As we near the end of the fall 2024 semester, and The Eagle’s final edits are wrapping up, a few of our graduating seniors are putting their final touches on the paper.
Our seniors have dedicated multiple semesters to The Eagle, contributing as reporters, editors, designers and photographers. The effort and passion they’ve brought to their work — balancing classes, jobs and other commitments — cannot go unnoticed.
From the day they joined the staff, they have helped ensure the high standards of our reporting and foster the community at The Eagle. The Eagle requires a tremendous commitment, and we are so grateful for everything they’ve given to this organization.
To our graduating seniors: Congratulations on all your achievements and the bright futures ahead of you. From all of The Eagle, we cannot wait to cheer you on in your next adventure.
Elizabeth Marlow, Sports Staff Writer, Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies
I applied to The Eagle late in my college experience, and I wish I had joined sooner! The community of the paper and especially the sports section was something that I truly value. I had limited experience in journalism, but a passion for sports and sports media that grew so I had the opportunity to write about many different athletes and team games and meets from AU that have not been heavily featured in the past by The Eagle. I really enjoyed sharing these stories that many at AU may not have known about.
I want to thank my managing editor Delaney Hoke, as well as Connor Sturniolo, Gabs McNamee and Penelope Jennings for all their work in creating such an amazing, welcoming community in the sports section and for helping me grow as a reporter and writer.
Haley Dymek, Graphic Designer, Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Being a part of The Eagle has been a true highlight of my time at AU. A graphic design class in my last year of high school encouraged me to apply to The Eagle as an incoming freshman, and I’ve enjoyed every semester with the Multimedia team since then. The creativity and enthusiasm of the Multimedia team is electrifying. I’m grateful to have worked with so many talented people. Huge thanks to the two hard-working Multimedia managing editors I’ve known during my time with The Eagle, Carly Johnson and Izzy Fantini. All the support I’ve received as a graphic designer means the world to me.
Graphic design to me means making visual aids that complement the work of others. I’m honored to have created graphics that enhance the extraordinary journalism of our Eagle staffers. The graphics I’ve made range from a silhouette of Wonk Cat to a map of D.C. ward redistricting. It’s heartwarming to see my graphics go on to accompany wonderful articles that cover so many different topics. Having a part in the impact of The Eagle will always be one of my favorite memories of AU. I can’t wait to see where The Eagle and the Multimedia team go from here.
Bella Barbosa, Audio Editor, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science
After years of worrying that I was not qualified, I finally worked up the courage to apply and join The Eagle halfway through my junior year. My interest in broadcast journalism led me to join the multimedia section as an audio editor, where I had the chance to edit sports podcasts, something I never would have imagined myself doing. In editing episodes of Section 202 and listening to the voices of the lovely Gabrielle McNamee and Connor Sturniolo, I learned a great deal about the world of sports. In my time here, I have also been able to write for the news section as a contributing writer, and thanks to the wonderful Kathryn Squyres, I have improved my writing. The Eagle has also brought me some of the best opportunities from my time at AU. From touring the Pentagon and learning about defense reporting to being paired with an Eagle mentor, joining The Eagle has helped me grow personally and professionally and I am forever grateful for that.
William Rogers, Photographer, Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts
Much of the work I’ve covered in my brief time at The Eagle mainly centered on protest coverage. Beginning with covering demonstrations on campus and inevitably transitioning into coverage in the city — the importance of storytelling through visual language became very paramount for me. When someone approaches an article or a newspaper, the very first two things they’ll notice are the headline and the cover image. Each assignment in each passing frame of a passing moment, the notion of what you’d think people are going to see and need to see lingers. One of the more impactful assignments I took on was covering the Palestine solidarity encampment at The George Washington University last semester. Alongside my fellow colleagues, we spent two weeks in the midst of finals covering each day of a demonstration profoundly affecting not only the schools in our area but more nationwide. During a tumultuous period, once again you’re reaffirmed on the importance of storytelling but the importance of trust and transparency. I was very fortunate to share that experience alone with fellow student photographers and reporters not within our own paper but from others across the DMV.
Neev Agarwal, Managing Editor of Online, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
I don’t think I’ve ever really considered what my college experience would be like without The Eagle but I know now that it would not be the same. I joined my first semester freshman year, as an audio editor — a very different role from the one I currently have. As I gained more academic interest in marketing, I sought a role that would allow me to get experience and use new skill sets to elevate The Eagle, leading me to the Online section. I was able to have creative input and was given the opportunity to contribute my ideas from the start.
As the Online ME, I gained unparalleled experience in managing social media and email marketing efforts. Thanks to my fantastic team — Manuela Gonzalez, Taraji Ellington, Aaron Russell, Gabe Michealangelo, Karenna Keane and Wallace Lau — we have continued to build The Eagle’s presence on campus and in the community. I am more than confident that I’m leaving the Online Section in very capable hands. Aside from the current, talented team, I have had the pleasure of working with all the wonderful reporters, editors, graphic designers and photographers that American University has to offer.
The Eagle was the first place I learned that if you ask for responsibility and have ideas to share, there will always be people to listen to them. I have gotten to meet so many talented and driven people with bright futures ahead of them and they will continue to inspire me to work hard and put 110 percent into everything I do.
Copy editing done by Luna Jinks.
