Twelve students from the College of Communication, Information, and Media were recognized by the Ball State University Foundation’s annual Top 100 Student Awards.
These awards recognize outstanding undergraduate students who represent Beneficence both in and out of the classroom and excel in academic excellence, campus leadership, and community impact.
On March 22, these students who are constantly going above and beyond in all their endeavors will be recognized at the Top 100 Celebration. During the event, the Top 25, Top 10, and Top 2 students among the 2024-25 Top 100 Students will also be announced.
Please join CCIM in extending our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to this year’s honorees.
Hayden Adams*
Communication Studies
Hayden is a senior majoring in Communication Studies with a focus in Public Communication and Advocacy, and minors in Public Health and American Sign Language, as well as a first-year graduate student through the Department of Communication Studies’ Accelerated Master’s Program with a focus in Organizational and Professional Communication Development. He is also a member of Ball State University’s Speech Team, where he delivers formal speeches and interpretative performances regarding important social issues, and has been awarded national octo, quarter, and semifinals. Outside of the classroom, Hayden works with numerous patient-centered organizations to increase health literacy and advocate for improved health accessibility among young adults with chronic illnesses, such as himself. A fun fact about Hayden: He works at a dance studio where he gets to learn various styles of partner dancing while also capturing amazing photographs!
Kira Arkins
Communication Studies, Theatre Education
Kira is a junior Theatre Education and Communication Studies: Interpersonal Communications Major. She is so excited and humbled to receive the honor of being in the Top 100 Students at Ball State! Kira loves connecting with others and finds that both of her majors allow her to form genuine, strong, and lasting friendships. She believes she would have never received this honor if it weren’t for her professors, classmates, family, and God.
Eleni Bow
Journalism, Spanish
Eleni is a second-year student majoring in Spanish and Journalism, with concentrations in Photographic Storytelling and Magazine Media. As the proud Vice President of the University’s chapter of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), she has had incredible opportunities to meet field professionals and attend workshops across the country. When Eleni is not in the classroom, she works as a data entry assistant at the Ball State Foundation. She has a keen interest in photography, watching birds and squirrels, crocheting, and traveling to Europe. As a lifelong resident of Muncie, Eleni also loves grabbing a turkey burger from Twin Archer Brewpub and a Thai iced coffee from Tuppee Tong!
Jackson DiVincenzo*
Media Sports Production
Jackson is a passionate, dedicated, and caring student who places a large emphasis on working hard to achieve his goals. Jackson grew up in the town of Solon, Ohio, which is right outside the city of Cleveland, where he’s lived all his life. After graduating high school, Jackson decided to make the leap and attend Ball State University with a major in sports production. Throughout his journey within the Sports Link program, Jackson has challenged himself to excel at what he deems to be his “Core Four.” They are as follows: storytelling, videography, photography, and editing. Jackson has worked on many projects throughout his time at school, all of which are available for viewing on his website. These creative endeavors soon landed him a job as the Lead Content Creator within the Mid-American Conference. However, his creative mind also extends beyond the field of sports media. He’s also involved within the Association of Collegiate A Cappella as the Public Relations officer. Lastly, Jackson is also an avid weightlifter and enjoys attending various concerts around the Indianapolis area. In the future, Jackson has a strong desire to work directly for a College, University, conference, or creative firm. Wherever the journey takes him, Jackson is prepared to take his character traits of hard work, passion, and dedication with him into life’s trials and tribulations.
Casper E. Fischer
Media Production
Casper E. Fischer is a senior studying Media and Leadership Studies. They are currently the Student Government Association’s Press Secretary, Coordinator of the Parallels A Cappella, an Engagement Ambassador, and on the Leadership Team for Radiance Cinema. Casper is also an intern for the Ball State Office of Student Life. They have been accepted into the Harvard Graduate School of Education for Fall 2025.
Molly Henderson
Communication Studies
Molly is a senior in the Honors College majoring in Communication Studies with a concentration in Organizational Communication. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Order of Omega, Her Campus, Lambda Pi Eta, and has been named a 2025 500 Festival Princess. “I am so honored to be named a 2024-25 Top 100 Student at Ball State University!”
Daniel Kehn*
Journalism, Media Sports Reporting
Daniel, a Journalism and Media major with a minor in American Sign Language, is in his final semester at Ball State. Daniel grew up in southeastern Michigan and said he fell in love with the campus and community from day one. “Ball State has given me the perfect environment to learn, grow and challenge myself in new ways,” he said. In his time in Muncie, Daniel has been an active participant in student media, serving as Editor-in-chief of the Ball State Daily News during the 2023-24 school year, and currently serves as a Public Media Accelerator Development Fellow for Ball State Public Media and Director of Brand Management for Ball State University Dance Marathon. Outside of the classroom and his extracurriculars, Daniel loves supporting the Detroit Lions and Arsenal FC and is an avid runner with his first marathon coming up in April. After graduation, Daniel will look to pursue a career in sports journalism or sports communications.
Dominick Liacone*
Media Sports Production
Dominick is a senior at Ball State University majoring in Sports Production with a minor in Sport Administration. He currently serves as the official radio play-by-play voice of Ball State Women’s Basketball on WMUN “The Talk of Muncie” and LEARFIELD. Through Ball State Sports Link, he has called numerous ESPN+ broadcasts, produced long-form video features, and covered a variety of sports. With additional experience broadcasting in summer collegiate baseball for the last five years, Dominick is a passionate storyteller with aspirations to pursue broadcasting in professional baseball.
NyZeria Neely
Media Production
NyZeria Pratcher-Neely is a passionate leader, artist, and advocate for community empowerment. She’s a Fall 2022 initiate of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and a Spring 2024 initiate of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club (NACWC). NyZeria has held leadership positions such as Anti-Grammateus, Community Service Chair, Epistoleus, and Academic Chair for Sigma Gamma Rho, as well as Secretary, Historian and Technology Chair for NACWC. Currently, she serves as the philanthropic chair, preserving the organization’s community. Beyond leadership, NyZeria is an artist with a love for singing, rapping, dancing, and acting talents she proudly inherited from my father. The arts have always been a huge part of her life, and she uses her creativity to uplift and inspire others. NyZeria has also played a key role in Urban Legends, an arts and entertainment organization that provides a platform for student performers. NyZeria is a dedicated scholar and hard worker, balancing academics, leadership, and service with determination. She believes in fostering strong connections, improving communication, and making collective decisions to create meaningful change. Her heart for service, passion for leadership, and creative spirit drive her to leave a lasting impact.
Sarah Olsen*
Journalism, Political Science
Sarah is a fourth year honors student with majors in Journalism and Political Science and a minor in French. Academia and intellectualism have been major pillars of her life — her parents have six degrees between the two of them. In addition to being recognized as a Top 100 Student, Sarah has also received the Whitinger Scholarship and the Gilman Scholarship, and spent a semester abroad in Chambéry, France with the help of the latter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cross stitching, running, and spending time with her cat, Scout.
Zoe Pointer
Communication Studies
Zoe Pointer is a senior from Castleton, Indiana. They are an avid advocate, researcher, bridal seamstress, and writer who seeks to pursue higher education and eventually work in the legal field. She is an Interpersonal Communication Studies major with a minor in Screenwriting who seeks to broaden her horizons on every front possible. Her work on Ball State’s campus is most recognizable in her most recent positions held through Ball State, such as being a member and Social Media Coordinator of the Ball State Speech Team, Co-Creator and Co-Host of the COMM Studies Awards Gala, Social Media Designer and Manager for the BSU Communication Studies One Ball State Day promotions in 2024, and Peer Ambassador for the Study Abroad office last year. She has appeared on several Ball State University organization social media accounts, as she is the Social Media Coordinator for the Ball State Speech Team, served as the COMM Club social media chair (‘23-’24), and even spent time as the Study Abroad Media Designer (‘23-24), with parts of her work appearing in-class to advertise the COMM210 Speech Showcase challenge. Zoe has been accepted into the Ball State Communication and Liberal Arts graduate program for next year, and intends to go even further in their academic pursuits after graduating from that program. She is grateful to everyone who has supported her in her time at Ball State, and believes she would not be where she is if not for the incredible people surrounding her.
Gracie Worrick
Strategic Communication: Advertising
Gracie is an Advertising major with concentrations in Event Planning and Management, Leadership, and Emerging Media. She is the president of Ball State’s chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and is also involved with Her Campus and Delight.
*Top 50 Student