School of Communications welcomes, interviews Fellows candidates

Seventy-five high school seniors interested in studying communications visited Elon University during Fellows Weekend, held March 3-4. Following a competitive selection process, 25 students will be named 2017 Communications Fellows.

As part of Elon University’s Fellows Weekend, the School of Communications hosted a March 3 reception to meet Fellow candidates. More than 75 high school seniors attended the event, including candidate Samantha Casamento (left) who got to know current Communications Fellows Kailey Tracy ’18 and Diego Pineda ’19.
​The School of Communications welcomed to campus 75 candidates for its Communications Fellows program March 3-4 as part of Elon University’s Fellows Weekend. Nearly two dozen additional candidates who were unable to attend the two-day event were interviewed via phone, Skype and in person in the days and weeks leading up to the weekend.

Fellow candidate Mason T. Smith traveled from Georgia to attend Fellows Weekend and get a closer look at the School of Communications.
​The high school students are contending for 25 spots in the school’s Communications Fellows program, which selects applicants based on high school academic performance, involvement in communications-related activities, essays and an interview.

Associate Professor Tom Nelson chats with Fellows candidate Brooke Galonek in a quiet corner during the reception. 
​Communications Fellows are offered several exclusive opportunities such as enrollment in challenging Fellows courses, a chance to conduct and present undergraduate research, and close access to news conferences and Q&A sessions with campus speakers. Additionally, Fellows travel to media hubs in Atlanta and Orlando during their first year.

Hattie Hoskins ’16, a healthcare freelance associate at Golin, returned to campus to share her experiences as a Communications Fellow with interested students and parents.

The Communications Fellows candidates kicked off the weekend with a March 3 reception in the new Snow Family Grand Atrium, with opportunities to tour the Jane and Brian Williams Studio, Elon News Network’s newsroom and Live Oak Communications office. Communications faculty and staff were on hand to discuss the school’s academic programs and educational opportunities. Likewise, current Communications Fellows and members of Elon News Network were also in attendance to answer questions and get to know future classmates.

“There’s an expectation that our Fellows will become leaders in the School of Communications. And I certainly met many students this weekend capable of filling that role,” said David Bockino, assistant professor of communications and director of the Communications Fellows program.

The reception closed with remarks from Bockino, alumna Hattie Hoskins ’16 and current Fellows Jared Mayerson ’20 and Lumie Rostick ’20. Mayerson and Rostick also premiered a three-minute video they created highlighting their experiences in Orlando touring communications companies and marketing agencies.

Photos from the reception are available on the school’s Flickr page.

The following day, candidates attended several sessions and seminars discussing engaged learning and their respective Fellows program. Additionally, faculty and staff members conducted 20-minute interviews with each Fellows candidate as part of the selection process.