Lucas Baker is a Marketing student at the Gabelli School of Business. Hailing from Louisville, KY, Lucas developed an interest in writing at a young age. Additionally, outside of the classroom, Lucas is passionate about several creative industries, including fashion, music, art, and technology.

Luis Benitez, a freshman at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Campus, has a deep interest in Computer Science, but also enjoys gaining knowledge from other fields. Writing has allowed him to express his thoughts and refine his communicative skills.

John Byrne is a sophomore studying History at Fordham College Rose Hill. He hopes to one day attend law school. He is originally from Amityville, Long Island. This essay was inspired by his days of running high school track at the Fort Washington Avenue Armory in Manhattan.

Stephanie Cohen is a rising sophomore majoring in Communications and Media Studies from Reading, Massachusetts. In her spare time, she loves playing and watching sports, listening to podcasts, and being with the people she loves. Stephanie took an environmental science class in high school, which first sparked her interest in combating world hunger.

Martine De Matteo is a sophomore at Fordham University, studying Anthropology. She commutes from Westchester, NY, but pretends she lives on campus because she is very much in love with Fordham. This love for Fordham translated into a paper on the story behind Pugsley Pizza–a staple in most Fordham students’ diets–and its incredible influence on the area.

Nicolas Florio is a freshman from Long Island planning to pursue a major in Economics and possibly a minor in Business Administration. He also plans on attending law school and pursue a career in public service. Besides his interests in politics, he enjoys baseball, drawing, and playing the violin.

Jack Kiehl is a freshman at Fordham College Rose Hill majoring in International Studies and French. He is from St. Louis, Missouri, which inspired his essay.

Kevin Moran is a freshman at Fordham College Rose Hill. He hails from Glenside, Pennsylvania, and enjoys reading, writing, drinking tea, and taking contemplative walks around campus.

Maureen Shelley is a freshman at Fordham University, originally hailing from Mendham, New Jersey. She is pursuing a major in English and writes for Fordham’s student-run, free speech publication The Paper. Post-graduate plans are undetermined, but she hopes her passion for writing will lead her to exciting and challenging opportunities.