Student Spotlight

Fanta Ballo often says that growing up in Harlem raised both the artist, and the activist, in her. As a teenager, Ballo found that her voice was routinely silenced or overlooked, and so she turned to writing as a way to reclaim her agency, and help process the world around …

Channeling creativity is something that has always come naturally to Rocco Pugliese. A lifelong performer, the senior from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, began his Wilkes journey as a sophomore in the Upward Bound program. His passions eventually led him to study music recording technology at Luzerne County Community College before transferring to …

Assetou Xango started their journey to Wilkes University in Colorado. Angelique Palmer started hers in the desert of New Mexico. While the student and faculty member’s paths had different first steps, each led to the discovery of a home in the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. Xango, a …

At Wilkes, Isabella “Bella” Lesante will “turn passion into purpose, and purpose into impact.” Lesante, a transfer student, is following her vision to help others.  For over 20 years, Lesante, from Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania, has been involved with Community Services for Sight, a local, non-profit organization whose mission is to help …

When Josh Dombrowski started his college search, he knew about Wilkes University’s small class sizes and personal connections between faculty and students. He liked the fact that Wilkes was only about an hour drive from his hometown of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Then a visit to campus sealed the deal. “I fell …

When Minnie Nguyen, a senior from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, came to Wilkes, she thought a pharmacy major was the path to her future. After experimenting with plants, birds and bacteria, she discovered a love for lab work and a major in biology. Before she changed her major, Nguyen served as …

When Lourdes Navarro decided to attend Wilkes University, she thought she knew exactly what to expect. “I’m going to learn English, make a few friends and come back.”  The senior from Chupampa, Panama, learned English and made more than a few friends. During her time at Wilkes, the environmental engineering …

When Brynn Marlow visited Wilkes University, she fell in love with the campus. She scrapped her plans to attend another school and decided to enroll as a nursing major at Wilkes. Once here, Marlow was a bit homesick for her family in Girardville, Pennsylvania, so she threw herself into campus …

Morgan Millard, a graduating senior, leaves Wilkes University with cherished memories on and off the field, friendships that will last a lifetime and an exciting future in law.  Millard is a political science major minoring in women’s and gender studies, international relations and legal studies. With an interest in America …

Cameron Butka always knew he wanted to go to a small school that was close to home. “It’s kind of a funny story,” says Butka of Scranton, Pennsylvania. “The minute I walked on campus, it felt like the right fit. I always felt I was in the right spot.”  At …