From investigating illegal shark fishing in Costa Rica to mentoring scholars in the Odyssey Program and celebrating Hispanic heritage, Lilliana Molina ’27 is making her Elon journey one of impact and connection.
Like many Elon University students, Lilliana Molina ’27 is incredibly involved on campus. She teaches Spanish conversation classes in El Centro, works in the Gear Room in the School of Communications, reports for Elon News Network and mentors students in the Odyssey Program.
This summer, Molina added another accomplishment: she spent three weeks in Costa Rica investigating illegal hammerhead shark fishing as part of the 2025 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship.
While reporting was the highlight, the experience also gave Molina the chance to reconnect with what she calls her “second home.” Growing up, she often spent summers in Costa Rica with her grandparents. Returning there to work on a story close to her heart made the fellowship especially meaningful.
“I came up with my pitch during my first-year,” Molina explained.
She spent six months prepping for the story, including three months before knowing she received the fellowship.
“I came up with my pitch my first year,” Molina said. She spent six months preparing, including three months before she officially learned she had received the fellowship.
Her assignment took her far out of her comfort zone as Molina spent three days on the ocean, which challenged her as a self-described “indoorsy” person.
“If I can do that, I can pass this quiz. I can do anything,” she remembered thinking while on the boat. The experience, she said, gave her confidence and perseverance that no classroom lesson could have matched.
Mentorship Matters
After returning from Costa Rica, Molina jumped back into campus life during Odyssey Week. As a scholar in the Odyssey Program, through the Edward W. and Joan K. Doherty Odyssey Scholarship, she served as a mentor for incoming students, helping them prepare for their first year at Elon.
“I wouldn’t be here without it, so I want to pay it forward,” she said. “It’s my way of saying thank you and dedicating two weeks of my summer.”
Mentorship, Molina said, is an essential part of her Elon journey. The university fosters a relationship-rich environment where peer and faculty mentorship are equally valued.
“There’s no point in doing what I do—getting the Pulitzer fellowship, writing these articles, all of these accomplishments—if I can’t turn around and extend my hand to the next person, bring them up and give them advice,” Molina said.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
When choosing Elon, one of Molina’s biggest deciding factors was El Centro, the university’s center for Latinx and Hispanic communities.
“I go there as much as I can, and I just love being in that space,” she said. While she often teaches Spanish there, El Centro also provides community and connection.
El Centro plays a key role in organizing events during Hispanic Heritage Month, showcasing diverse Hispanic identities throughout September and October. From the kickoff celebration on Medallion Plaza with music, dance and food, to the closing Gala Latina, the month highlights culture and community.
For Molina, the celebration is about more than events—it’s about honoring identity.
“It’s about being proud of our identity and showcasing that identity,” she said. “To have that recognition for many of our students whose parents are immigrants and have given so much for them to be here—that is important.”
Elon honors Hispanic Heritage Month
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Elon University is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latinx communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.