Meghan Andrews is a senior studying Public Relations. As a non-traditional student, a wife, and a mother of four, her life is very busy. Despite her busy schedule, she decided to pursue her dream of returning to college to complete what she started before becoming a parent. This choice has opened up numerous exciting opportunities for Meghan. She’s experienced a fashion public relations internship collaborating with influencers and celebrity stylists, worked with collegiate athletes to launch a NIL startup, and is currently engaged in freelance projects for the Muncie community. Meghan aims to inspire other non-traditional students by showing that it’s never too late to chase your aspirations.

Megan “Meg” Boeck is a recent graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies and a focus in Interpersonal Communication. She plans on continuing her education pursuing a JD/MA in philanthropic studies, and hopes to do so at IU McKinney School of Law and Lily Family School of Philanthropy. After graduating in December, Meg was hired on as an intern with the Indiana House of Representatives for the 2024 Session. In her free time, Meg enjoys golfing (or trying to), blogging, podcasting, and stress baking. Her time at Ball State was not the “normal” college experience. There were many times in which she struggled to see herself graduating. Ball State faculty and staff were her “glue” during the hardest times in her life. They encouraged her, supported her, and held her accountable every step of the way. It’s indescribable how impactful the connections she made were, and they did not end when she graduated. Meg still has faculty reach out to encourage her or connect her with networking opportunities. Meg said she owes recognition to the faculty and staff of CCIM and the Department of Communication Studies for her Top 100 Student honor and her future continues to be bright thanks to her Cardinal Family.

Olivia Ground is a third-year student majoring in Advertising with a concentration in Journalistic Narrative Writing. She has minors in Women and Gender Studies, Sociology, and Campaign Communication. Olivia has found her footing on campus by being involved in student media such as The Ball State Daily News where she is currently serving as Digital Managing Editor. She previously was the Social Media Editor and a Social Media Associate. She is also a photographer, graphic designer, and journalist for the paper. She has also been a member of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) for the past three years — working on creative work and market research on national campaign competitions. She is also a School of Journalism and Strategic Communication (SJSC) Peer Ambassador. Additionally, Olivia has previously been an Orientation Leader and is currently an RA on campus. Post-grad, Olivia hopes to pursue a career in social media and multimedia content creation.

Dana Jones loves flowers and the color pink (especially when those two things are combined)! She feels blessed to have a wonderful family and lovely friends with whom she feels privileged to spend her time. Dana enjoys food and all it entails — cooking, eating, and even clean-up are fondly treasured experiences with the people she loves. Having grown up in Muncie, she’s taken advantage of its many educational institutions. When she graduated from Cowan High School, she did Ivy Tech’s ASAP program and then transferred to Ball State. She is grateful for the experiences she’s had at Ball State, especially for her participation in the American Advertising Federation (AAF). After graduating in December, she plans to serve an 18-month mission trip for her church in which she will do lots of service and give people the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ. She is so excited for all she will learn and then to come back to BSU to finish her master’s degree. Dana’s biggest goals in life are to be a wife and mother and to help her family and community know that their lives are grand.

Trinity Journey was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, where her passion for film blossomed early on, ultimately leading her to pursue a degree in Media Production. Alongside her studies, Trinity serves as the Vice President of Student Voluntary Services and is involved with Fringed Production House on campus. When she’s not busy with academic commitments, Trinity can be found at the movie theater or engrossed in her newest read.

Daniel Kehn is a third-year Journalism and Media major with a minor in American Sign Language; he also serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Ball State Daily News. Daniel grew up in Southeastern Michigan and has fallen in love with the Ball State and Muncie community in his time here. Outside of the newsroom, he loves watching the Detroit Lions and Arsenal FC, is a huge Marvel and Star wars Fan, and is an avid runner.

Ellie Parkison is a senior majoring in Interpersonal Communication with minors in Family Engagement and Strategic Communication. She is a proud Muncie native and is currently the Communications and Outreach Intern for Nonprofit Support Network, a local nonprofit organization. She is also involved in a campus ministry at Ball State called Cru, where she has grown in her faith and met some of her best friends. Ellie loves all things pop culture, McDonald’s Dr. Pepper, and raising awareness around the subject of mental health by sharing her lived experiences with others.

Mesgana Waiss, a Ball State University senior Journalism Student, currently serves as the Senior Features Editor at Byte, a student-run online entertainment magazine. She finds journalism a way to affirm and champion the essence of humanity. Her invaluable experience as an intern at the Indianapolis Recorder and Indiana Landmarks has enriched her storytelling abilities. These opportunities as well as a formative college career have fueled her special interest in history, music, and fashion.

Jacob Young is a junior Advertising major with a minor in Leadership Studies. Originally from Carmel, Indiana, Jacob came to Ball State after recognizing the value of getting students involved on campus early and often. On campus, Jacob is involved in the CCIM Dean’s Advisory Council, Philanthropy Education Council, Housing and Residence Life, and Ball State University Dance Marathon. Following graduation in May of 2025, Jacob is excited to pursue a graduate degree or career in Student Affairs or Non-Profit Management.