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Maya Baranoff ‘25 

Hometown: Arlington, MA

Major/Minor: Independent Major in Marketing: Digital Design and Communications

If you attended EAP as a First Year student, please describe how it helped you transition to Wheaton: I attended EAP as a first year and it’s how I made some of my best friends that have helped make Wheaton feel like home.

How has the Marshall Center added to your Wheaton experience? The Marshall Center always has open doors and there is always someone to talk to. It’s a welcoming community that has made my Wheaton experience amazing!

What do you like best about Wheaton? The people, i’ve met some amazing people here that have become some of my closest friends. I’ve always made a lot of connections that have helped me academically and professionally.

Are you involved in any clubs, organizations, and/or serve in a leadership role on-campus? Co-President of Tulip House, Co-President of FAW, IPM peer mentor co-coordinator, Career Peer Advisor, involved with Global Ed

Favorite spot on campus? The Dimple when it’s warm out

Favorite class you’ve taken? Digital Tools for Art and Design

Favorite Campus tradition? Food Fest!

Must haves when moving into college? A box fan and your favorite snacks from home!

Samantha Benegas ‘25

Hometown: Brooklyn NY

Major/Minor: Double Major: Early Childhood Education & Psychology

If you attended EAP as a First Year student, please describe how it helped you transition to Wheaton: Attending EAP allowed me to make connections with other PICs on campus while also getting familiar with campus prior then the semester started and other students arriving.

How has the Marshall Center added to your Wheaton experience? The MC has allowed to connect with other BIPOC students and work together on task forces to better the experience of BIPOC students in this PWI.

What do you like best about Wheaton? I love the people at Wheaton they are so friendly and willing to help!

Are you involved in any clubs, organizations, and/or serve in a leadership role on-campus? Paraíso Latino, – Dancer & HR SOHL House – Co-President Intercultural Peer Mentoring Program Co-Founder & Coordinator Advisory Board for the Marshall Center

Favorite spot on campus? SOHL House Backyard

Favorite class you’ve taken? PSY 398: The Development of Thinking

Favorite Campus tradition? Candlelight Ceremony

Must haves when moving into college? Mattress Topper

Malia Gentile ‘26

Hometown: Pawtucket, RI

Major/Minor: Major in Environmental Science with a Chemistry Concentration and a Minor in Mathematics and Dance

If you attended EAP as a First Year student, please describe how it helped you transition to Wheaton: Early Arrival allowed me to get acclimated to campus much earlier than regular arrival students. I met some of my closest friends from my class year and above during this 3 day long program, and I am so grateful that I was able to be a part of it.

How has the Marshall Center added to your Wheaton experience?the Marshall Center Staff  are some of the kindest and most generous people you will meet on this campus. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities and help the Marshall Center has given me throughout my 2 years here.

What do you like best about Wheaton? I love how easy it is to get involved on campus. There is a place for everyone at Wheaton, as there are so many theme houses, initiatives, jobs, internships, clubs, and teams that it is impossible to not find something that you love.

Are you involved in any clubs, organizations, and/or serve in a leadership role on-campus? I am the treasurer of Paraíso Latino and Co-Director of this Dance Team, I am the house manager of the Ohm Initiative, which is a theme house and imitative dedicated to representing underrepresented groups in STEM and financial literacy. Additionally, I am a STEM Assistant for the Marshall Center and plan events through WISE.

Favorite spot on campus? The Dimple

Favorite class you’ve taken? Multivariable Calculus

Favorite Campus tradition? Dance Fest

Must haves when moving into college? Shower shoes, a speaker, a picnic blanket

Joe Sato Murphy ‘26

Hometown: Portland, ME

Major/Minor: Film and New Media

If you attended EAP as a First Year student, please describe how it helped you transition to Wheaton: Attending EAP for me helped me start the year with a group of friends, and acquaintances, which really helped me build connections with them through the school year. Now some of them are great friends of mine, and without EAP, I may have never met them.

How has the Marshall Center added to your Wheaton experience? The Marshall Center has added to my experience by being a beacon for connecting with other like minded students, and enjoying fun events with them.

What do you like best about Wheaton? I love the sense of community, everywhere you go you’ll see someone, and that really helps when you’re feeling under the weather.

Are you involved in any clubs, organizations, and/or serve in a leadership role on-campus? I’m Vice-President of Film Collective, and I do video work for the Intercultural Board, and a ton of other clubs.

Favorite spot on campus? The Ohm Initiative or SOHL

Favorite class you’ve taken? Documentary Storytelling

Favorite Campus tradition? Food Fest

Must haves when moving into college? Ramen & Chili Oil

Ajahni Jackson ’25

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York City

Major/Minor: Biology Major, Animal Behavior & Political Science Double Minor

If you attended EAP as a First Year student, please describe how it helped you transition to Wheaton: As a student with lots of experience with PWI’s I knew that going into college I needed as strong a connection to the POC community as possible if I wanted to succeed. I was tired and just wanted to make sure that I had people I knew I could fall back on. This program gave me that community as well as several important relationships that I’m still enjoying to this day. Additionally, those few extra days gave me time to acclimate to life on a college campus before the hustle and bustle of the school year and even more-so before the overwhelming info dump that is orientation weekend.

How has the Marshall Center added to your Wheaton experience? The Marshall Center has reminded me that there is a community that has my back. It has provided me with the crucial support necessary to a successful college career and leadership journey

What do you like best about Wheaton?  I love the beautiful campus and how it is student-led. Wheaton is a home away from home for me.

Are you involved in any clubs, organizations, and/or serve in a leadership role on-campus? Co-President of the Black Student Association, Student Body President, Student Government Association Student Tour Guide, Admissions Office, Tribeta Biological Honors Society Inductee, Posse Leadership Foundation Scholar

Favorite spot on campus? Emerson Dining Hall (Window Seating)

Favorite food? Can’t go wrong with a good sandwich

Favorite class you’ve taken? Comparative Animal Behavior

Favorite Campus tradition? Spring Weekend

Must haves when moving into college? Mattress Topper, Water bottle, Headphones

Prabidhi Malla ‘26

Hometown: Queens, NY

Major/Minor: Biology

If you attended EAP as a First Year student, please describe how it helped you transition to Wheaton: I met my friends at EAP– it made me feel comfortable and more ready for college because the EAP is geared for students to know about the different resources and communities at Wheaton.

How has the Marshall Center added to your Wheaton experience? The Marshall Center continuously provides spaces where we can feel supported in various aspects including social and academic areas.

What do you like best about Wheaton? I like Wheaton’s small campus because it allows me to get to know different communities (whether that’s student groups or different faculty department), while also providing the chance to strengthen those connections and make them more meaningful.

Are you involved in any clubs, organizations, and/or serve in a leadership role on-campus? Intercultural Board– Chair, MUSES- Vice President, Pre-Health Society– Co President, Intercultural Peer Mentor

Favorite spot on campus? Emerson

Favorite class you’ve taken? Research Experience in Cellular Biology

Favorite Campus tradition? Holi

Must haves when moving into college? Shower slippers, portable shower caddy, air freshener