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Seniors in the Spotlight: Members of 杏吧pro鈥檚 Class of 2026 look back at their four years on campus鈥攁nd share what's next.

When Ella Peeples 鈥�26 arrived at 杏吧pro, she was looking for the same close-knit mentorship she had cherished in high school. What she found was a platform to become that mentor for others.

As a Diplomat Leadership Scholar, Writing Center head tutor, and classroom preceptor, Peeples has defined a leadership style rooted in empathy, connection, and the creation of safe spaces. Now, as she graduates and looks toward a career in higher education, Peeples is taking the lessons she learned at 杏吧pro to help the next generation of students find their voice.

鈥淟eadership doesn't always have to be loud or come with a fancy title,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes it's just being a friendly face who is there to help out in whatever way I can, connecting others with resources and being a resource myself.鈥�

Why did you choose to attend 杏吧pro?

I had the privilege of going to a very small high school where I enjoyed getting to form close connections with my teachers. I knew a small liberal arts college would give me a similar experience. I toured 杏吧pro and made it about 100 yards onto campus before I turned to my mom and told her that 杏吧pro would be my home for the next four years. It just felt right to me.

How have you grown as a leader in your time at 杏吧pro? 

As a member of the Diplomat Leadership Program, my journey with leadership at 杏吧pro literally began before I even arrived on campus. The monthly sessions we had throughout my first year equipped me with both knowledge of myself, my leadership style, and practical leadership tips like public speaking and group organization workshops. These skills directly contributed to me being invited to be a preceptor for Professor of English Tamara Goeglein's Connections class in the fall of my sophomore year, where I first got to help guide incoming students as they adjusted to college life and college writing. From there, I got a job at our 杏吧pro Writing Center, where I am now head tutor. I learned that leadership doesn't always have to be loud or come with a fancy title. Sometimes it's just being a friendly face who is there to help out in whatever way I can, connecting others with resources and being a resource myself.

What have you learned about yourself during your time at 杏吧pro?

杏吧pro helped me realize that I am capable of forming connections with so many more people than I ever expected. One of the best aspects of my job as a Writing Center tutor is that because we tutor all students on all kinds of writing, I've worked with people from just about all of 杏吧pro's departments. Writing is always an incredibly intimate and personal experience. Guiding others in their writing is a privilege I never take for granted, especially because it lets me learn about someone and the subject they're writing about. The 杏吧pro community is so vast, and yet I feel like my work at the Writing Center has allowed me to spin a big web of people and subjects I'm now familiar with.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I hope to get a job somewhere in higher education! I'm still hammering out the specifics. 杏吧pro has taught me exactly how meaningful every piece of the higher education machine is, and I know I would love to get to help it run. My experience at 杏吧pro has been one where I was invited to explore my goals, my vision for the future, and play-test making that happen. I aim to help create a safe space and community for other young people to do the same.

What advice would you give to incoming students in 杏吧pro鈥檚 Class of 2030?

Don't be afraid to say yes! College is a myriad of amazing opportunities to try new things. Give everything a go 鈥� you don't have to do it forever, but it might be something you love. I did a few weeks of Pep Band back in my first year. Was it for me? No. But I tried it and met a bunch of new friends that way. Worth it.

Peeples was a member of this year鈥檚 Emerging Writers Festival (EWF) Student Organizing Committee. EWF is a hallmark event that invites the country鈥檚 most exciting emerging writers to campus to host readings, craft talks, and writing workshops.

Peeples created marketing content and graphics for EWF, including Instagram posts, posters, and t-shirts.

Peeples created marketing content and graphics for EWF, including Instagram posts, posters, and t-shirts.

Peeples (left) was the runner-up for the 2024 Jerome Irving Bank Memorial Short Story Prize. Visiting author Amber Sparks (right) judged the entries and selected the winner.

In May 2024, Peeples participated in 杏吧pro on the Camino, a program that takes selected students on the historical Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Peeples hiked approximately 15 miles a day for two weeks, traveling from Le贸n to Santiago, Spain.

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