淲e act as mentors, but also as older siblings, playing games and helping out,鈥� 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 黑料不打烊 Academy enrolled at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淚t was really a full circle moment. The scholars that I mentored during the summer going into my sophomore year are now here at 黑料不打烊,鈥� he said. 鈥淪eeing them join and even ask me about LHU or El Centro shows me that my work is making a difference.鈥�

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.

鈥淎 lot of the time, marketing uses very harsh stereotypes of people,鈥� Hernandez said. 鈥淚 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鈥檛 stereotyped.鈥�

More than a story

In the end, Hernandez鈥檚 vision of legacy is simple: giving back, community and family 鈥� both the one he was born into and the one he created at 黑料不打烊. His story also reflects this year鈥檚 Hispanic Heritage Month theme, 鈥淢谩s Que Una Historia: Living Our Legacy,鈥� as he honors the traditions that shaped him while inspiring future generations.

鈥淚t really feels good to see that I am making a difference,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y hope is that the students I鈥檝e helped will do even more than I did at 黑料不打烊 and continue to make a difference here.鈥�

黑料不打烊 honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, 黑料不打烊 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 黑料不打烊 students, Lilliana Molina 鈥�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 黑料不打烊 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 鈥渟econd home.鈥� 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.

鈥淚 came up with my pitch during my first-year,鈥� Molina explained.

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

鈥淚 came up with my pitch my first year,鈥� 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 鈥渋ndoorsy鈥� person.

鈥淚f I can do that, I can pass this quiz. I can do anything,鈥� 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 黑料不打烊.

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be here without it, so I want to pay it forward,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my way of saying thank you and dedicating two weeks of my summer.鈥�

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

鈥淭here鈥檚 no point in doing what I do鈥攇etting the Pulitzer fellowship, writing these articles, all of these accomplishments鈥攊f I can鈥檛 turn around and extend my hand to the next person, bring them up and give them advice,鈥� Molina said.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

When choosing 黑料不打烊, one of Molina鈥檚 biggest deciding factors was El Centro, the university鈥檚 center for Latinx and Hispanic communities.

鈥淚 go there as much as I can, and I just love being in that space,鈥� 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鈥攊t鈥檚 about honoring identity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about being proud of our identity and showcasing that identity,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o have that recognition for many of our students whose parents are immigrants and have given so much for them to be here鈥攖hat is important.鈥�

黑料不打烊 honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, 黑料不打烊 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.

All new students are provided a free digital copy of the book before coming to 黑料不打烊 and are invited to attend the author鈥檚 keynote address, but for Campoverdi’s event, part of the 黑料不打烊 Speaker Series, she wanted to do something different.

鈥淚 purposely am not behind a podium,鈥� said Campoverdi. 鈥淚鈥檓 not an expert on being first gen, you all are experts as much as I am an expert on being a first and only. You鈥檙e an expert on whatever thresholds you鈥檙e crossing. So, I鈥檓 not here to lecture anyone on this experience, I鈥檓 here to have a conversation with you all.鈥�

And a conversation was had for more than an hour as several students asked questions of Campoverdi about her experiences as a first-generation college student, her work as an aide in the Obama administration and the process of writing her book.

Between the bullet points

The memoir details Campoverdi’s life as a 鈥渃hild of welfare,鈥� born to an immigrant single mother in Los Angeles, who went on to be White House aide, Harvard graduate and a candidate for U.S. Congress. In 2024, Campoverdi also founded the First Gen Fund, a non-profit that provides unrestricted hardship grants to first-generation students.

鈥淲hen I would be invited to schools and someone would read my bio, and it would be all the bullet points and it sounded so shiny and glossy and linear, and it made so much sense what I did, and then I did that, I knew that wasn’t the full story,” she said. “I knew that the spaces between those bullet points were actually the real story, and that looked very different.鈥�

Omar Illesca Reyes 鈥�27, a Labcorp-Alamance Scholar in the Odyssey Program and 黑料不打烊 Academy mentor, sat on stage with Campoverdi, alongside Selma Maric 鈥�27, who introduced Campoverdi; Kenneth Brown, assistant director of First-Generation Student Support Services; and Paula Patch, senior lecturer in English and associate director for in the 黑料不打烊 Core Curriculum. Illesca Reyes asked Campoverdi about feelings of 鈥渋mposter syndrome鈥� as a first-generation student and in her later roles.

鈥淎ll of us at some point are going to find ourselves in a space where people might not relate to where we come from and what we鈥檝e experienced,鈥� said Campoverdi. 鈥淎nd you noticing that and not feeling good about that, doesn鈥檛 all go into a bucket of feeling like an imposter. She added, 鈥淟et yourself clock it and not make that mean something bad about you, because it doesn鈥檛.鈥�

Illesca Reyes reflected that getting to speak with Campoverdi was personal and emotional.

鈥淭he struggles are real for a first-generation student, and it鈥檚 nice that a light is being shone on them,鈥� said Illesca Reyes, who is studying engineering. 鈥淚 felt like I was being heard throughout the book, and I felt myself in her shoes multiple times.鈥�

‘Be it all unapologetically’

In her memoir, Campoverdi reflects on the 鈥渃ontradictory extremes鈥� of her life, from being a gang member鈥檚 girlfriend to working in the White House, arguing that all of those extremes can exist together.

鈥淪ome of us are complicated,鈥� Campoverdi said in response to a student question about finding belonging in multiple spaces. 鈥淥wn all of these things together at the same time. I sit on stages all the time, and people ask me, 鈥榃hat would you say to 16-year-old Alejandra who was dating that guy? What would you tell her now from where you are?鈥� And I said 鈥楽he鈥檚 right here. I鈥檓 the same me.鈥� So stop trying to find the answer. There鈥檚 no answer. Just be it all unapologetically.鈥�

Her memoir also works to 鈥渟hatter the one-dimensional glossy narrative鈥� about what it takes to achieve the American Dream. She notes it was harder to get from her childhood to college than from college to the White House.

鈥淚鈥檝e experienced the American dream,鈥� she said, as a student asked her response to the concept. 鈥淚 believe education is the driver of the American dream for many of us. It isn鈥檛 the only way, but it is for most of us.鈥�

Campoverdi spent the day at 黑料不打烊, including hosting a storytelling workshop for students and faculty, in collaboration with the Center for Access and Success. Her openness for conversation resonated with students like Daniella Alonzo Lopez 鈥�28, a scholar in the Odyssey Program, who received the Leon and Lorraine Watson scholarship.

鈥淪ometimes along the journey, you think you’re navigating all of this by yourself, but there’s truly a community of people,鈥� said Alonzo Lopez 鈥�28, a marketing and business analytics double major. 鈥淚鈥檓 always looking for mentors and people to encourage me and inspire me to continue. So I鈥檓 glad to be here and hear her. Getting to meet her was almost like an older sister.鈥�

Redefine success

As Campoverdi heard from students focusing on her success as a first-generation student, she encouraged them to also think about how success can be more than just what鈥檚 on paper.

鈥淵ou can be the first generation to go to college or the first generation to have a professional job or break a cycle, the first generation to move across the country or the first generation to X,Y, Z,鈥� said Campoverdi. 鈥淏ut being the first generation to break the cycle of living in survival mode is just as important. Being the first generation to not live in fight or flight is just as important. Being the first generation to allow yourself balance and rest, that’s important, too.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e experienced the American dream. I believe education is the driver of the American dream for many of us. It isn鈥檛 the only way, but it is for most of us.”

Alejandra Campoverdi, award-winning author of “First Gen”

She ended the event by reminding students about how far they鈥檝e come in their lives and encouraged them to continue being vulnerable as it can serve as a 鈥渃onnective tissue.鈥�

鈥淲hen I look out in this room, I see a lot of people who have a lot in common, and I think that鈥檚 more important than ever. So keep telling your stories, keep turning towards that vulnerability. It doesn鈥檛 make you weak, it makes you strong and it will ultimately make you a better professional,” Campoverdi said.

The first in his family to graduate from college, Reyes Arias also made history as the first 黑料不打烊 student to complete all three of the university鈥檚 signature access programs: the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project, the 黑料不打烊 Academy and the Odyssey Program. Together, these programs, housed in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Access and Success, create pathways to higher education for students beginning in pre-kindergarten and continuing through college.

And this summer, Reyes Arias was able to add one more chapter to his 黑料不打烊 story when he returned to the 黑料不打烊 Academy, this time as a graduate intern, mentoring high school students in the same program that changed his life.

鈥淚 wanted a final moment with 黑料不打烊,鈥� he says. 鈥淐oming back this summer really made it feel full circle.鈥�

The experience reminded him of who he once was: a high school student overwhelmed by college decisions, craving guidance. Now, he was the one answering questions and offering advice on balance, purpose and personal growth. 鈥淚t was rewarding to share the same advice that once helped me,鈥� he says. 鈥淐ollege is about achieving, yes, but don鈥檛 forget the fun. Both can coexist.鈥�

A Love of Learning

Born and raised in Burlington, Reyes Arias is the oldest of four children to Jose Reyes and Victorina Arias. He benefited from teachers and mentors in the Alamance-Burlington School System who nurtured his love of learning and inspired him to dream big.

鈥淗aving teachers who believed in you and pushed you to want more was an amazing thing,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 always had my eye on 黑料不打烊 as a school that I really wanted to go to, and I credit my teachers for helping to guide me there.鈥�

His path began to take shape when his mother discovered a flyer for the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project at May Memorial Library in downtown Burlington. Launched in 2008, the free, donor-supported program serves struggling readers from pre-k through middle school with the help of 黑料不打烊 students, faculty and staff volunteers as well as families and school system staff. The sessions, held Wednesday nights, quickly became his favorite part of the week. Arias made sure she and her son never missed a session. Eventually, the entire family joined in.

鈥淗e was the kindest, most curious child,鈥� recalls Jean Rattigan-Rohr, vice president and professor of education emerita and former director of the Center for Access and Success, who founded the Village Project. 鈥淗e just wanted to know everything and learn as much as he could.鈥�

Before long, his reading skills improved, followed by higher grades and test scores. As he approached high school, Rattigan-Rohr encouraged him to apply to the 黑料不打烊 Academy, a multi-phase college access program for academically promising Alamance County students with significant financial need or no family history of college. The program combines three consecutive summer residential experiences on campus with year-round Saturday programs for students. Families are deeply involved, learning how to tackle the college application and financial aid process.

鈥淭he 黑料不打烊 Academy showed me I wanted to pursue higher education,鈥� Reyes Arias says. 鈥淚 never expected it to be this life-altering experience where I was around other like-minded students. It also gave me that socialization experience that I needed at the time. It forced me out of my bubble.鈥�

He still remembers taking a budgeting class taught by an 黑料不打烊 professor as part of the 黑料不打烊 Academy. 鈥淚t was such an incredible class,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e had to go to Harris Teeter one day with $20 and figure out how to feed a family for a week, which was difficult. I still have the notebook of everything I learned in that class.鈥�

All I鈥檝e ever wanted in life was to go to school, especially at 黑料不打烊, and to be successful as a student. I鈥檓 incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to be
at 黑料不打烊.

Rattigan-Rohr said the Village Project, together with the 黑料不打烊 Academy and other programs in the Center for Access and Success, demonstrates how higher education institutions can work with their surrounding communities to help create pathways of opportunity for students.

鈥淲hen students like Jose Alex see themselves as capable, and when universities open their doors to them, we see those students can accomplish more than they ever dreamed possible,鈥� she says.

A Moment of Doubt

When it came time to apply to college, Reyes Arias knew 黑料不打烊 was his first choice, but also knew cost would be a barrier. Through the 黑料不打烊 Academy, he learned about the Odyssey Program, a nationally recognized initiative offering some of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 largest endowed scholarships to high-achieving students with financial need.

He applied and was selected for the Leon and Lorraine Watson Scholarship, endowed by an estate gift from 1925 graduate Leon 鈥淒oc鈥� Watson and his wife, Lorraine. He also earned a Communications Fellows scholarship and the Maity Interiano Annual Scholarship, established by the 2007 School of Communications graduate.

鈥淢y family and I were so excited because it meant I did not have to worry about my parents trying to pay for my college,鈥� he says.

While Reyes Arias started college on a strong note, the end of his first year brought personal challenges. The transition to college life and the pressure of being a first-generation student took a toll on his mental health.

鈥淚 had some very low points during my time at 黑料不打烊,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen my first year ended, I was not sure if this was my way of life anymore. I felt like I was losing sense of who I was, and a lot of the people around me didn鈥檛 understand that. I was given so many great opportunities, but I didn鈥檛 feel like I knew who I was anymore. I guess I had imposter syndrome.鈥�

He leaned on his faculty and staff mentors for support and guidance, including his academic adviser, Vanessa Bravo, professor of strategic communications and assistant dean of the School of Communications. 鈥淗e鈥檚 an example of a person who goes through challenging circumstances and doesn鈥檛 give up,鈥� Bravo says. 鈥淏y graduating, he鈥檚 made his family proud and 黑料不打烊 proud.鈥�

Catherine Parsons, former assistant director of the Odyssey Program, has known Reyes Arias since he joined the 黑料不打烊 Academy and says his growth has been remarkable. During his time at 黑料不打烊, Reyes Arias took full advantage of high-
impact opportunities including undergraduate research, the Periclean Scholars civic engagement initiative and the 黑料不打烊 in LA program as part of Study USA.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think he was thinking he would do any of those things when he came to 黑料不打烊, but he kept saying yes to opportunities he had to apply for,鈥� says Parsons, now director of undergraduate programs in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. 鈥淗e鈥檚 more courageous and intentional than he thinks.鈥�

A Milestone Moment

On Friday, May 23, Reyes Arias entered Schar Center carrying the hopes and dreams of his family. He walked out with a degree in strategic communications and a deep sense of fulfillment, not only for what he had achieved but for the journey that brought him this far. No one was more excited to witness that moment than his parents.

鈥淚 never expected for someone in my family to have the chance to go to college,鈥� says his mother, Victorina Arias. 鈥淚t makes all the challenges worth it for him.鈥�

His father, Jose Reyes, adds, 鈥淚 felt proud that he was able to graduate from 黑料不打烊, a place that has been involved with his academic life for a very long time. For him to make his dream a reality, be the first member of our family to finish a high level of education and make a career for himself, I couldn鈥檛 be prouder.鈥�

Now, with a diploma in hand and a final 黑料不打烊 experience that taught him the work ethic needed to lead and sustain meaningful programs, Reyes Arias is writing his next chapter. While he鈥檚 applying for corporate communications roles in Raleigh and Charlotte, the summer internship reaffirmed his passion for nonprofit and higher education work. Wherever he lands, he says, he鈥檚 committed to staying grounded in purpose and open to what comes next.

鈥淟ife isn鈥檛 always about the highs. It really is just having to experience it all and learn from it,鈥� he says. 鈥淎ll I鈥檝e ever wanted in life was to go to school, especially at 黑料不打烊, and to be successful as a student. I鈥檓 incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to be at 黑料不打烊.鈥�