Class of 2026 Cohort | Ithaca College

Ruth Ada Ayambem

Emerging Media

Ruth (she,her) was born in Abuja, Nigeria and can sing every single song from High School Musical 3 word-for-word. When she isn't singing classics, Ruth is working as the Art Editor and Web Editor for Buzzsaw Magazine and as an Audio/Visual Technician in the Information Technology & Analytics office. She is also a proud E-board member for the African Student's Association, serving as their Director of Communications. Ruth finds that just sitting on the floor is great self care because it just feels so cozy and she is very excited to serve on the ASA E-board so that she can help plan the much anticipated annual African Gala. Ruth cares a lot about building community and connection, so she is passionate about helping to further facilitate community and connect with fellow Africans and supporters here on campus.

Bella Bastos

Film, Photography, and Visual Arts

Bella (she,her), was born in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil and came to Ithaca College to puruse a Film, Photography, and Visual Arts degree. She takes on many roles on campus, just a few being a Student Engagement Assistant in the New Student and Transition Programs Office and a Parks Portable Equipment Center and Services employee. Bella is also a 4th semester Resident Assistant and is a proud BRASA E-board member. She often makes up short stories in her head with every song in her playlist and even has a fiction book dedicated to her, titled Bon Voyage, 2023. Bella is looking forward to producing and exploring the connection between social change and environmental documentaries.

Madi Connor

Music Performance

Madi (she,her), born in Poland, NY, is the co-founder and treasurer of the IC Flute Association, a club focused on on providing flute-related opportunities to both music majors and non-music majors. She loves to create art and lately she has been embroidering all kinds of things: clothes, shoes, and her flute case! Maddi also works as the House Manager for the IC Performance Crew. Running, mountain hiking, biking and skiing are just a few of her favorite things to do and the outdoors are her favorite place to be. This year, Madi will be interning with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, a professional orchestra based in Ithaca that regularly performs at IC and she is really looking forward to her junior recital in November.

Zara Makkaoui

Cinema and Photography

Born and raised in Marrakesh, Morocco, Zara (she,her) moved to California when she was 16 to attend a boarding school for her junior and senior year. On Campus, when Zara is not working at the Information Technology help desk, you can find her in the Muslim Student Association and the Entrepreneurship club. She loves short poems and picking up new technology skills and is looking forward to connecting with all of the BOLD scholars and learning from their experiences.

Funmi Omotosho

Journalism

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Funmi (she,her) now calls Philadelphia, Pennsylvania her home. She serves on the HiFashion E-Board and works as a Residential Life Operations Assistant. Funmi loves to crochet and knit and she is looking forward to getting to know her fellow BOLD scholars and being a part of the networking program!

Leticia Rebelo De Oliveira

Athletic training

Leticia (she,her) was born in Natal, Brazil. She serves as the Co-President of the IC Brazilian Student Association and a Peer Educator in the BIPOC Unity Center. Leticia also puts in hours at the Wellness Clinic as a Group Exercise Instructor and she is the Junior Representative on the Ithaca Athletic Training Students' Association. When she is not exercising her leadership bone, Leticia is maintaining her black Belt in Judo or thinking of her pit bull named Olaf. Leticia is excited to be involved on a sports team this year and she is ready to dive into the more practical side of athletics. She is looking forward to making new friends and building her confidence.

Anushri Sukumaran

Public and community health

Anushri was born in Bangalore, India and has been traveling her entire life. She has lived in India, Colorado, Texas, and New York! Anushri serves on the E-board of the International Club as their Creative Manager and the Secretary of Active Minds, another club here on campus. She also works in Residential life as a Residential Assistant and in the Library on campus. Anushri is also a star in the water, as she was a competitive swimmer for a large part of life. She is excited to get more involved on campus and try out new opportunities that she feels she hasn't pushed herself to do in the past two years.

Ninjin Tumurbat

Psychology and education studies

Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Ninjin (she,her) is very excited to be in the 7th cohort of BOLD. She works as Resident Assistant in Upper Quads and a Student Manager at the Library. Ninjin also works as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Psychology and as a curator for the Global Shapers Ithaca Hub founded by the World Economic Forum. She balances her many leadership roles with napping. Ninjin is an expert napper and can nap anywhere between ten minutes and three hours every day. Ninjin's name means kindness in Mongolian and carrot in Japanese!

Meredith Waropay

Integrated Marketing communications and art

Meredith (she,her) was born in Shamong, New Jersey and has never traveled outside of the U.S., but is very excited to study abroad at the Ithaca College London Center in Spring 2025! Meredith is the President of Women in Communications and the Vice President of Communications for BomberTHON. Meredith was recently featured in an art show at the State of the Art Gallery in Ithaca. She can't wait to grow her leadership as a BOLD scholar and learn from the scholars around her.

Elora Kunz

Music Education

Elora (she,her) is no stranger to upstate New York as she was born in Elbridge, NY, right outside of Syracuse. She is the Spring Semester President for the National Association for Music Educators and the Public Relations Representative for the Ithaca College Saxophone Society. She is also a certified member of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Elora works two on campus jobs as a Resident Assistant and a Phonathon Caller. Elora loves her Hedgehog named Nibbles and has a self-described obsession with Dr. Pepper. Elora is excited for her junior year because this year she will start Junior Student Teaching, along with the rest of her peers in Music Education which means that one day a week she will get to spend the day teaching lessons to middle schoolers.

Meet the BOLD Scholars in the Class of 2026 cohort!