Ithaca College’s latest graduating class began their studies in the fall of 2020 under circumstances unlike any other in the history of the college. Along with faculty and staff, they had to navigate a “new normal” due to the COVID-19s pandemic.
But together, they persevered and now stand ready to join the ranks of proud Ithaca alumni. Here are the stories of some of the amazing students who make up the Ithaca College Class of 2024
With the help of a $10,000 Projects for Peace grant, Dembele travelled to the small village of Gogui, Mali, in the summer of 2023, where she purchased a plot of land, seeds, and other supplies in order to create a garden. There, women would be able to grow their own crops to sell in local markets, allowing them some financial freedom.
“My parents have instilled in me a mentality of giving back to other people,” she said. “I wanted to ensure that the women in this village have something they can call their own. When I looked into the eyes of these women, I saw a lot of relief and determination. There’s a drive and a hunger in these women to make this project a success.”
Dembele, an architectural studies major, was inspired to take part in the program during her junior year.
“Some days, I don’t quite appreciate the level of work that went into making a project like this a reality,” she said. “Then there are other times that it hits me, and I get moved to tears. It’s something I want to do more of.”
Grodis was serving as a squadron leader in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division when he wrote his application to Ithaca College on a cell phone while in Afghanistan. As a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, he received financial support from the college which, together with funds from the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the VA, completely covered his tuition and fees.
“I think, especially for the older veterans, Ithaca College made a good choice in recognizing that while we might not have the history, the paper trail, to show we could be good college students, the skills we gained through experiences and training in the military can transfer to higher education,” he said.
He is earning his degree in biology and hopes to go to medical school. While at IC, he set up a chapter of the Student Veterans of America with two other students in order to create a place for camaraderie and the opportunity to build a community.
“Having a space to interact with other veterans makes you feel like you're not alone in it,” Grodis said.
A transfer student, Ingraham double-majored in television and digital media production and in theatre arts management. And at Ithaca College’s London Center, she found a way to combine those two interests. She interned for AKA UK, a London-based marketing agency that specializes in theatre and film with clients such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and Harry Potter series producer Sonia Friedman Productions.
Her first week there, she worked at the legendary Harry Potter “Return to Hogwarts” event at King’s Cross railway station, before delving into new ground as a data insights and ticketing intern. That gave her a deeper appreciation of the industry as a whole.
“I learned how much it takes to mount and keep a commercial show afloat, whether that’s in the West End or on Broadway,” she said. “I was so grateful to have so many new relationships come out of that internship. It really affirmed my feelings about the industry—how friendly, open, and creative it is. It affirmed my sense of what people are like in this industry and what it should look like to work even in such an intense, high-stakes job.”
During her time at IC, Brock has spent four years giving back to both the campus and local community. A Park Scholar, she twice served as a leader for the college’s Jumpstart program for incoming students, was the president of the student club IC After Dark, and worked in the Office of Student Engagement. Off campus, she volunteers at Racker, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for people with disabilities and their families.
In honor of her tireless dedication, she was awarded the Newman Civic Fellowship for the 2023–24 school year by Campus Compact. The fellowship is a prestigious yearlong program that recognizes and supports students based on their potential for public leadership and their work with communities.
“As humans, we were put here on earth to serve a purpose,” Brock said. “We should help out fellow humans and fellow causes. Having a connection [to a place like Racker] on a deeper level and being able to make the deeper impact through this continued commitment is what’s helped me stay involved.”
Arguably the greatest athlete in the history of the Men’s Track and Field program, Mikula, who is receiving his M.S. in Occupational Therapy, is a seven-time All-American in the pole vault, and during the 2023 season, became the first student-athlete in program history to win an Outdoor national championship. His winning mark of 5.05 meters not only won the national championship, but set a facility record at St. John Fisher.
Mikula, a Trumansburg, New York native, has an opportunity to add to his legacy and trophy case at the 2024 Outdoor Championships, which will be held from May 23 through May 25.