
2021 EDITION
Volume 3, Fall 2021
This page contains all of the submissions from the third edition of Illuminate, which was published in Fall 2021. You will find all of the academic entries and creative entries listed below. Also archived on this page is the list of contributors to the 2edition.
Click the cover for the official PDF
of Volume 3!
BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, AND TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION
HISTORY, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND PHILOSOPHY
SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND HEALTH
SOCIAL SCIENCES
POETRY
PHOTOGRAPHY
FINE ART
SHORT FICTION
SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND HEALTH
SOCIAL SCIENCES
2021: ILLUMINATE AUTHORS & CONTRIBUTORS
Zohra Ahmed
Zohra Ahmed is a third-year student at the Notre Dame of Maryland University studying Psychology on a Pre-Medical pathway. She is currently working as a peer tutor at her university and works part-time at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a laboratory assistant. In her spare time, she is a volunteer with the American Red Cross and founded a chapter of a non-profit organization called Brighten A Day Maryland. Fascinated with the neurobiological underpinnings of thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, she hopes to conduct research in the future relevant to her passions.
Malik Atadzhanov
Malik Atadzhanov is a recent graduate salutatorian of Kingsborough Community College with an Associates degree in Biology. While at Kingsborough, Malik was deeply involved in the Honors Program and was a Presidential Scholar. He was the president of the Xi Kappa chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and a Regional Vice President of the New York Region. He has completed research in Analytical Chemistry as part of the CRSP program, as well as research in Geological Chemistry as part of an REU program at Columbia University. He is the recipient of Gladys Brooke’s Scholarship and Distinction Scholarship. He is earning his BS in BioChemistry with a minor in Russian Translation at CUNY Hunter College. Malik is determined to achieve his MD-PhD to be involved in medical research.
Catherine Baz
Catherine Baz is an impassioned advocate who works in substance misuse and domestic violence. She has worked in the mental health field for the last five years, providing services on a multitude of levels. From on the ground working with individuals struggling, to working with key stakeholders on policy, she has worked to enact change in the mental healthcare system on all levels. A recent psychology graduate of UMass Dartmouth, Catherine is continuing to work in the field before pursuing her master’s degree in clinical mental health.
Lauren Brown
Lauren Brown participated in the nursing program and the Rouse Scholars honors program and Howard Community College (HCC). She served as the President of HCC's Student Nurses Association. Lauren is currently working as a registered nurse on a medical-surgical unit. Also, she is pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland School of Nursing as a Conway Scholar. Ultimately, she wants to be a nurse practitioner and nurse educator.
Danielle DeAngelis
Danielle DeAngelis is a recent graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey, where she received a BA in Communication Arts with a concentration in Journalism. She minored in English and literary studies as well as creative writing while attending. While at Ramapo, Danielle was the editor-in-chief of the college's newspaper, a student director of the Honors Program, a brother of Alpha Phi Omega co-ed service fraternity, treasurer of Lambda Pi Eta communications honor society and a student researcher for the American History Textbook Project on the campus. Currently, she is a local news reporter for southern New Jersey's hyperlocal news organization, Sun Newspapers.
Shannon DiCristina
Shannon DiCristina is a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University and a member of the University's Honors Program and Honors Academy. She is a junior passionately studying Literature, Education, and Creative Writing; she plans on becoming an English teacher post-graduation. Shannon is a collegiate cross-country athlete and publicity cochair for the Honors Department.
Matthew Dougherty
Matthew Dougherty is a second year student at Stevenson University which is just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. He is pursuing a degree in Biomedical engineering with aspirations of entering the medical field to design and further research prosthetics. He is a member of the Men’s Ice Hockey team at Stevenson and also is both an Honors and Leadership Scholar. In addition to being a member of theses Scholar Groups he also serves as a peer mentor to new members of the group. He is also planning to pursue a Minor in Software Design & Coding during his time at Stevenson.
Allison Doverspike
Allison Doverspike is a sophomore biology / pre-medicine student with the LECOM 4+4 program at Gannon University. She is involved in her school’s Honors Program, Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority, Intercultural Collaboration Committee, Environmental Club, and Pre-Health Club. After her undergraduate education, Allison plans to pursue a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine.
Ruth Ferguson
Ruth Ferguson is pursuing a BA in Mathematics and teacher certification at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She recently graduated with an Associate of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education – Mathematics from Howard Community College, where she was a member of the James W. Rouse Scholars Program.
Cole Flynn
Cole Flynn is a recent graduate of Bentley University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree In Economics-Finance and a Master’s Degree in Finance through an advanced standing four year program. He was a member of the Bentley University Honors Program where he explored his interest in economics and finance on the domestic and global landscape. Cole is currently a finance professional in New York.
Ryann Gollings
Ryann Gollings recently graduated Cum Laude from Thiel College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology. While at Thiel, she was an active member on campus as a part of the Dietrich Honors Institute, National Society of Leadership and Success, Lambda Sigma, Neuroscience club, and Chi Omega Fraternity. She was the general chemistry laboratory assistant and the statistics for social sciences teaching assistant. Ryann plans to immerse herself in research at Johns Hopkins University as a Research Technologist for the Department of Medicine-Clinical Pharmacology.
Jordan Iacobucci
Jordan Iacobucci is currently in his final semester at Dominican College, attending completely online after moving to Raleigh, North Carolina with his family over the summer. He is an English major, with a double-minor in Psychology and Theater. In his time at Dominican, he has been published in the Bang and Whimper literary magazine, and served a year as the Debate Team President. Fascinated with Joseph Campbell’s study of the mythological hero and a lifelong fan of the superhero genre, Jordan has combined his two interests into his featured article: “Modern Myths: Spider-Man – Finding Society’s Values in Our Popular Culture.”