ANNUAL REpoRt 2010-2011 - Ithaca College

PARK SCHOLAR PROGRAM AT ITHACA COLLEGE 

ANNUAL REPORT 2010-2011 

Presented to the Park Foundation 

November 30, 2011

PARK SCHOLAR PROGRAM 

AT ITHACA COLLEGE 

 

(607) 274-3089 (Phone) (607) 274-7095 (Fax) 

ANNUAL REPORT | 2010-2011 

Presented to the Park Foundation 

November 30, 2011 

CONTENTS 

Director’s Report 

Honors and Awards 

Service Partnerships 

Academic Programming and 

Professional Development 

Scholars in Action 

Park Scholars in New Orleans 

Class of 2015 

Selection and Orientation 

Class of 2015 

Class of 2014 

Class of 2013 

Class of 2012 

Park Scholar Alumni 

2 

4 

6 

7 

8 

10 

11 

13 

17 

21 

26 

31 

 

gayeski@ithaca.edu 

 

mfee@ithaca.edu 

 

bryan@ithaca.edu 

Editors: 

Samantha Mason ’14 

Sarah Parker ’14 

Matthew J. Fee 

Assistant Editors: 

Julia Cicale ’12 

Lauren Mateer ’13 

 

Zachary Briggs ’15


DIRECTOR’S REPORT 

Ithaca College and the Roy H. Park School of Communications 

continue to benefit from the exceptional generosity 

and remarkable vision of the Park Foundation. Since its 

establishment in 1996, the Park Scholar Program has 

offered an incomparable opportunity to outstanding students 

interested in pursuing the field of communications. 

Dean Diane Gayeski and Program Director Matthew Fee 

continue to refine Park Scholar programming that not 

only develops a more focused vision of the program, but 

also meets the changing needs of students, the school, 

and the communications field. Their combined efforts 

have resulted in a strategic plan for academic and service 

programming that further enhances the Park Scholar 

Program’s status as one of the most valuable and highly 

esteemed scholarship programs in the country. 

creativity that result from the collaborative endeavors of 

these Scholars—numbering 64 strong for this 2011-2012 

academic year—have been vital to the program’s accomplishments. 

Indeed, the Park School, Ithaca College, and 

the Ithaca community all greatly benefit from the wideranging, 

sustainable commitments in service and media 

that have resulted from the Scholars and their shared 

passion for making a difference. 

Taking into account those students currently matriculated 

in the program, a total of 226 extraordinary students have 

joined the Park Scholar Program since 1996. Moreover, 

a vibrant network of 154 Park Scholar alumni expands 

the impact and significance of the program, with our 

outstanding alumni sharing their talents to the benefit of 

communities both throughout the country and around the 

globe. 

With a concerted effort to recruit students with superb 

academic talent, dedication to community service, and 

strong leadership skills, the Park Scholar Program enrolls 

an astounding group of students. The Park Scholars bolster 

the level of academic achievement and intellectual inquiry 

in the classroom, raise the quality and consequence of 

Ithaca College cocurricular organizations, contribute generously 

to the Ithaca community, and provide leadership 

with exceptional vigor. 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 

Park Scholars continue to excel academically. The 64 

students enrolled at the end of the preceding 2010-2011 

academic year achieved a cumulative grade point average 

of 3.8 out of a possible 4.0. Over two-thirds of the Scholars 

earned a place on the Park School Dean’s List, and more 

than half are members of honor societies at Ithaca College. 

Scholars are earning minors in many areas of study outside 

of communications, ranging from politics and writing to 

psychology and African Diaspora, from philosophy and 

aging studies to sociology and art history. The faculty and 

fellow students appreciate the hard work and dedication 

to academics so visibly and consistently demonstrated by 

the Scholars. 

With a record number of applicants last spring—in fact, 

double the number of applicants for four-year awards from 

just five years ago—and with the successful introduction 

of rising junior awards into the program four years ago, 

we have been enable to maintain the number of Scholars 

necessary to both sustain and build upon the achievements 

of the program’s first decade and a half. The dynamism and 

Their shared participation across an array of academic 

programming encourages intellectual exchange and fosters 

an energizing spirit of inquiry among this community of 

Scholars. For example, each entering class of Park Scholars 

participates in a seminar that focuses upon a critical issue 

within the field of communications. For the fall 2011 

semester, Park Scholar Program Director Matthew Fee is 

conducting a seminar on Globalization and Media. Additionally, 

all first-year Scholars participate in the H.O.M.E. 

2

ANNUAL REPORT: 2010-2011 

Program (Housing Offering a Multicultural Experience). 

Finally, Park Scholars participate in biannual seminars that 

make use of readings and screenings to explore issues key to 

the field of communications. Last year Scholars discussed 

visual culture and the ethical implications of images that 

depict trauma and suffering, while this year finds them 

focusing on gender, specifically the role that gendered 

narratives have served both in conceptualizing post-9/11 

cultural and political responses as well as shaping the last 

presidential election. 

LEADERSHIP & INVOLVEMENT 

Park Scholars are natural leaders. They exhibit initiative, 

drive, and follow-through, and are actively involved with 

leadership programs on the Ithaca College campus. Over 

the past year, Park Scholars have held numerous leadership 

positions, among them: student trustee, Ithaca College 

Board of Trustees; upfront editors, Buzzsaw magazine; 

editor in chief, 360 Magazine; president, Habitat for 

Humanity; president, IC Hope for Haiti; news and views 

editor, Buzzsaw magazine; vice president of communications, 

Student Government Association; vice president, 

the International Association of Business Communicators; 

web editor, Buzzsaw magazine; vice president, IC Bigs; 

president, Food for Thought; opinion editor, The Ithacan; 

vice president, IC Gamers; art editor, Buzzsaw magazine; 

co-president, Active Minds; design editor, 360 Magazine; 

co-president, IC STAND; and executive director, Student 

Activities Board. In addition, Park Scholars serve as executive 

board members for organizations such as the United 

Way Philanthropy Corps; IC Human Rights; and Labor 

Initiative in Promoting Solidarity. Finally, Scholars serve 

as members of the senior class cabinet, as well as leaders 

for Orientation and Community Plunge, programs that 

help to introduce first-year students to Ithaca College and 

community service. 

SERVICE & COMMITMENT 

Park Scholars are dedicated to service. In addition to individual 

commitments to service, the Scholars have combined 

forces through a series of coordinated partnerships 

with local organizations. Scholars select projects based 

upon areas of interest; cross-class links are encouraged 

and upper-level Park Scholars assume leadership roles. 

This year, Park Scholars are participating in a number of 

service partnerships that utilize their exceptional talents, 

such as: producing a promotional video for The Discovery 

Trail Partnership, providing marketing and event planning 

support to the Community School of Music and 

Arts, and assisting Better Housing for Tompkins County 

with its marketing efforts through the production of a 

promotional video and the documentation of its various 

projects; facilitating elementary-level media literacy 

instruction at Ithaca Community Childcare Center and 

South Hill Elementary School, pioneering an elementary 

level Film Club at Ithaca Community Childcare Center, 

and developing a high school media literacy program at 

New Roots Charter School; collaborating with the Ithaca 

City School District on its external communications needs 

through writing stories for the district’s website, while also 

serving as “school liaisons” for the district’s partnerships 

with The Ithaca Journal and Tompkins Weekly; and using 

their marketing and event planning skills to coordinate 

“Concert for a Cure,” an annual concert that raises funds 

to support the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia 

& Lymphoma Society. 

CONCLUSION 

The Park Scholar Program enriches lives. It is the goal of the 

Park Scholar Program to develop communications scholars 

and practitioners who engage critically, act globally, and 

perform ethically. It nurtures students whose intellectual 

and professional aspirations embrace a commitment to 

the world around them. The Park Scholars are integral 

members of the Ithaca College community, and through 

their commitment to overall and individual achievement, 

leadership, and service, they enhance and expand the intellectual, 

cocurricular, and service environment at Ithaca 

College. As the Park Scholar Program continues to attract 

more outstanding students to Ithaca College and the Roy 

H. Park School of Communications, the faculty, staff, and 

students continue to benefit. We look forward to sharing 

the achievements of these students with you now and in 

the future. 

3


HONORS AND AWARDS 

Dean’s List: Fall 2010 & Spring 2011 

The Dean’s List consists of students in the Roy H. Park School of Communications who have a semester average of at 

least a 3.70, complete a minimum of 15 credits of which at least 12 are graded, and have no final grades of D, F, or I. 

Frieda Becker ’11 

Karla Berberich ’11 

Steven Brasley ’14 

Stephen Burke ’13 

Anne Carlin ’13 

Corinne Colgan ’11 

Megan Devlin ’14 

Kirsty Ewing ’11 

Alyssa Figueroa ’12 

Lillie Fleshler ’13 

Isabel Galupo ’14 

Jesse Geffen ’12 

Maura Gladys ’11 

Erin Irby ’13 

Jenna Jablonski ’13 

Andreava Kasianchuk ’11 

Eric Keto ’11 

Cady Lang ’14 

Kristin Leffler ’14 

Qina Liu ’13 

Merdina Ljekperic ’13 

Meghan Malone ’11 

Samantha Mason ’14 


Emily Miles ’13 

Emily Nowels ’13 

Sarah Parker ’14 

Moriah Petty ’14 

Kyla Pigoni ’13 

Adam Polaski ’12 

Shaun Poust ’12 

Kirsten Quinn ’12 

Amanda Riggio ’12 

Meghan Rindfleisch ’12 

Brian Ropp ’11 

William Sleight IV ’12 

Lindsey Smith ’14 

Gabriella Sophir ’14 

Elizabeth Stoltz ’13 

Zachary Tomanelli ’11 

Mykal Urbina ’11 

Rebecca Webster ’11 

Gabriel Whiteman ’14 

Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society 

Junior and senior majors in cinema and photography, communication management and design, integrated marketing 

communications, journalism, and television-radio, and with at least a 3.80 grade point average are inducted yearly. 

Frieda Becker ’11 



Siobhan Cavanagh ’12 


Kacey Deamer ’13 



Aya Hoffman ’12 

Paul Jensen ’12 



Qina Liu ’13 

Merdina Ljekperic ’13 




Amy Obarski ’13 


Francine Price ’12 





Amanda Roselli ’11 

Jacquelyn Simone ’11 

Meghan Swope ’11 




Oracle Society 

Oracle is an Ithaca College first-year honor society. First-year students in the top 10 percent of their schools at the end 

of their second semester are invited to join the society. 


Steven Brasley ’14 



Kacey Deamer ’13 

Megan Devlin ’14 



Robert Flaherty ’13 

Isabel Galupo ’14 


Erin Irby ’13 



Ayshea Khan ’11 

Kristin Leffler ’14 

Taylor Long ’13 











Daniel Sitts ’12 

Lindsey Smith ’14 

Gabriella Sophir ’14 

Elizabeth Stoltz ’13 




Sigma Iota Epsilon 

Members are inducted into this professional management honor society based on grade point average, involvement in 

management courses, leadership, and community service. 


4


Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership and 

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges AwarD 

This award reflects Ithaca College’s recognition of those students who excel in academic performance, perform service to 

the College community and nation, and represent an exemplary level of accomplishment. The most outstanding students 

representing the College are selected regardless of school or departmental affiliation. The names of students selected for 

the award are submitted to the national “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.” 


Julia Cicale ’12 




Connie Honeycutt ’12 

Andreava Kasianchuck ’11 


Bailey Reagan ’12 



Elizabeth Sile ’11 


William Sleight IV ’12 




Other Awards 

ANDREAVA KASIANCHUK ’11 

Dean’s Award 

Roy H. Park School of Communications 

AYSHEA KHAN ’11 

Cinema Production Senior Award 

Department of Cinema, Photography, and Media Arts 


ZACHARY TOMANELLI ’11 

Faculty Award, Department of Journalism 


MYKAL URBINA ’11 

Faculty Award, Integrated Marketing Communications 

Department of Strategic Communication 


KARLA BERBERICH ’11 

CORINNE COLGAN ’11 

Outstanding Senior Awards 

Department of Television-Radio 


Phi Kappa Phi 

Phi Kappa Phi is the only national honor society that recognizes and encourages scholarship and excellence in all 

disciplines. To quality for membership, juniors must be in the upper 7.5 percent of their class and maintain a 3.7 grade 

point average; seniors must maintain a 3.6 grade point average and be in the upper 10 percent of their graduating class. 





Andreava Kasianchuck ’11 










Phi Kappa Phi Presidential Award - Raquib Zaman Scholar 

Meghan Rindfleisch ’12 - Journalism 

Meghan Swope ’11 - Communication Management and Design 

Certificate of Recognition for Phi Kappa Phi Award Nominees 

Class of 2011 graduating class 

All eighteen Park Scholar members of the class of 2011 graduated at the top of their class. Karla Berberich, Corinne 

Colgan, Andreava Kasianchuck, Eric Keto, Meghan Malone, Brian Ropp, Jacquelyn Simone, Meghan Swope, Zachary 

Tomanelli, and Mykal Urbina graduated Summa cum Laude; Frieda Becker, Kirsty Ewing, Maura Gladys, Ayshea Khan, 

Amanda Roselli, Elizabeth Sile, and Rebecca Webster graduated Magna cum Laude; and Christina Bryant graduated 

Cum Laude. 

5


SERVICE PARTNERSHIPS 

Park Scholars share their communications talents and their commitment to service across a variety of cross-class partnerships 

with local organizations. Upper-level Park Scholars assume key leadership roles in these collaborations. 

Concert for a cure 

Park Scholars are using their marketing and event planning skills to make a difference by coordinating “Concert 

for a Cure.” Now in its third year, Concert for a Cure is an annual concert that raises funds to support the 

American Cancer Society. This year Scholars will also be raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Students are assisting with solicitation, public relations, social media, creating advertisements, and logistical 

planning. Although this year’s event is scheduled for February 2, 2012, the majority of the planning is taking 

place in the fall semester. 

Ithaca City School District 

For the seventh year in a row, Park Scholars are collaborating with the Ithaca City School District on its external 

communications needs. Scholars not only assist in the creation of stories for the district’s website, but also serve 

as “school liaisons” for the district’s partnerships with The Ithaca Journal and Tompkins Weekly, through which 

the newspapers publish stories—both in print and online—written by the Scholars about the district’s schools. 

Media CLUB 

Park Scholars are facilitating elementary-level media literacy instruction at Ithaca Community Childcare Center 

and South Hill Elementary School, with curriculum including food advertising, beauty in the media, photojournalism, 

and commercial production. Media Club is also pioneering its first elementary-level Film Club at 

Ithaca Community Childcare Center, as well as a high school media literacy program at New Roots Charter 

School (part of a Media Literacy in Advanced Art course that includes a curriculum discussing gender, race, and 

society in the media). 

MEgaphone Media Productions 

Megaphone Media Productions is dedicated to providing free communications services to area nonprofits and 

human service organizations by capitalizing on the expertise of Park Scholars. This year’s Megaphone projects 

include: assisting Better Housing for Tompkins County with its marketing efforts through the production of 

a promotional video as well as documentation of its various projects; providing marketing and event planning 

support to the Community School of Music and Arts; and finalizing production of a promotional video for The 

Discovery Trail Partnership, a group of Ithaca-based educational organizations. 

Corinne Colgan ’11 teaches media production at the Ithaca Community Childcare Center. 

6


ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING 

AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

Park Scholars participate in an array of 

programming that develops both intellectual 

engagement and professional 

expertise. 

For example, Park Scholars who receive 

grant funding for projects that expand 

their horizons outside of the classroom 

participate in a spring colloquium that 

affords them the opportunity to share the 

knowledge gained from their experiences 

with other Park Scholars. In addition, Park 

Scholar juniors take part in a Leadership 

Workshop that not only trains the Scholars 

about various leadership strategies 

and challenges, but also creates a forum 

in which Scholars collaborate and learn 

from one another. Finally, through biannual 

Saturday Seminars, they debate issues 

and ideas of key significance to communications 

scholars and practitioners of the 

twenty-first century. 

Additionally, Park Scholars’ professional 

development is not only fostered through 

the workshops and networking efforts of 

our Park Scholar alumni, but also through 

our hugely successful New York City 

Shadowing Trip. During this October trip, 

Scholars were paired with Park School 

alumni and communications professionals 

who hosted them for a full day at such 

varied organizations as The Nation, CBS 

Radio, ESPN, Good Morning America, 

Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), 

Rolling Stone, Sesame Workshop, Nick 

Jr., Democracy Now!, Transient Pictures, 

PostWorks NY, MTV2, Edelman PR, 

Scientific American, and WABC-TV. The 

shadowing experience, now in its twelfth 

year, has enabled the Scholars to gain insight 

into varied careers and industries and 

to network with professionals in the field 

of communications. 

Amy Obarski ’13 and Keith Bress ’13 (top) visit the animation studios of Nick Jr. 

as part of the New York City Shadowing Trip. They were hosted by Park Scholar 

alumna Ashley Bookheimer ’09, production coordinator for the children’s television 

program Team Umizoomi. 

Maya Cueva ’15 (bottom) participates in the Park Scholar Saturday Seminar on 

Susan Faludi’s 

7


SCHOLARS IN ACTION 

Park Scholar service commitments range from facilitating a literary circle at the Longview residential senior community, 

to tutoring at area schools such as South Hill Elementary School. Scholars provide service across the country during 

Alternative Spring Break and on Habitat for Humanity builds, and walk away the hours during the American Cancer Society’s 

Relay for Life. They complete research around the globe, and study and intern through Ithaca College’s programs 

in Los Angeles and London. Finally and in the Roy H. Park School of Communications, Scholars are active members of 

WICB and VIC radio stations, ICTV, The Ithacan, 360 Magazine, and Buzzsaw magazine. 

But while Scholars may take a break from the classroom during the summer months, they rarely take a break from 

their commitment to service and the desire to learn as much as they can about the field of communications. During 

the summer 2011, Scholars attended leadership conferences in New York and backpacked in Wyoming with National 

Outdoor Leadership Skills; volunteered at a local watershed conservancy as well as on the Appalachian Trail; and assisted 

in their local communities at churches, summer camps, and homeless shelters. In addition, Park Scholars interned with 

Democracy Now!, Maysles Films, Concern Worldwide, Sesame Workshop, Insignia Films, In These Times, The American 

Prospect, The Institute for Policy Studies, Stone Soup Films, the Minnesota Children’s Museum, The Bilerico Project, 

MTV/Viacom, Allied Integrated Marketing, Institute for Public Accuracy, Mullen advertising agency, Transient Pictures, 

Newsmotion, and numerous other newspapers, television stations, and media outlets. 

Jesse Geffen ’12 (top left) takes a break from his 

work with the Special Projects Team at Sesame 

Workshop. 

Steven Brasley ’14 (top right) reports on local stories 

for the hour-long news program New Hampshire 

Now on WKXL, a local AM radio station in Concord, 

New Hampshire. 

Francine Price ’12 and Connie Honeycutt ’12 (bottom 

left) take part in Relay for Life while participating in 

the Ithaca College Los Angeles Program. 

8


John Vogan ’14 (top left) reports for ICTV’s Newswatch 16. 

Taylor Long ’13 (top right) interned with , an 

internship sponsored through the Park Center for Independent 

Media’s Independent/Progressive Media Internships Program. 

During a summer internship with Maysles Films in New York 

City, Anne Carlin ’13 (bottom right) assists award-winning 

documentary pioneer Albert Maysles on a shoot for his next 

project. 

Julia Cicale ’12 (bottom left), president of Habitat for 

Humanity, helps out on a home build. 

9

PARK SCHOLARS IN NEW ORLEANS: 

SERVICE, LEARNING, MEDIA 


In January 2011, eighteen Park Scholar seniors—the entire senior class—completed a one-week service trip in New 

Orleans, Louisiana, assisting with the ninth ward’s rebuilding efforts. This annual service experience was co-chaperoned 

by the program director and a Park Scholar alumna, and all participants volunteered with the local grassroots nonprofit 

Beacon of Hope. Through this service programming, Park Scholars not only completed “hands-on” volunteer work via 

rebuilding projects, but also utilized their media skills to document—and ultimately communicate—the city’s continued 

need for assistance. While in New Orleans (and in the months immediately prior to the service trip), Scholars also 

participated in a series of discussions that situated their service in relation to examinations of social justice, race, urban 

development, educational policy, and media representation. 

The Park Scholar class of 2011 (top left) stands in front of “Wally’s House” at the 

end of their week in New Orleans. The group worked with the volunteer organization 

Beacon of Hope at Wally Muhammad’s house in the Lower Ninth Ward. 

Park Scholar alumna and co-coordinator Jessica McCoy ’06 (top right), Zachary 

Tomanelli ’11 (bottom right), and Christina Bryant ’11 (bottom left) assist with the 

Park Scholar New Orleans service trip. 

10


CLASS OF 2015 SELECTION 

The class of 2015 welcomed 13 new Park Scholars from applicants representing top students from 35 different states 

including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. 

Washington 

New Hampshire 

Vermont 

Montana 

North Dakota 

Massachusetts 

Maine 

Oregon 

Nevada 

California 

Idaho 

Utah 

Arizona 

Wyoming 

Colorado 

New Mexico 

South Dakota 

Nebraska 

Kansas 

Oklahoma 

Minnesota 

Iowa 

Missouri 

Wisconsin 

Arkansas 

Michigan 

Illinois Indiana 

Kentucky 

Tennessee 

Ohio 

New York 

Pennsylvania 

Virginia 

North Carolina 

South 

Carolina 

Rhode Island 

Connecticut 

New Jersey 

Delaware 

Maryland 

Washington, D.C. 

West Virginia 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

Georgia 

Texas 

Louisiana 

Alaska 

Hawaii 

Number of Applicants 

1-5 6-14 15+ 

Florida 

A brochure and biannual e-newsletters informed prospective students about the Park Scholar Award and aided recruitment. 

The brochure was sent to approximately 13,000 students and 7,300 guidance counselors and educational agencies 

identified by the Ithaca College Office of Admission, while Ithaca College admission counselors also used the brochures 

as a marketing tool as they traveled throughout the country. Moreover, while the winter edition of our e-newsletter was 

sent to 13,000 high school seniors in December 2010, last June’s summer edition was sent to approximately 105,000 

high school juniors and sophomores, in order to target prospective Scholars earlier in their college search. 

This year’s Park Scholar recipients were selected from a group of 28 finalists who visited Ithaca March 27 – March 29, 

2011 to participate in interviews, classroom visits, and various other campus activities. Members of the Park Scholar Review 

Committee met with each finalist in sessions lasting 45-50 minutes. Additionally, committee members facilitated 

small group discussions and activities in which finalists discussed topics of social and media importance. Following the 

campus visit, the committee reconvened to make final decisions and notified recipients within a week. 

In order to select a group of finalists to bring to campus for interviews, the Park Scholar Review Committee worked 

carefully and diligently. The committee was comprised of five faculty members and administrators, one Park Scholar 

alumnus, and three senior Park Scholars, who represent a variety of experience and expertise working with students at 

Ithaca College. Each member of the committee read applications, participated in discussions about the applicants, and 

helped make final decisions. 

11


PARK SCHOLAR REVIEW COMMITTEE 

Corinne Colgan 

Park Scholar, Class of 2011 

Nancy Cornwell 

Professor and Chair 

Department of Televison and Radio 

Brian Dashew 

Park Scholar Alumnus, Class of 2006 

Matthew J. Fee 

Director, Park Scholar Program 

Arhlene Flowers 

Assistant Professor 

Department of Strategic Communication 

Matt Mogekwu 

Associate Professor 

Department of Journalism 

meghan swope 


zachary tomanelli 


Christopher Wheatley 

Manager, Radio Operations 

CLASS OF 2015 ORIENTATION 

This fall marked our tenth Park Scholar orientation program. The class of 2015 came to Ithaca College a week before 

the start of classes to get to know one another, familiarize themselves with the campus, and serve the Ithaca community. 

Led by six Park Scholar orientation leaders, members of the class of 2015 participated in a three-day program including 

a full day of teambuilding on campus and at Cornell’s Hoffman Challenge Course. 

In addition, first-year Park Scholars assembled for a workshop on community service, during which Scholars explored 

various strategies for utilizing media in order to provide service to local, national, and global nonprofits. Following the 

Park Scholar orientation program, Scholars participated in the Community Plunge Program organized through Ithaca 

College’s Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs. A three-day service event, Plunge proved vital to 

introducing Scholars to service in the greater Ithaca area. 

First-year Park Scholars begin to create a community through teambuilding exercises. 

12


CLASS OF 2015 

The members of the class of 2015 have already dedicated themselves to a number of community service and cocurricular 

projects in their first semester at Ithaca College. With only three months in the IC community, members of the firstyear 

class have already written articles for Buzzsaw magazine; served as an assistant producer for Newswatch 16; edited 

promotional videos for nonprofits; contributed to WICB’s Ithaca Now; taught English to migrant farm workers via the 

Intercambios Program; designed and taught media literacy lessons at afterschool programs; served on the executive board 

for the Honors Program; coached a youth soccer team; volunteered at local elementary schools; facilitated discussions 

through the Longview Literary Circle; and been initiated into Ithaca area service opportunities through the Community 

Plunge Program. 

Zachary Briggs has taken interest in several extracurricular and community service organizations 

this fall. He is helping to start a chapter of the Front Row Foundation on campus, and 

participates in Ithaca College’s Food for Thought while also volunteering weekly at South Hill 

Elementary School as an aide in a kindergarten classroom. Zach is also providing media assistance 

through Megaphone Media Productions to the Community School of Music and Arts 

by designing and creating print materials that promote the school’s summer camp. He has also 

participated in the Community Plunge Program where he specifically volunteered his time at the 

local Kitchen Theatre to organize movie sets, and at the EcoVillage where he pruned raspberry 

bushes. On campus, Zach writes for Buzzsaw magazine and is actively involved in the Park Design 

House’s public relations sector. The American Advertising Federation is also an organization 

that he has become involved with and he is currently helping to advertise for the Cayuga Addiction 

Recovery Services. 

Jessica began her freshman year at Ithaca College participating in the Jumpstart Community 

Plunge Program, which is a local community service initiative for new students. Her first day 

consisted of renovating a garden at Hospicare and she spent her second day preparing a building 

site for a future sustainable housing neighborhood in Ithaca. Her service involvement includes 

fundraising for Invisible Children, writing stories about Ithaca’s elementary and middle schools, 

and serving on the executive board of the Front Row Foundation. Regarding the latter, she is 

thrilled to work with her fellow Park Scholars this semester to establish a new chapter of this 

international nonprofit organization on campus. The Front Row Foundation provides live sports 

and entertainment experiences for the chronically ill. Jess also volunteers weekly as a teacher’s 

aide at South Hill Elementary School. Beyond her service involvement, Jess is also a contributing 

writer for both Buzzsaw magazine and the Accent section of Ithaca College’s weekly newspaper 

The Ithacan. She is also a copyeditor for The Ithacan. 

Zachary Briggs 

Integrated Marketing 

Communications 

Elma, NY 

Jessica Corbett 

Journalism 

Sugar Grove, IL 

Maya Cueva is a devoted, active volunteer on and off campus. Her current service includes teaching 

media literacy to high school and elementary students at New Roots Charter School and 

South Hill Elementary School, volunteering at the Longview Literary Circle, and working with 

a native Spanish speaker through Intercambios. She also is part of the Committee on U.S.–Latin 

American Relations based at Cornell University. Along with her involvement in the Ithaca community, 

Maya is also involved with various organizations on campus as well. As a producer for 

the online section of The Ithacan, she has contributed to “Snap Judgment” and the Faces of ’15 

project. She also works with See-Saw, and is a contributor every Sunday to WICB’s Ithaca Now. 

In addition to these on-campus activities, Maya also participates in IC Active Minds, an organization 

that promotes mental health awareness. Maya plans on continuing her involvement in 

these service groups and organizations, and is committed to finding new ways to contribute and 

give back to the community. 

Maya Cueva 

Documentary Studies & 

Production 

Berkeley, CA 

13


Leroy Farrell 

Television-Radio 

Smithtown, NY 

Leroy began his participation in an assortment of community service projects this year through 

the Community Plunge Program, where he volunteered at a local elementary school cleaning 

classrooms and fixing playgrounds. He also spent time at the Finger Lakes ReUse Center, where 

he moved and organized donated furniture. Leroy is looking forward to assisting in an array of 

community service activities including Invisible Children, Coaches for a Cure, and Concert for 

a Cure this year. He is particularly excited to use his media skills to help promote these worthy 

causes. Leroy is actively participating in ICTV programming as well. He is ecstatic to have gained 

positions working on Pop Quiz as a production assistant and as a co-host for The Screening Room. 

He is very excited to be a part of these programs this year and hopes to move through the ranks 

and perhaps one day hold a leadership role at ICTV. In addition, Leroy is involved in Ithaca 

College athletics where he is competing in springboard diving as a member of the Ithaca College 

swimming/diving team. 

Bethany George 

Journalism 

Red Lodge, MT 

Bethany was introduced to Ithaca’s numerous service opportunities through the Community 

Plunge Program. She helped organize furniture for a sale at the Finger Lakes ReUse Center, and 

tended to the vegetation at the Ithaca Children’s Garden. Now that she is settled in on campus, 

Bethany is involved in activities that emphasize her personal passions. With a love for people 

and writing, she is a volunteer writer for the Ithaca City School District. However, telling stories 

through various media venues is also important to Bethany, which is why she is involved in the 

multimedia department for the weekly newspaper, The Ithacan. Additionally, once a month she 

helps facilitate events through the Ithaca Youth Bureau. During the winter weekends, Bethany 

will be volunteering with the Adaptive Ski Program to teach individuals with various disabilities 

how to ski. She is an event planner for Dance for Courage, an all night dance marathon that raises 

money for children with cancer. Bethany is also a member of IC Human Rights, and the Society 

of Professional Journalists. 

Kaitlin Hulbert 



Binghamton, NY 

Keith Johnson 


Harleysville, PA 

Kaitlin began her first week at Ithaca College by participating in the Community Plunge Program, 

part of Ithaca College’s Jumpstart Program. During this three-day service immersion event, 

she worked pruning raspberry bushes at Ithaca’s EcoVillage and landscaping at St. Paul’s United 

Methodist Church. This year, she looks forward to working in a kindergarten class at South Hill 

Elementary School as a teacher’s aide and taking on the role of a Big Sister through the one-toone 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. Kait is excited to begin working with several other Park 

Scholars to establish an Ithaca College chapter of the Front Row Foundation—an organization 

that works to provide the critically ill with front row tickets to live events. As part of her group 

service project, Kait will be teaching media literacy to local Ithaca high school students. Outside 

of her service commitments, Kait is a contributing writer for Buzzsaw magazine and a member of 

the promotions teams for both campus radio stations, VIC Radio and WICB. 

Keith started off his freshman year by participating in the Community Plunge Program, a group 

service project through the Jumpstart Program that allows freshman to get involved in community 

service from the start. During the three days of the program, Keith spent time at the Ithaca 

Children’s Garden caring for plants and the Tompkins County Public Library. Keith is also helping 

to organize Concert for a Cure, a benefit concert to raise money for the American Cancer Society 

and other local cancer initiatives. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Front Row 

Foundation chapter on campus, an organization dedicated to providing a “front row experience” 

for individuals with life threating conditions. At the SPCA shelter in town Keith helps members 

of the community find their future companions, specifically helping to care for and walk dogs. 

This winter, he looks forward to working with the Adaptive Ski Program at Greek Peak, the local 

ski resort, teaching children and adults with various disabilities how to snowboard. 

14


Jennifer’s transition to Ithaca began with Community Plunge, which allowed her the opportunity 

to work at the Ithaca Children’s Garden pruning plants and weeding invasive species. She also 

traveled to the Ithaca branch of the Salvation Army where she helped prepare and serve food 

to patrons of the establishment. Currently, Jennifer is volunteering weekly in a kindergarten 

classroom at South Hill Elementary School where she enjoys interacting with the kids through 

reading stories, helping with art projects, and teaching academic lessons. Jennifer is a member 

of Intercambios and travels to a local farm to teach English. Incorporating her film passion into 

community service, Jennifer is part of 2010 Park Scholar alumna Shannon Archer’s Coaches vs. 

Cancer video project. Furthering her interest to use her media skills for the benefit of others, 

Jennifer is part of the Megaphone Media Productions service project, through which she will be 

working on promotional films for local museums. Outside of her film work for the community, 

Jennifer is involved with Park Productions. 

As a new student, Crystal found that the passions she developed in her hometown of Jenks, Oklahoma 

enhanced her experience at Ithaca College. She has always been involved in her local and 

global community, and has sought out organizations that encompass her passions. As an active 

member of IC Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Tompkins County SPCA, she is directly involved 

in the local community. Crystal’s involvement in International Club and Invisible Children help 

her to stay engaged with different cultures on campus, and as a Ugandan American, these organizations 

allowed her to address issues in her cultural community. With service at the forefront 

of her schedule, she is also interested in politics and international affairs, which led to her acceptance 

into the Model United Nations team at Ithaca College. First and foremost comes her 

dedication to the cinematic arts. As a filmmaker, she is constantly in pursuit of purposeful and 

meaningful stories, and has found an outlet for this in Buzzsaw magazine’s documentary division, 

See-Saw, and Park Productions. 

Although it is her first semester at Ithaca College, Emily can already call IC her home. She has 

become involved in many activities that keep her busy throughout the week. She spends several 

days a week coaching a fourth and fifth grade boy’s soccer team through the Ithaca Youth Bureau 

with fellow Park Scholars Gabe Whiteman and Connie Honeycutt. Another organization she 

has joined is IC Bigs, Ithaca College’s Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter on campus. She is also a 

part of the Media Club that teaches a class of sophomores at New Roots Charter School about 

media literacy two times a week. On Thursdays, you can find her in the basement of the Roy 

H. Park School of Communications, working as an assistant producer for Newswatch 16. She is 

also excited to become a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, 

an organization that provides a large network of professional business communicators to college 

students. Emily feels the opportunities at Ithaca College are endless, and she plans to take full 

advantage of every one that comes her way. 

Jennifer Jordan 


Production 

Tulsa, OK 

Crystal Kayiza 


Production 

Jenks, OK 

Emily LaPierre 


Chazy, NY 

Mia jumped right into her first year at Ithaca College by participating in Community Plunge. 

Here, she helped to clean and renovate St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in downtown Ithaca 

and also helped in the harvesting and gardening of the West Haven Farm. As a budding sports 

journalist, Mia has already secured on-air positions on several ICTV sports shows, including The 

Gridiron Report, Sports Final, and Bombers Football; she will be co-hosting the pre-game, halftime, 

and post-game shows for all home football games. She will also be an analyst on ICTV’s political 

talk show, Experts Say, and is a contributing writer for Buzzsaw magazine. Mia can also be heard 

doing sports updates on VIC Radio as well as on VIC’s Sports Journal talk show. By volunteering 

as a coach of a second and third grade soccer team through the Ithaca Youth Bureau, Mia has 

remained dedicated to service. Her group service project involves teaching media literacy at the 

Ithaca Community Childcare Center afterschool program as part of Media Club. 

Mia O’Brien 

Journalism 

Freehold, NJ 

15


Peter Quandt 

Journalism 

Schoharie, NY 

At the beginning of the fall semester, Peter participated in the Community Plunge Program and 

volunteered at the Ithaca Big Brothers Big Sisters Program where he played with kids, set up 

activities, and prepared food. He then volunteered at the Ithaca Children’s Garden to garden, 

paint, and build a fence. This fall he is volunteering with the Ithaca City School District, writing 

pieces for school newsletters and local newspapers. Peter is also a member of Invisible Children, 

an organization that raises funds to combat the use of child soldiers throughout Africa. He plans 

to play a large role in Invisible Children’s fundraising campaign. He also helps educate his IC 

peers about human rights violations throughout the world through the group IC Human Rights. 

Peter also plans to volunteer with the Ithaca Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, and to serve as a 

Big Brother. Peter is a member of the Ithaca Junior Varsity baseball team and works for the radio 

station WICB. 

Kenneth Robertson 

Film, Photography 

& Visual Arts 

Fair Haven, NJ 

Living at Ithaca College has given Ken a greater perspective on the importance of community 

involvement. Participating in Community Plunge enabled Ken to serve the Tompkins County 

SPCA and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. These experiences gave him the opportunity 

to interact with Ithaca residents, and to discuss their passions and devotion to the community. 

On campus, Ken has been actively involved with Buzzsaw magazine as a student journalist and 

photographer. While on assignment for Buzzsaw magazine, he met Svante Myrick, Ithaca’s democratic 

candidate for mayor, and also examined issues around local poverty and homelessness. Additionally, 

Ken has joined Ithaca College’s branch of Invisible Children to support the local fight 

against Africa’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). This year he is also involved in Megaphone Media 

Productions, a Park Scholar group service project that provides free media services to nonprofits 

and human rights organizations. Ken already feels close to the Ithaca community and intends to 

continue using his media skills to serve those in need. 

16


CLASS OF 2014 

The sophomores are a highly motivated group that has continued the service and cocurricular commitments established 

during their first year. Moreover, with their experiences as first-year Scholars not far behind them, these sophomores 

serve as mentors to the entering Scholars, often guiding them in service as Community Plunge leaders. In addition, 

this class has maintained the strong academic performance demonstrated by previous classes. As a class, it has earned 

a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 out of 4.0. Four of these fourteen Scholars maintain a cumulative grade point 

average of 3.9 and above, while eleven members of the class have earned places on the Dean’s List for the Roy H. Park 

School of Communications in the 2010-2011 academic year. 

Steven Brasley is currently involved with many service organizations and activities on campus as 

well as in the Ithaca community. He attends weekly Longview Literary Circle meetings where he 

reads short stories with Longview residents. He also works on many service activities involving 

children, such as helping out weekly working with students in a fifth grade classroom at South 

Hill Elementary School. Steven is also excited to be continuing his participation in Media Club, 

focusing his efforts this year on the Film Club at Ithaca Community Childcare Center with the 

goal of teaching children the artistic value of movies. He also plans to participate in smaller club 

charity events throughout the semester to get involved with other organizations of which he is 

not already a member. Steven is involved in both radio and television organizations in the Park 

School of Communications. Currently, he works in the control room and writes segments for 

ICTV’S Game Over, a video game news and review show. Finally, Steven is also very involved in 

the radio news team, working as a reporter and correspondent for WICB’s Sunday evening news 

program, Ithaca Now. 

Steven Brasley 

Journalism 

Epsom, NH 

Megan began her spring semester as assistant accent editor for The Ithacan and joined Megaphone 

Media Productions where she designed promotional materials for the Community School of 

Music and Arts. Megan continued volunteering at the Tompkins County Public Library in the 

Reader Is In Program. As a summer editorial intern with The American Prospect and The Institute 

of Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., Megan reflected on the opportunities Ithaca has offered 

her. In D.C., she met with former Park Scholars and Ithaca alumni, and formed new relationships 

with her Park School peers. After returning to Ithaca this fall, Megan sought out new service 

opportunities with local organizations such as the Women’s Opportunity Center and Ithaca 

Swidjit. She has continued her involvements as an editor for The Ithacan, a volunteer for Stop 

Wasting Ithaca’s Food Today, and a writer for both Buzzsaw magazine and 360 Magazine. Megan 

took on a new leadership role as communications director for the Progressive Discourse Project, 

and joined the Communication Management and Design Student Association. 

With a true passion for film, Isabel was more than ready to dive into her second year at Ithaca 

College. When Isabel arrived on campus, she led a team of five first-year students through the 

Community Plunge Program with fellow Park Scholar, Sarah Parker. Together, Isabel, Sarah, and 

the rest of their Community Plunge team performed gardening activities for both the Tompkins 

County SPCA and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church over the course of two days of service. 

Isabel also serves as a student worker in the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender 

Education, Outreach, and Services, where she provides various multimedia, marketing, and design 

services for the organization. She holds editorial positions for the Journal of Race, Culture, 

Gender, and Ethnicity and 360 Magazine. Because she enjoys working with children, Isabel also 

reads to preschoolers at Coddington Childcare, volunteers in a kindergarten class at South Hill 

Elementary School, and helps to run a Film Club at a local afterschool program. 

Megan Devlin 

Communication 

Management & Design 

Old Lyme, CT 

Isabel Galupo 

Cinema & Photography 

Towson, MD 

17


Jonathan Keenan 

Documentary Studies 

& Production 

Wilmington, DE 

Cady Lang 

Journalism 

Clayton, CA 

In the spring of 2011, Jonathan “JP” Keenan was co-president of TOMS Campus Club, an organization 

that helps raise awareness about TOMS Shoes. He was also part of See-Saw documentaries, 

an offshoot of Buzzsaw magazine, creating short documentaries that relate to the magazine’s 

theme each month. He was a board member for both the Protestant Community and Diversity 

In Action. JP also helped edit a few videos for Musicians for World Harmony, a local nonprofit 

that uses music to heal in conflict zones around the world. During the summer, JP interned 

with two companies: Stone Soup Films, a nonprofit documentary organization that films small 

documentaries for nonprofits in Washington, D.C., and the World Bank, where he produced 

three videos for the Poverty and Social Impact Analysis and Gender Departments. In the fall, JP 

restarted the Ithaca College chapter of Invisible Children and is currently the co-president. He 

was elected to the Inter-Faith council at the chapel, representing the Protestant Community. He 

helps coach little league soccer for the Ithaca Youth Bureau two nights a week. 

Cady returned to Ithaca this fall after interning with Diablo Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for 

the San Francisco East Bay. She began her sophomore year by serving as a leader for Community 

Plunge, where she worked at the Finger Lakes ReUse Center and the Ithaca Children’s Garden. 

She is an editor and contributor to 360 Magazine, as well as a staff writer and blogger for The 

Ithacan. This fall, she is writing for Buzzsaw magazine, as well as serving as the campus correspondent 

and editor in chief for Her Campus Ithaca, an online campus magazine. She is on the 

executive board for the college’s Asian American Alliance, and she will be the main stylist this 

semester for Hi-Fashion Studios. Cady is most excited to return to her weekly service projects 

through the Family Reading Partnership at the Coddington Childcare Center as well as through 

the Longview Literary Circle. She will also be volunteering weekly with a class at South Hill 

Elementary School, as well as writing for the Ithaca City School District as a part of her group 

service project. 

Kristin Leffler 

Journalism 

Amherst, NH 

During the summer, Kristin interned for The Exchange, a political and social discussion show 

at New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). At NHPR she had the opportunity to produce two 

shows, conduct research, call screen, and truly see the workings of a professional radio station. 

On the Ithaca campus, she is a DJ for VIC Radio, and a newscaster for WICB Radio. She writes 

for various on-campus publications: The Ithacan, Buzzsaw magazine, and Fuse magazine, and is 

now an editor and writer for 360 Magazine. Kristin started off the year as a Community Plunge 

leader, volunteering at two local environmental organizations with a group of first-year students. 

She travels to nearby farms once a week to teach English to migrant workers through Intercambios. 

She also volunteers time in a second grade classroom at South Hill Elementary School, and 

teaches media literacy to elementary school students. She is working to establish Birthday Wish 

as an organization in order to donate birthday supply packages to local children in need. Kristin 

is looking forward to studying abroad in Córdoba, Argentina in the spring. 

Samantha Mason 

Documentary Studies 

& Production 

Highland, CA 

Last spring, Samantha became the design editor for 360 Magazine, an Ithaca College narrative 

journalism publication that focuses on a specific theme from multiple perspectives. During the 

summer, Samantha helped a local business in Santa Monica, California called Bergamot Café by 

taking photos and shooting short videos for their website and Facebook page. This fall, as a member 

of the Park Scholar group service project Media Club, Samantha is promoting media education 

by teaching a class once a week at New Roots Charter School, one of Ithaca’s alternative high 

schools. To feed her love for working with children, she volunteers weekly in a kindergarten class 

at South Hill Elementary School. Also, as a strong advocate for environmental justice, Samantha 

experiments and learns ecologically viable practices while volunteering at Ithaca’s EcoVillage and 

Finger Lakes ReUse Center once a week. In addition to community service, Samantha works as a 

crewmember on two ICTV shows: Experts Say and Fake Out. She continues to contribute to 360 

Magazine as a design and photography editor. 

18


Sarah is excited to continue working with many of the same organizations as she did in the 

spring, as well as to begin working with new organizations and new service opportunities. She 

began the academic year as Community Plunge leader with fellow Park Scholar Isabel Galupo. 

The two volunteered at the SPCA, mulching and moving rocks, as well as at St. Paul’s United 

Methodist Church, where they weeded the gardens. She continues to be very involved with the 

Family Reading Partnership, Project Generations, and Longview Literary Circle. Every week she 

reads at Coddington Daycare and Longview. Through Project Generations, she was matched 

up with an elderly member of the community, with whom she visits weekly as well. As far as 

new involvements, she is most excited about Concert for a Cure and the American Advertising 

Federation (AAF). Both allow her to use skills learned in the classroom to help members of the 

community. She is on the marketing team for Concert for a Cure. Through AAF she is helping to 

design new advertising materials for Cayuga Addiction Recover Services. 

Moriah jumped right back into community service on the Ithaca campus and in the community 

by leading first-year students in service activities during Community Plunge. She walks dogs at 

the SPCA and cultivates literacy by reading to preschoolers through the Traveling Books Program. 

She also teaches English to a group of migrant farm workers in a cultural exchange facilitated 

by IC Intercambios. Moriah participates in a number of clubs including Active Minds, which 

reduces the stigma surrounding mental health, and Birthday Wish, which serves disadvantaged 

children. She hopes to further explore the issue of affordable housing as a member of Habitat for 

Humanity, and through promotion of the nonprofit Better Housing for Tompkins County with 

Megaphone Media Productions. Moriah improves her media production and journalism skills 

through working as the assistant editor for the ICTV show Every Ithacan Has A Story and by writing 

for Buzzsaw magazine. She also assists with design and layout for The Ithacan, and is on the 

staff of Her Campus Ithaca, Ithaca’s online magazine for women. 

Sarah Parker 



East Marion, NY 

Moriah Petty 


St. Paul, MN 

Lindsey is excited to be back at Ithaca College. She continues to volunteer with Megaphone Media 

Productions at the Community School of Music and Arts. As senator, Lindsey serves on the 

Student Government Association’s Communication and Community Service Committees. As 

advertising chair on the Student Activities Board (SAB), she volunteers at SAB’s free events. Additionally, 

Lindsey works as a student leadership consultant in the Office of Student Engagement 

and Multicultural Affairs. In this position, she is coordinating The Business and Organizational 

Leadership Development Conference (BOLD). Lindsey is also working to implement the program, 

“Leading at IC.” As a member of Food for Thought and Habitat for Humanity, her passion 

for community service is filled with activities. As part of IC Food for Thought, she helped plan 

and participated in the Walk for Plumpy’nut. Lindsey’s extracurricular activities include serving 

as the communications director for the International Association of Business Communicators, 

public relations chair for ICTV’s Pop Quiz, and the assistant producer for ICTV’s Big Red Faceoff. 

Lindsey Smith 


Medfield, MA 

After interning with Girls on the Run, a nonprofit organization that empowers girls through 

running, and backpacking for a month in Wyoming this summer, Abby is excited to be back 

among the Ithaca community. Along with her commitment to the Women’s Club Soccer team, 

she is co-coaching “Fire Phoenix,” a youth soccer team, through the Ithaca Youth Bureau. On 

Thursdays, she wakes up early to get her hands dirty with the Youth Farm Project where she 

harvests crops and prepares food for storage, as well as working with the farm on outreach and 

product development. Abby is also working with ELAN, an Environmental Leadership and Action 

Network, devoted to promoting environmental justice through grassroots action. This fall 

the group’s focus is “Operation Tiger,” a campaign to make IC’s paper procurement policy more 

environmentally sustainable. To exercise her love of journalism, she writes articles for Buzzsaw 

magazine and co-produces Every Ithacan Has A Story on ICTV. Abby will be studying abroad this 

spring in Tanzania through the School for International Training’s Wildlife Conservation and 

Political Ecology Program. 

Gabriella Sophir 


St. Louis, MO 

19


Samantha Towle 


Three Bridges, NJ 

Samantha Towle is excited to be back at Ithaca College, as she has enjoyed volunteering with 

multiple organizations at Ithaca College and in the Ithaca community, including: the SPCA, 

South Hill Elementary School, To Write Love on Her Arms, the Class Hosting Program, and the 

Harry Potter Alliance. Last spring she became a board member for the community service club 

Birthday Wish, and she also wrote for Buzzsaw magazine, directed a segment of ICTV’s Every 

Ithacan Has a Story, and was layout editor for the literary magazine Brink Of. Additionally, she 

acted in IC Players’ production “Play It Again, Sam.” Over the summer, Samantha took an art 

class at a local community college and traveled. This year, she is continuing many of her earlier 

volunteer projects. However, with her new involvement in Megaphone Media Productions, she 

will work with Better Housing for Tompkins County. Samantha will also now serve as an editor 

for ICTV’s Every Ithacan Has a Story as well as for the new show IC-IU. 

John Vogan 

Journalism 

Lynnwood, WA 

John is excited to begin his second year of media and service involvement in Ithaca, and to 

continue many of the activities with which he was involved last year. During the spring, John 

began working as a field reporter for ICTV’s Newswatch 16, which he is continuing this fall. He 

contributes articles for Buzzsaw magazine, Ithaca College’s alternative on-campus magazine, and 

is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. John continues his passion for singing 

in IC VoiceStream, Ithaca’s premier co-ed a cappella group, which performs multiple times 

throughout the year for a variety of functions in support of good causes. His community service 

this year includes volunteering bi-weekly at South Hill Elementary School, weekly readings with 

the elderly in the Longview Literary Circle, and Saturday builds with Habitat for Humanity. John 

is also actively involved with Food for Thought, an organization that fights hunger around the 

world through advocating awareness and raising funds to provide resources to those who need it 

most. In May, he was appointed secretary to the Food for Thought executive board. 

Gabriel Whiteman 


Toms River, NJ 

During the summer, Gabe volunteered with Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey (CVCJ), 

a local organization that helps the elderly continue a comfortable independent lifestyle. Gabe 

has volunteered for CVCJ for three years now, producing three short documentaries about the 

program along with grocery shopping for an elderly woman. Through the Ithaca Youth Bureau, 

Gabe volunteers as a coach for a fourth and fifth grade soccer team every Tuesday and Sunday. 

Gabe teaches his thirteen kids about the fundamentals of soccer and the importance of being a 

team player along with fellow Scholars Emily LaPierre and Connie Honeycutt. At South Hill 

Elementary School, Gabe acts as a positive role model in a kindergarten classroom. Each week, 

Gabe assists in a rotation where he teaches the kindergarten students about colors, numbers, etc. 

Lastly, Gabe is helping to produce a promotional video for The Discovery Trail, a partnership between 

eight local organizations that promotes the understanding of science, nature, and culture. 

20


CLASS OF 2013 

The juniors are an engaged and energetic group that has continued the strong academic performance demonstrated by 

previous classes. Their class is comprised of an exceptional cohort of committed and skilled students, and with senior 

year on the horizon, these Park Scholars have honed their leadership and communications abilities, assuming greater 

responsibilities in student media and completing an extensive array of internships. In the academic realm, the class 

earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 out of 4.0, with two of these Scholars maintaining a cumulative grade 

point average above a 3.9. Moreover, twelve members of the class have earned places on the Dean’s List for the Roy H. 

Park School of Communications for the 2010-2011 academic year. 

Keith Bress is currently engaged in several service organizations at Ithaca College. Last spring he 

was involved in Megaphone Media Productions and aided in the creation of a series of promotional 

videos advertising local nonprofit organizations. Over the summer, he worked on several 

freelance video projects for Windsor Community Television and the Windsor Chamber of Commerce. 

Keith also worked as an instructor in Windsor Community Television’s “Kid Vid Workshop” 

program, teaching young children video production skills. This year he has continued his 

engagement in this area by participating in Media Club’s “Film Club,” a similar program involving 

local Ithaca students. He is vice president of IC Gamers, a video gaming club on campus, as 

well as a member of the Ithaca College Game Developers Club. Keith is involved in service and 

advocacy groups at Ithaca in the form of IC Hope for Haiti and Active Minds. Active Minds is a 

mental health issues awareness group on campus. Every Friday night he reads to members of the 

Longview retirement community with the Longview Literary Circle. 

Stephen Burke is beginning the fall semester following a summer internship with Democracy 

Now! in New York City. This internship was through the Park Center for Independent Media. 

This experience came after a spring semester full of both service and media activities. He is involved 

with Megaphone Media Productions for the fifth straight semester, and this is his third 

semester as co-chair of that organization. Megaphone continues working with the Community 

School of Music and Arts and The Discovery Trail, and this semester the organization has added 

Better Housing for Tompkins County to its list of clients. Stephen is continuing his work with a 

number of other organizations as well, including IC Hope for Haiti and the Family Reading Partnership. 

This semester, he has expanded his involvement with ICTV as a producer for Experts Say, 

a political news show; as technical director for Tuesday night’s Newswatch 16 broadcast; and as a 

producer for the first two televised debates for the Ithaca mayoral race that aired earlier this fall. 

Keith Bress 


& Visual Arts 

Windsor, CT 

Stephen Burke 


Old Lyme, CT 

Last semester Anne participated in a victorious campaign with the Labor Initiative in Promoting 

Solidarity (LIPS) to obtain a living wage for all Ithaca College dining services workers, raising the 

lowest-paid workers’ wages from $8.19 per hour to $11.11 per hour. Anne is excited to continue 

working with LIPS and build solidarity among students and workers in the fight for workers’ 

rights. As treasurer for IC Human Rights (ICHR), Anne helped organize events regarding prison 

systems, LGBTQ issues, and the death penalty. Now as co-president of ICHR, she is eager to 

focus on economic inequality in the U.S., health care, and human rights in North Korea. As treasurer 

for IC Bigs, Anne put together a successful benefit concert that raised money for the Ithaca 

Youth Bureau’s programs. She is thrilled to maintain that position and spend Saturdays with 

children at the Youth Bureau. This past summer, Anne lived in NYC and interned with Maysles 

Films and MTV Networks. She also enjoyed volunteering for Maysles Cinema, an independent 

cinema dedicated to screening documentaries and getting kids in the Harlem community involved 

in filmmaking. 

Anne Carlin 


& Visual Arts 

Atlanta, GA 

21


Kacey Deamer 

Journalism 

Binghamton, NY 

Kacey Deamer spent her spring semester in Washington, D.C. interning with the Reporter’s 

Committee for Freedom of the Press. She carried her work on First Amendment rights, specifically 

freedom of speech, into the summer when she worked as a trainer for a student environmental 

leadership camp. Her focus was on effective communication and working with the media. This 

fall, Kacey works for The Ithacan as a staff writer, covering the environment and sustainability 

beat. Kacey also works for Ithaca’s alternative publication, Buzzsaw magazine, as the news & 

views editor. She contributes to the magazine as a writer and photographer as well. As a fall writing 

intern for Ithaca’s Museum of the Earth and Cayuga Nature Center, Kacey helps to develop 

web content and writes articles about the scientific research done at these institutions. Kacey is 

also an active member of the Ithaca College Organic Growers, Ithaca College Environmental 

Society, and the Ithaca College Slow Food chapter. 

Isaac Derfel 


Ithaca, NY 

Isaac Derfel is involved with many organizations at Ithaca College and the Park School of Communications. 

In addition to being the local music coordinator of WICB-FM, he also provides location 

and post-production sound services for Park Productions, the professional production unit 

of the Park School. Isaac has interned for two years at Electric Wilburland Studios with Grammy 

award-winning audio engineer Will Russell. In his time at Wilburland, located just outside of 

Ithaca in Newfield, NY, he has recorded and mixed many of the most popular bands in Ithaca, 

and has participated in numerous film mixes as well. He is currently involved in many student 

films at IC, acting as location sound mixer and re-recording mixer, and he is the sound supervisor 

for the ICTV show Freshmen. Isaac teaches Pro Tools classes at the Southside Community Center 

once a week, and is an engineer for the community recording program at the Center. He has also 

taught many workshops in the Park School, focusing on location sound recording techniques and 

post-production mixing techniques. 

Robert Flaherty 


Reading, MA 

Rob has been active with Ithaca College Television, serving as the producer and creator of the 

public affairs show Experts Say, and serving as the producer of Newswatch 16 Sunday. He is also 

a President’s Host tour guide of the College, and was the executive producer of Ithaca College’s 

Lip Dub video. He currently serves as the Student Government Association’s vice president of 

communications, an organization with which he had previously served as a senator. He chairs 

the Communications Committee and has previously chaired the Course Registration Advisory 

Committee, which he created. He has interned for the Pam Mackesey for New York State Senate 

Campaign and the Democratic National Committee’s Media Center, and served as the communications 

director for both the Myrick for Ithaca mayoral campaign, and in the office of Assemblywoman 

Barbara Lifton. He is also a member of the Town of Ithaca Democratic Committee 

and the Tompkins County Democratic Committee. He serves on the Issues Subcommittee, 

which is charged with developing the county party’s platform and holding bi-annual issue-based 

roundtables with the community. 

Lillie Fleshler 


New York, NY 

Last spring, Lillie traveled halfway across the world to study abroad in Vietnam. She went with 

the School for International Training’s World Learning Program, partaking in its Vietnam: Culture, 

Social Change, and Development Program. While overseas, she helped create a resourceful 

bio-digester for a local farming community in the Mekong Delta, built the foundation of a school 

playground for a Hmong community in the Sapa mountains, and produced a documentary on 

the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in Ho Chi Minh City. Now that she is back on campus, Lillie 

will be acting as co-president of Ithaca College’s Human Rights Club this fall, bringing issues that 

she is passionate about to her campus and promoting advocacy throughout the student body. She 

will also be serving on the executive board of Ithaca College’s labor group, Labor Initiative in Promoting 

Solidarity, specifically as a member of the Outreach Committee, reaching out to Ithaca’s 

local labor activist community. Lastly, she will continue her involvement with the Longview 

Literary Circle, reading to members of the Longview retirement community. 

22


Last spring, Erin volunteered at the Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL) in its Youth Department. 

This fall, she continues her service with the library working as its development intern 

to help raise money for programming. Erin began her semester as a Community Plunge leader 

and had an amazing time volunteering at a school downtown as well as at Finger Lakes ReUse 

Center. On campus, she is a proponent for mental health with the advocacy group Active Minds. 

She is delighted to have been elected president for this year and will also continue serving as a 

Speak Your Mind panelist to provide a voice for mental health. Erin will also be helping the Community 

School of Music and Arts with event planning through the Park Scholar service group 

Megaphone Media Productions. Erin also loves to volunteer at various local events such as Judy’s 

Day at Cornell Plantations and the Apple Harvest Festival. She is also a member of the United 

Way Philanthropy Corps. 

Jenna was privileged to spend her spring semester in Bolivia, experiencing the vivid Andean culture 

through the lens of her program’s theme: multiculturalism, globalization, and social change. 

She participated in a variety of community service projects wherever she traveled, and she spent 

two weeks living in an indigenous community where she volunteered at the newly-implemented 

local library. She is currently publishing a trilingual children’s book about her experience in this 

library, which she wrote and illustrated. She works on local media projects through Megaphone 

Media Productions, helps coordinate the annual Christians on the Road to Emmaus student 

retreat through the Protestant Community, and helps develop and market student programming 

through her job as a student leadership consultant in the Ithaca College Office of Student 

Engagement and Multicultural Affairs (OSEMA). One of her favorite involvements is IC Intercambios, 

a Spanish/English language exchange program. As the community match coordinator, 

she handles all correspondence with Spanish-speaking community members to match them with 

a student speaking partner from Ithaca College. 

Erin Irby 



Statesboro, GA 

Jenna Jablonski 



Lakewood, NY 

Qina has returned to Ithaca College after studying abroad in London last spring. While in London, 

she became the first four-month intern at The Tablet, an international weekly Catholic 

newspaper, where she researched and wrote about spending cuts and the Personal Ordinariate of 

Our Lady at Walsingham. She also volunteered with BTCV, a charity dedicated to environmental 

conservation, and worked on building a “kitchen garden” in Waterlow Park. This past summer, 

Qina was one of eight American City Business Journal interns throughout more than 40 publications 

in the United States. She reported for publications based in her hometown of Buffalo, 

New York, including Business First and The Buffalo Law Journal. Qina also continues to work as a 

reporter for ICTV’s news program Newswatch 16 this fall. She is a writer for The Ithacan, Buzzsaw 

magazine, and the Ithaca City School District; a newscaster at 92 WICB; and a member of the 

Society of Professional Journalists. In addition to her media involvement, she volunteers walking 

dogs at the SPCA of Tompkins County every week. 

Qina Liu 

Journalism 

Kenmore, NY 

Merdina Ljekperic spent her spring semester and summer in Córdoba, Argentina where she studied 

the language, culture, politics, history, and economics of Latin America as a whole. She also 

interned at a communications agency where she was able to participate in almost all firm activity 

but focused mainly on her own project, creating a database of international donors for the agency’s 

new mission plan to serve nonprofits and NGOs at little to no cost. Back on campus, Merdina 

is a co-coordinator of Media Club, a Park Scholar group service project. She leads a group 

of twenty-one volunteers in total, while focusing mainly on the program at New Roots Charter 

School. She is also serving her second year as special events co-chair on the executive board for 

Ithaca College Habitat for Humanity. In this position, she has organized all fundraisers for the 

chapter. She is also involved in all major decisions and participates in builds in the local community. 

Merdina also keeps practicing her Spanish with IC Intercambios, which pairs students 

with native Spanish-speakers in the community and teaches English to community farm workers. 

Merdina also writes for Buzzsaw magazine, expressing her humor in Sawdust and her love 

of politics in Upfront. She is also a member of the Ithaca College Model United Nations team. 

Merdina Ljekperic 

Journalism 

Staten Island, NY 

23


Taylor Long 

Journalism 

Indiana, PA 

After receiving a Park Center for Independent Media internship scholarship, Taylor Long had 

the opportunity to report on labor issues this summer for In These Times magazine as a web intern. 

This fall, Taylor brought these skills back to Ithaca College campus as a staff writer for The 

Ithacan, the college’s student newspaper, and as communications director for the Labor Initiative 

in Promoting Solidarity, a student organization committed to upholding labor rights on campus 

and in the Ithaca community. Taylor also volunteered at Ithaca City of Asylum, an organization 

offering refuge in Ithaca to writers who were being oppressed in their home countries. In addition 

to helping with outreach, she also helped organize the organization’s annual “Voices of Freedom” 

event. Coordinating a book and magazine collection and donation system between the college 

and Prisoners Express has also been an ongoing project of Taylor’s this semester. Taylor is also a 

member of the Society of Professional Journalists and participates in a weekly narrative journalism 

workshop. 

Lauren Mateer 

Journalism 

Richboro, PA 

Lauren spent the spring semester studying abroad in London at the Ithaca College London Centre. 

During her time abroad, she interned at Peace News, a monthly magazine dedicated to issues 

of peace: anti-war activism, environmentalism and sustainability, peace workers, and other related 

topics. There, she had the opportunity to write, blog, research, and take photographs for the 

magazine. In London, Lauren also volunteered at a local Oxfam Charity Shop as a shop assistant. 

At the start of the fall semester, she was a Community Plunge leader at Jumpstart for the second 

year, leading a group of first-year students in service work at the Kitchen Theatre Company and 

at the Ithaca EcoVillage. She also continued previous service work during the fall semester by 

participating in the Reader Is In Program at the Tompkins County Public Library and by volunteering 

at South Hill Elementary School. Lauren got involved in several service-based clubs 

on campus: Active Minds and IC Intercambios. Finally, she continued to write for on-campus 

publications The Ithacan and Buzzsaw magazine. 

Emily Miles 

Journalism 

Prospect, KY 

Emily devoted her summer to mentoring middle school students at the Leadership Training Conference 

and organizing alumni service opportunities for the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association. 

Throughout the semester, Emily was the co-coordinator of the Park Scholar Media Club group 

service project, acting as a curriculum developer and program director. Emily also led a team of 

grant writing students in completing a proposal package for New Roots Charter School. The 

school will be able to continue its Farm-to-School meal program with the help of Emily and her 

team. In order to spend even more time in the community, Emily has been preparing and serving 

lunch at Loaves and Fishes, a soup kitchen in downtown Ithaca. This fall in the Park School, 

Emily was the Upfront co-editor for Ithaca’s alternative magazine, Buzzsaw. She also contributed 

as a writer, photographer, and designer. Emily also took part in Ithaca College’s radio scene as the 

host of WICB’s weekly news show, Ithaca Now, contributing stories, conducting live interviews, 

and training new team members. 

Emily Nowels 


Edinburgh, IN 

Last semester, Emily volunteered weekly at the SPCA. This organization promotes healthy 

animal-human relationships while preventing animal cruelty and overpopulation. She was also 

involved with Audrey’s House, an organization working to help rebuild New Orleans. The organization 

planned a school supplies drive and a teach-in concerning the evolving New Orleans 

school district. Emily specifically helped the group with promotion and advertising. In addition, 

Emily worked closely with Active Minds, which attempts to change the conversation surrounding 

mental health. This group hosted several awareness events, including Send Silence Packing, 

a nationwide suicide prevention campaign. Emily also began to organize a magazine for Active 

Minds, which will be distributed throughout Ithaca next year, when Emily returns from studying 

abroad in Siena, Italy. This semester she has continued to prepare for production from afar. While 

abroad, Emily has also become involved with La Proposta Community Garden, which provides 

social-therapeutic reintegration for prisoners and drug addicts. 

24


Amy Obarski spent much of 2011 immersed in film production, focusing mainly on documentaries 

and human rights issues. In the spring, she was the cinematographer for the thesis project 

Illegal. The short film chronicles the disparaging effects of a new state law on an immigrant 

family, and the film is currently making its rounds on the festival circuit. Over the summer, 

she interned at Cave 7 Productions, an independent documentary production company located 

in Toronto, Ontario. Afterwards, Amy spent a month in Seoul, South Korea and shot a short 

documentary on the life of an illegal subway car vendor. For the fall semester, she will be working 

with the Advocacy Center of Ithaca on publicity and promotion, especially focusing on the Go 

Purple campaign for October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On campus, Amy 

will also continue to give tours of the Park School of Communications as a Dean’s Host, work 

part time at the Visual Resource Center in the Art History Department, and spend her free time 

volunteering at Ithaca College’s LGBT resource room. 

Amy Obarski 


Oak Ridge, TN 

Kyla is currently studying through the Ithaca College Los Angeles Program and interning for 

CONAN in the talent department. While interning, she spends her day helping out in the stage 

area, assisting the talent executives and learning the ins and outs of putting on a late night show. 

While at ICLA, Kyla has participated in several events, such as AIDS Walk Los Angeles and a 

service trip to Mexico to help build houses. She is also preparing for several food drives during 

the holiday season. When she was in Ithaca during the spring semester, Kyla spent her time giving 

tours as a Dean’s Host for the Park School of Communications, volunteering for the SPCA, 

creating a yearbook for kids through Media Club, editing for 360 Magazine and interning for 

the Ithaca Times. She was also able to restart her involvement with Soldier’s Angels, a program 

that consists of writing letters to soldiers that are currently deployed. At the end of the semester, 

Kyla decided to spend her summer in Ithaca, where she freelanced for the Ithaca Times and volunteered 

for the Tompkins County Public Library. 

Kyla Pigoni 

Journalism 

Geyserville, CA 

Adam “Zeke” Spector is excited to be beginning his third year at Ithaca College. This will be 

Zeke’s first semester back on campus since studying in London and interning with Vertigo Films, 

an independent movie studio that produced the first British 3-D film. After traveling through 

Europe, Zeke returned home for a brief moment before interning in New York City at Nickelodeon’s 

Photography Department as part of an internship program with MTV Networks. Upon 

returning to school, Zeke was a Park Scholar orientation leader. This year Zeke will be participating 

in a variety of different organizations and activities. Zeke will be the co-manager of the Park 

Scholar group service activity, Megaphone Media Productions, which creates media for nonprofit 

groups. He is also vice-president of Ithaca College Human Rights, co-president of Acahti improvisation 

troupe, a staff editor at Park Productions, and a volunteer with both Loaves and Fishes 

and Ithaca College’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. Zeke is planning to spend next semester 

studying the Argentine culture and language in Córdoba, Argentina. 

Adam Spector 


Evanston, IL 

Elizabeth Stoltz immerses herself in leadership and community service activities both on and 

off Ithaca College’s campus. As the student trustee on the Ithaca College Board of Trustees, 

Elizabeth is honored to serve on the Campus Life & Community and Educational Policy Committees. 

She is an ex-officio executive board member of the Student Government Association 

and serves on multiple all-campus committees. This summer, Elizabeth interned for Concern 

Worldwide. As the global concerns classroom intern, she created social media content and designed 

curriculum on humanitarian issues. This semester, she looks forward to gaining valuable 

experience as an intern at the Park Foundation. Elizabeth also serves as president of Food for 

Thought, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children around the world. She 

remains active as a researcher for She’s the First, a nonprofit that supports girls’ education in developing 

countries. Elizabeth also writes for Buzzsaw magazine, the Ithaca City School District, 

and Plumpy’nut Press, a blog about childhood malnutrition relief. 

Elizabeth Stoltz 



York, PA 

25


CLASS OF 2012 

As it approaches its final semester at Ithaca College, the senior class continues to be a truly dedicated and outstanding 

group that has maintained the strong academic performance demonstrated by previous classes. As a class, it has earned 

a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 out of 4.0. Four of the eighteen Scholars maintain a cumulative grade point 

average of 3.9 and above, with eight members of the class having earned places on the Dean’s List for the Roy H. 

Park School of Communications for the 2010-2011 academic year. Given their innumerable contributions to service 

activities, cocurricular organizations, leadership forums, and award-winning media, these students have enriched their 

communities, and their experiences as Park Scholars will no doubt support them in their future endeavors. 

Siobhan Cavanagh 


Hazlet, NJ 

Siobhan Cavanagh has had an exciting year of studying abroad. In the spring, she studied in India 

with the School for International Training’s World Learning Program. The program focused on 

national identity through the arts. While in India, she did an independent study project about 

traditional Rajasthani puppetry and the lives of the puppeteers. She also volunteered at Friendicoes, 

an animal rescue center in New Delhi. In the summer, she shared her experiences with the 

kindergarten classes at Harding Elementary School. She also volunteered with Rooftop Films in 

New York City. Rooftop Films uses unique venues to show underground, independent films that 

have very limited releases. She is now attending the Ithaca College Los Angeles Program where 

she interns and attends classes. Siobhan is an art department intern for the new show Suburgatory, 

which films at Warner Brothers Studios. She also volunteers with film festivals such as LA Femme 

Film Festival, and the AFI festival. 

Julia Cicale 



Hazlet, NJ 

Julia has experienced a lot over the past year, particularly after spending her spring semester 

studying abroad in Singapore. There, she was able to volunteer with local groups such as SG 

Cares, an organization that creates volunteer opportunities all over the city, learning more about 

Singaporean culture while also helping out in her new community. Upon returning home, Julia 

completed two summer internships: one in Philadelphia and one in New York City. The first was 

a communications group that worked solely with nonprofit clients, and the second was a small, 

independent public relations firm. After a busy summer, Julia returned to Ithaca to enter her 

senior year, where she picked back up with many of the commitments she left off with last fall. In 

terms of leadership, she became the president of IC Habitat for Humanity, and also maintained 

her role as design editor of 360 Magazine. Julia also added another activity to her repertoire beginning 

in the fall: being a student designer at the Park Design House. 

Alyssa Figueroa 

Journalism 

Turnersville, NJ 

Alyssa focuses her efforts on independent media, workers’ rights, and interacting with the elderly 

and youth in the community. She is an editor and writer for Buzzsaw magazine, the monthly, 

alternative magazine on campus. Her past internships include several independent media outlets 

such as Democracy Now!, a daily TV/radio program, and FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting), 

a media criticism organization. Alyssa also dedicates her time as a leader for the Labor Initiative 

in Promoting Solidarity (LIPS), a student organization dedicated to workers’ rights. Last 

spring, LIPS was victorious in gaining all of Ithaca College’s dining service workers the living 

wage for Tompkins County. On weekends you can find Alyssa drinking tea with the elderly at 

the Longview residential senior community and hanging out with her 14-year-old mentee. She 

is also involved with Colleges Against Cancer and will lead a Relay for Life team next spring. As 

captain last semester, her team raised more than $1,000 for cancer research. Upon graduation, 

Alyssa hopes to secure a job as a political journalist for an independent media outlet. 

26


Last spring, Jesse continued his community service by participating in Relay for Life with the 

HvZ social club raising over $2,600 for the American Cancer Society. Throughout last spring and 

during the summer, Jesse edited a promotional video for the Long Island Counsel of Churches 

Emergency Food Pantry in Freeport, New York. Additionally, Jesse worked as an intern at Sesame 

Workshop, the nonprofit organization responsible for Sesame Street television programming and 

outreach initiatives. Currently, Jesse remains active in the Longview senior residential community, 

teaching computer lessons to older adults, and has been elected treasurer of the HvZ social 

club, Ithaca College’s largest on-campus recreational organization that works to bring students 

together through cooperative teambuilding exercises. This semester, Jesse will help develop community 

service initiatives with the HvZ social club. Jesse will also be working with fellow Park 

Scholars producing promotional videos for The Discovery Trail through Megaphone Media Productions. 

Jesse Geffen 


Rockville Centre, NY 

Aya spent the spring of this year studying off campus in Washington, D.C. She interned with the 

Special Investigations & Documentaries Unit at CNN and assisted with the research and production 

of CNN Presents specials, including iRevolution: Online Warriors of the Arab Spring. In April, 

Aya was selected to receive a Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership. 

Over the summer, she returned to Ithaca to intern with Women Swimmin’, an annual 

fundraiser that benefits local hospice services. Beginning her last year at Ithaca, Aya is currently 

serving as music co-chair on the Student Activities Board and special events co-chair on the Senior 

Class Cabinet. She also assists the campus Meals on Wheels Program, Stop Wasting Ithaca’s 

Food Today (SWIFT), as advertising chair. In October, Aya was honored with a Superior Senior 

Academic Achievement Award by the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs. 

Aya Hoffman 


West Chester, PA 

During the spring, Connie traveled to sunny Los Angeles, California for a semester through 

Ithaca College’s Los Angeles Program. There, she interned at the independent production company, 

Stone and Co., where she worked on the Nickelodeon show, BrainSurge. When she was 

not working in the world of Hollywood, Connie was a resident’s assistant to the Ithaca College 

community, and also raised funds for the USC Relay for Life. Over the summer, Connie switched 

coasts and interned at the independent company Insignia Films in New York City. She worked 

in development, pre-production, and post-production for many of the soon-to-be-aired PBS 

documentary specials. This fall, Connie will be working on her senior thesis film, discussing the 

history of courting in our country from a feminist perspective. She will also be volunteering at 

South Hill Elementary School, coaching a fifth grade soccer team, and co-organizing Film Club, 

in an effort to not only teach media literacy, but also teach about the responsibility that goes into 

creating your own film. 

Connie Honeycutt 


Weare, NH 

Malia is excited to be back on campus for her senior year after spending the spring semester 

participating in Ithaca College’s Los Angeles Program. During her time in Los Angeles, she was 

able to work at two amazing internships including working in the post-production department of 

NBC’s The Office. At both of her internships, Malia was able to work with former Ithaca graduates, 

which was an exciting and rewarding experience. Over the summer, Malia was part of the 

Park Center for Independent Media internship program. Through the program, she was awarded 

a stipend to cover the costs of school credit and living expenses in NYC. She worked at Newsmotion, 

a start-up independent news website where she helped with video editing, social media 

outreach, and content research for the site. Malia is currently participating in the pilot semester 

of the Park Peer Advisor Program. She is working with eleven incoming freshman students to aid 

in their transition to college life. Malia is also excited to begin her first year volunteering at the 

Tompkins County Public Library in downtown Ithaca. 

Malia Hurwitz 


Jenkintown, PA 

27


Paul Jensen 


Colts Neck, NJ 

Back on campus after spending last spring in London, Paul Jensen is continuing his work with 

Megaphone Media Productions group service project, producing promotional videos for nonprofit 

organizations in the Ithaca community. Paul is also continuing his involvement with the 

Longview Literary Circle, where he reads short stories with local senior citizens on a weekly 

basis. On campus, Paul is involved with Ithaca College Human Rights, doing educational and 

advocacy work. He also volunteers with the organization IC Hope for Haiti, helping with fundraising 

activities. Paul is also working with the Colts Neck Reformed Church in New Jersey as 

a blog writer. Now in his fourth year working with Ithaca College Television, Paul is the field 

producer for the show Game Over, and also acts as one of the show’s writers. Over the summer, 

Paul worked as an intern at Cavelight Films, a documentary production company, where he filled 

the role of assistant editor for a film about safety issues in the construction industry. 

Samuel McCann 

Journalism 

Alexandria, VA 

Sam remains engaged with the Ithaca community in this, his last year at Ithaca College, pursuing 

activities that further his interest in media and social justice. To that end, he is returning as 

editor in chief of 360 Magazine, Ithaca’s narrative journalism publication, while also writing for 

Buzzsaw magazine. He uses the long-form journalistic style to explore relevant social issues, writing 

about topics like the debt crisis and access to politicians. Sam is also a researcher for the Labor 

Initiative in Promoting Solidarity, Ithaca College’s labor rights group. He investigates issues facing 

on-campus workers and contributed to the successful campaign to convince the college and 

its dining services subcontractor to pay all school employees a living wage. He also volunteers 

at South Hill Elementary School and the Longview residential senior community, reading and 

working with children and elderly alike. Along with other Park Scholars, Sam designs media literacy 

lesson plans to be used in local school systems. This summer Sam interned in Washington, 

D.C. at the Institute for Public Accuracy, an organization that promotes underreported progressive 

views by sending press releases and contact information to media outlets. 

Adam Polaski 

Journalism 

Collegeville, PA 

Adam is excited to make the most of his senior year by getting involved in service and journalism 

work on the local, national, and global levels. His service projects this year feature a mix of education, 

advocacy efforts, and direct service. As coordinator of the United Way Philanthropy Corps, 

a grant allocations group, Adam learns about Ithaca’s unique needs and contributes to interesting, 

influential nonprofits. He also sits on the executive board of IC Habitat for Humanity with an 

eye toward learning more about the national effort to end homelessness and contributing to the 

construction of homes locally. Adam is also involved with the Ithaca education system; he facilitates 

a media studies course at the New Roots Charter School and supports a classroom exchange 

program aimed toward fostering greater cultural understanding between South Hill Elementary 

School and a rural school in South Africa. On campus, Adam continues serving as an editor for 

Buzzsaw magazine, while online he writes for The Bilerico Project, the LGBT blog for which he 

interned this summer. 

Shaun Poust 

Journalism 

Perkasie, PA 

This year, Shaun is continuing as the coordinator of the Longview Literary Circle, a group of 

Park Scholars and residents of the Longview residential senior community that meets each Friday 

to read and discuss a short story. Quite the bibliophile, Shaun also volunteers at the Tompkins 

County Public Library, where he works at the information desk, and at the Friends of the Library 

book sale, one of the largest book sales in the country, where he sorts books and helps patrons 

find the books they are looking for. In addition, Shaun is an active member of his Park Scholar 

group service project, Media Club, for which he develops curricula and, along with the other 

members of his group, teaches a class of high school students at the New Roots Charter School. 

As an opinion writer for Buzzsaw magazine, Shaun works to synthesize his studies in journalism, 

philosophy, and political economy to develop unique pieces of media and cultural criticism. 

These last two activities fit in well with Shaun’s overall learning program, which is focused on 

media critique and consciousness raising. 

28


During the spring semester Francine studied at Ithaca College’s Los Angeles Program in Burbank, 

California. While living there she interned at the joint office of Mosaic Media Corporation and 

Atlas Entertainment. This summer, Francine lived in New York City. While in Manhattan, she 

worked as an intern at MTV Networks in the Home Entertainment Department. She also 

worked as dialoguer for the charity Children International through Dialogue Direct. There, she 

worked to raise money and increase awareness of child poverty issues across the globe. This fall 

Francine is volunteering weekly with both the Tompkins County SPCA and South Hill Elementary 

School. She also volunteers monthly at the Sciencenter of Ithaca. Francine is working as a 

research assistant this fall for a documentary that professor John D. Scott is producing and directing. 

Throughout the coming year, Francine will be working on organizing the event Concert for 

a Cure with a group of fellow Park Scholars. 

Francine Price 


Peru, NY 

Kirsten is returning to Ithaca College for her last year after interning at Mullen advertising agency 

in Boston over the summer. Last spring, Kirsten was involved as a co-chair for the Family Carnival, 

which is an event put on by student organizations to build connections with the local 

community. In addition, she helped create a documentary following the lives of select volunteers 

in the New Orleans area post-Hurricane Katrina. She is currently a teacher’s assistant at the local 

South Hill Elementary School, where she has volunteered the past three years. She mentors 

struggling students and plans daily educational activities. She will additionally be helping out 

on the weekends beginning in November at the Adaptive Ski Program, in which she will teach 

adults and children with disabilities how to ski. This semester, Kirsten is volunteering at the local 

SPCA, where she also volunteered during the summer. She is also president of her a cappella 

group, in which she is in charge of managing all business aspects, including planning concerts, 

gigs, and tours. 

During her spring semester in Dublin, Ireland, Bailey interned with ECO-UNESCO and volunteered 

with the Green Kids Program. Green Kids offers a morning and afternoon workshop for 

children during which they participate in environmental workshops. These workshops include 

creating waste islands, making recycled paper, creating bird feeders, and designing ECO-bags. 

Now back in Ithaca, Bailey has a busy year ahead as she is serving as vice president of the Senior 

Class of 2012, executive director of the Student Activities Board, and coordinator of Concert 

for a Cure. In addition, Bailey shares her time and talents across a variety of roles, including as 

a study abroad ambassador, a volunteer at South Hill Elementary School, and a member of the 

United Way Philanthropy Corps. Bailey is enthusiastic about fundraising and leadership development 

and is able to blend both of these passions as a virtual assistant for the Front Row Foundation. 

Bailey grew up playing sports and continues to be active as a member of the Women’s 

Club Lacrosse team. She is also a recipient of the Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and 

Community Leadership. 

During the spring Amanda interned in Los Angeles, California at the boutique public relations 

firm, Konnect PR. While in Los Angeles, she also worked with TOMS Shoes to organize an 

awareness and fundraising event, Style Your Sole. Returning to the east coast for the summer, 

Amanda moved to Boston where she interned at the retail store, Anthropologie, as a visual design 

intern, and at Allied Integrated Marketing as a studio intern for Disney. Back on campus, 

Amanda has begun Two Minds Globalizing Classroom at South Hill Elementary School, a program 

she founded that works to bridge communication and cognitive gaps between children in 

the United States and South Africa. This fall, Amanda has also worked with fellow Park Scholars 

on Concert for a Cure, and has continued her work with the Tompkins County Family Reading 

Partnership and the IC Service Saturday Program. Additionally, she is the giving back co-chair 

for the Senior Class Cabinet and is working as a student leadership consultant in the Office of 

Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs. 

Kirsten Quinn 



North Falmouth, MA 

Bailey Reagan 

Communication 


Cortland, NY 

Amanda Riggio 



Deep River, CT 

29


Meghan Rindfleisch 

Journalism 

Union Springs, NY 

Meghan Rindfleisch is excited to return to Ithaca College for her senior year after a semester 

abroad in London last spring. While in London, Meg interned at Films of Record, a documentary 

film company founded by BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Roger Graef. This semester, 

Meg is happy to serve as president of To Write Love On Her Arms, a college chapter of the 

national nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for those struggling 

with suicide, depression, self-injury, and addiction—an organization that she co-founded as a 

sophomore. On Thursdays, she produces Newswatch 16, Ithaca College Television’s only news 

show. Meg also interns for Maria Pascucci, award-winning author and speaker on women’s leadership 

and founder of the website Campus Calm University. As an intern, she has edited audio 

and co-authored ideas for Ms. Pascucci’s “Lead Her Success Kit”, released in fall 2011. Meg also 

volunteers with Ithaca’s Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service; at the Longview residential senior 

community as a member of Intergenerational choir; and as a member of Megaphone Media 

Productions. 

Daniel Sitts 


Croton-on-Hudson, NY 

William Sleight IV 

Communication 


Staatsburg, NY 

This past semester, Daniel interned at the Salvador Allende Foundation in Santiago, Chile. He 

developed a new organizational system for the Foundation’s audio-visual archive, an extensive 

collection of media that both documents the life of Salvador Allende and promotes his ideals 

of justice and equality. Daniel had the opportunity to assist filmmakers, scholars, politicians, 

and activists in their audiovisual research. Having also interned for 2006 Park Scholar alumnus 

Jeremy Levine and Transient Pictures, Daniel continues to hone his skills in socially conscious 

documentary media. Back on campus, he continues to serve as co-president of IC STAND: The 

Student Anti-Genocide Coalition. The Ithaca chapter is a core chapter, meaning that members 

get the chance to be involved in genocide prevention on a national level. Locally, Daniel continues 

his involvement with Intercambios, working with local farms to teach English to Spanishspeaking 

farm workers. Remaining active in the field of creative communication, Daniel is a 

member of Ithaca’s alternative student-run publication Buzzsaw magazine, for which he currently 

serves as art co-editor. He also continues his work as a photographer for Fuse magazine, shooting 

events and student activities on campus and in the greater Ithaca community. 

In the spring, William Sleight studied in London and worked for the New End Theatre doing 

marketing and promotions. While abroad, he was able to volunteer at the St. Cuthbert’s Centre, 

an organization dedicated to providing low-priced meals, free clothing, and other services to the 

homeless and people with low incomes. Over the summer, he volunteered with Svante Myrick’s 

campaign team to spread awareness about his mayoral campaign. This fall, he will be the director 

of communication for the Senior Class Executive Board working to connect and unite the 

senior class and to get seniors involved in community service initiatives. He is also a member of 

IC VoiceStream, a co-ed a cappella group; IC After Dark, an organization that provides students 

with monthly events; and Food for Thought, an organization dedicated to providing education, 

hygiene, and nutrition to children in need. Off campus, William will be helping kindergarteners 

at South Hill Elementary School and exploring media with students at the Ithaca Community 

Childcare Center. 

30


PARK SCHOLAR ALUMNI 

Whether as near as New York City, or as far away as Brazil, Park Scholar graduates are a part of a vibrant alumni network. 

Now totaling 154 graduates, Park Scholar alumni report the news through print, broadcast, and online media; volunteer 

on both a national and an international scale; pursue graduate, medical, and law degrees; produce work in the fields of 

television and documentary; and, in short, continue to share their talents and their commitment across a host of other 

positions and activities. 

Jeremy Levine ’06 (left), producer and co-founder of Transient Pictures, won an Emmy for the documentary Good Fortune. The 

documentary won in the category “News & Documentary.” 

Park Scholar Alumni Advisory Board chairperson Kelly McPherson ’ 

Park Scholar alumni Peter Berg ’07 and Mike Nagel ’04 (bottom right) shared their expertise during the Park School’s alumni 

panel “The Future of Communications: How Do We Reinvent Our Media Industries and Audiences?” 

31

PARK SCHOLAR ALUMNI 


Established in the fall 2006, our Park Scholar Alumni Advisory Board coordinates alumni programming in three areas: networking, 

recruitment, and professional development. 

In terms of networking, alumni board members serve as class liaisons, maintaining and facilitating communication and collaboration 

among an ever-growing network of current and graduated Park Scholars. A Park Scholar wiki serves as a centralized, 

online environment in which to share both personal and professional updates, with current Scholars using the wiki to connect 

with Park Scholar alumni for academic guidance, professional advice, and service suggestions. Moreover, social media such as 

Facebook has similarly expanded Scholars’ ability to share information as well as professional opportunities. Finally, while our 

Los Angeles based alumni organize “meet-ups” for Scholars currently studying through Ithaca College’s Los Angeles Program, 

the director has similarly established a New York City alumni gathering as part of the October shadowing trip. In fact, Park 

Scholar alumni on the west coast have likewise 

New Hampshire 

Washington 

inaugurated a Bay Area get together. 

32 

Oregon 

California 

Nevada 

Idaho 

Utah 

Arizona 

Montana 

Wyoming 

Colorado 

New Mexico 

North Dakota 

South Dakota 

Nebraska 

Kansas 

Texas 

Oklahoma 

Minnesota 

Iowa 

Missouri 

Wisconsin 

Arkansas 

Michigan 

Illinois Indiana 

Kentucky 

Tennessee 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

Ohio 

Vermont 

Massachusetts 

Georgia 

New York 

Pennsylvania 

Virginia 

North Carolina 

South 

Carolina 

As a means of assisting with recruitment and 

marketing, Park Scholar alumni visit high schools 

around the country in order to spread the word 

in person about the phenomenal opportunities 

and experiences that were made possible to them 

through the Park Scholar Program. These alumni 

also assist the director in researching additional 

recruitment opportunities and strategies. 

Louisiana 

Alaska 

Finally, during its annual meeting in Ithaca, alumni 

Florida 

board members lead workshops that nurture the 

Hawaii 

service commitments, leadership abilities, and 

The shaded states reveal where Park Scholar alumni work, study, and serve in the US. professional aspirations of the current Scholars. 

During this fall’s sessions, alumni partnered with 

the Park School’s alumni board on the panels “Using Social Media to Your Professional and Personal Advantage” and “The 

Future of Communications: How Do We Reinvent Our Media Industries and Audiences?” Alumni board members also met 

with current Park Scholars to discuss freelancing, complete reviews of portfolios and broadcast reels, and share advice on how 

to maintain a service spirit in the midst of the concrete challenges that one faces in the “real world” after graduation. 

Park Scholar alumni remain committed to the program’s values and continue to make a difference in local, national, and global 

communities. 

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS 

Park Scholar alumni study sustainable design, law, journalism, public relations, history, sociology, elementary education, divinity, 

public health, publishing, sport management, diplomacy, international commerce, medicine, and business. They produce 

digital media for museums and work as elementary school teachers, higher education administrators, afterschool educators, 

adjunct professors, outdoor educators, children’s librarians, and school media specialists. 

PASSION FOR COMMUNICATIONS 

In media, Park Scholar alumni work as reporters, documentary producers, social media specialists, film festival programmers, 

digital media interns, software engineers, online organizers, public relations coordinators, marketing communications specialists, 

writers, instructional designers, story editors, television producers, freelance filmmakers, production coordinators, health 

communications specialists, corporate relations coordinators, graphic designers, and account executives. 

COMMITMENT TO SERVICE 

In service, Park Scholar alumni volunteer in Latin America and the Middle East, and they volunteer throughout the United 

States at elementary schools, community churches, and soup kitchens. They provide service through organizations such as the 

Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Green Corps, Teach for America, and City Year. Our Scholar alumni work for nonprofits dedicated 

to issues surrounding the environment, cause marketing, health, housing, and education. 

Maine 

Rhode Island 

Connecticut 

New Jersey 

Delaware 

Maryland 

Washington, D.C. 

West Virginia



Ithaca College 

326 Park Hall 

Ithaca, NY 14850

ANNUAL REpoRt 2010-2011 - Ithaca College

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