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Senior Ella Aly says Eastern Illinois University degree is her “Panther Passport” for future career in hospitality

CHARLESTON, IL (05/05/2026) Eastern Illinois University’s focus on building meaningful relationships has helped countless students develop career-ready skills, lifelong networks, and experiences that extend far beyond the traditional classroom. For students like Ella Aly, those experiences are leading to outcomes that extend even farther.

When Ella first arrived on EIU’s campus as a student in 2023, she was focused on the customary logistics of Move-In Day — unpacking boxes, hauling supplies, and adjusting to a new chapter in her academic journey. Not realizing it at the time, one small interaction that day would come to personify the entirety of her upcoming EIU experience.

After dropping off her belongings, Ella returned to find her family chatting with a resident assistant who had stopped to help them navigate the new residence hall. Her mother made a casual comment that stuck.

“My mom looked at me and said, ‘You should become friends with her,'” Ella recalls. At the time, she laughed it off. Little did she know, that resident assistant would later become one of her closest friends — and her senior-year roommate.

“That moment really showed me how quickly meaningful connections can form here,” Ella declares.

Now in her final year at EIU as a Hospitality and Tourism Management major with a minor in Business Administration, Ella says those connections have defined her experience at EIU just as much as her academics.

Originally from Golconda, Illinois, and a 2023 graduate of Pope County Community High School, Ella said she was first drawn to EIU by its people.

“What stood out immediately was how welcoming everyone was and how dedicated they seemed — not just their passion for the University, but for each and every one of the students,” she shares. That first impression only deepened once she became immersed and engaged in EIU’s campus life. At EIU, Ella found a University culture she describes as deeply invested in student growth.

“Students are more than just another number here,” she says. “Faculty, staff and peers are truly invested in each other’s success.” That type of environment, she says, gave her the confidence to grow academically — and personally.

“My experience at EIU has been life-changing, It was the first place where I truly felt happy and confident in myself.”

Ella leveraged that fresh sense of confidence to become heavily involved on campus, taking on leadership roles that would shape her college career and amplify her professional trajectory. Among her most meaningful accomplishments was serving as Homecoming Chair for two consecutive years — an opportunity she says was both rare and transformative.

“Being trusted to lead Homecoming once is special enough, but doing it a second time was incredibly impactful,” she states. Through coordinating large-scale events that brought students, alumni and the broader campus community together, Ella developed skills in teamwork, event planning, communication and tradition-based programming. Her success in the role was supported by strong mentorship, particularly from now-retired Director of Student Life Ceci Brinker.

“Her encouragement helped me recognize my potential and gave me confidence to pursue other leadership opportunities,” Ella reveals. By helping carry forward institutional traditions, Ella says she learned the value of contributing to a campus and a community larger than herself.

“These experiences taught me how campus traditions create lasting memories and strengthen our shared community.”

Ella also heavily credits EIU’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program with helping her explore multiple career paths while building professional experience. This spring, she served as the program’s Student Ambassador, connecting with prospective students and alumni while showcasing student achievements. The role strengthened her communication skills and expanded her experience in alumni engagement, interviewing and social media management.

Beyond that, Ella says one of her most impactful academic experiences at EIU came through international travel. In summer 2025, she participated in a faculty-led study abroad trip to Florence, Italy through Eastern’s Lumpkin College of Business and Technology. Traveling throughout Italy allowed her to connect classroom concepts directly to real-world tourism while building confidence navigating new cultures and environments.

“Studying abroad was a major academic goal of mine, and it quickly became one of the most impactful experiences of my college career,” she admits. “That experience confirmed my passion for travel and hospitality.”

Outside leadership opportunities and academics, Ella points to personal mentorship as one of the defining elements of her EIU journey. Among those mentors is Dr. Lisa Brooks, whom Ella describes as the most influential academic mentor of her college career.

“She is always willing to talk, offer encouragement and challenge me to think bigger about my future,” Ella offers. “She helped me see possibilities I once thought were out of reach.” That support system played a key role in Ella’s personal and professional development-and reinforced what she believes makes EIU distinctive — its people, and the deep relationships they create with the students they are there to support.

Another milestone in Ella’s journey came when she was selected as a Distinguished Senior Award recipient, an honor that gave her space to reflect on how far she had come. For her, the recognition represented more than an award — it symbolized the growth made possible through EIU’s community, mentorship and investment in her as a student and emerging leader.

“Knowing multiple people took the time to nominate me was incredibly humbling,” she confesses. “It made me feel recognized not just for what I accomplished, but for the person and leader I became here.”

Today, as Ella prepares for life after graduation, she says EIU will be equipping her with far more than a degree on commencement day, Saturday, May 9.

“EIU really lives up to its message of being ‘all in’ for you,” she asserts. “And that experience becomes strongest when students get involved and put themselves out there.”

Her advice to future EIU students is simple: Find your people.

“Once you find your community — and you can find more than one here at EIU — your college experience becomes more meaningful, supportive and impactful,” she says. “And at Eastern Illinois University that’s what it’s all aboutits collective passion for seeing each student’s potential, investing in their success, and encouraging them to do great things.”

For students like Ella and others like her at EIU, their experience is defined less by a single moment, class or achievement, but by the people, opportunities and confidence they continue to gain on their journey to personal and professional success.

And sometimes, Ella laughs, it all starts with a simple conversation on Move-In Day.

With a streamlined, no-cost application process and access to admissions counselors, prospective EIU students can quickly move from interest to enrollment while exploring scholarship opportunities and campus resources. Interested students can learn more about EIU’s admissions process at eiu.edu/admissions/apply.

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