A Time for Reflection

By Desiree Holz '23, February 20, 2023

BOLD scholar showcase provides the opportunity to look back.

BOLD Scholars at this year’s BOLD scholar showcase.

Courage, authenticity, and vision are the three pillars of Ithaca College’s BOLD scholar program, and they were on display when the 19 scholars in this year’s BOLD scholar showcase presented their semester-long “artifact,” which represented their time this past fall as BOLD scholars.

“This is a great opportunity for the scholars to demonstrate how they’ve grown as people, scholars, and students during their time in the program,” said Sam Elebiary, BOLD program director.

Makiyah Adams ’23, who majors in culture and communication and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, and minors in African diaspora studies, chose to write a poem to reflect on the general theme of pleasure as this semester’s cohort project.

“For me it’s almost an embodiment of how being a BOLD scholar makes me feel and what it emboldens me to do with others,” said Adams.

BOLD Scholar Artifacts

Below is a list of what each BOLD scholar selected as their artifact for the past semester:

Makiyah Adams ’23: Presented a poem on pleasure
Manuella Asare ’24: Wrote two poems
Hope Borsic ’23: Shared notes from poetry she reads, and shared a painting
Miriam Brown ’23: Created a video about her time abroad in London
Sarake Dembele ’24: Wrote a look book
Ellie Falconer ’24: Presented a PowerPoint on gender inequity in theatre
Raevyn Goodson ’23: Painted a collage
Ruth Hernandez ’23: Made a small ‘zine’ to reflect on the semester
Klarholz Jobe ’23: Gave a presentation on African beadwork
Charlotte Kazalski ’24: Shared a photo from the BOLD scholar retreat
Rodzvany Pascal ’24: Hand-stitched a traditional ribbon skirt
Amulya Ravitej ’23: Painted a colorful BOLD scholar logo
Mikayla Tolliver ’24: Created a collage of pictures from the semester
Tainia Trinidad ’24: Painted a self-portrait
Kiara Valera ’24 created a ‘zine’ on the dichotomy of the patriarchy
Jadena Williams ’23: Shared a portrait
Jordan Wiener ’24: Hand-made a blanket representing kindness, comfort and family
Nijah Young ’23: Shared a video summarizing her past year
Morgana Zendejas Peterson ’23: Shared a photo

Charlotte Kazalski ’24 is a music education and flute performance major who is wrapping up her first semester as a part of the cohort. She chose to present a photo and reflection from the cohort’s retreat when they visited UPward Design for Life, a nonprofit that helps furnish homes for domestic violence survivors, veterans, and individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and mental disorders, among other groups.

“I chose that as my artifact because I just found it so inspirational when we went there,” said Kazalski. “A part of being a BOLD scholar is having a vision, and talking to the company’s CEO and founder about her own vision was great.”

“I strongly believe in the power of reflection. Being a BOLD scholar means something different to every single person, and two years is a long time. A lot of growth and development can happen during that time.”

Sam Elebiary, BOLD program director.

Students select one artifact each semester they’re in the program, meaning they’ll have four by the end of their time at Ithaca.

“I strongly believe in the power of reflection,” Elebiary said. “Being a BOLD scholar means something different to every single person, and two years is a long time. A lot of growth and development can happen during that time.”

The event was attended by students, faculty, and staff, which did not go unnoticed.

“We’ve been doing this event for a long time and every year people come and show that they are invested in the scholars and their future,” Elebiary said.

“Ithaca College makes the BOLD scholarship program possible, but we get a lot of support from members of the administration, faculty, and staff,” added Adams. “Every little thing we think of doing—people from across the college community are always willing to participate and to help us.”

Events like the showcase allow the students an opportunity to grow, said Elebiary.

“We’re developing leadership in students who will go on to do fellowships at nonprofit organizations and attend prestigious graduate programs,” she said. “They start their careers off on a very competitive foot because of this experience.”