Wake the Arts is shining a spotlight on some of our extraordinary 2025 graduates. There are so many incredible members of our arts community in the Class of 2025, and this is our attempt to highlight some of them. What makes a successful Wake Forest graduate? We think the Arts are the secret ingredient—whether a student's major was Psychology or Studio Art, Mathematics or Music, Biology or Theatre—these students make us so proud and are destined for greatness.
Sydney Aikens
Major: Philosophy; Minors: Dance, Chemistry
Sydney has enjoyed being part of the arts at Wake both in the painting studio and the dance studio. After graduation, she will attend the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
Sydney performed in the Dance Company's Fall and Spring shows, including choreographing this semester. Her artwork has been displayed in Hanes and Start galleries.
Zac Anderson
Major: Communication; Minors: Theatre, Entrepreneurship
In addition to serving as president of the Anthony Aston Players and acting in many Theatre productions, Zac also was the 2025 Senior Colloquium Oration winner.
Scales truly feels like home and I love all the people that fill it. The arts were the main reason I chose Wake. I wanted a school that created such high quality work and that valued the arts with its time and resources, giving us such an exceptional education and experience while also allowing us to pursue things outside of scales too. I have gotten so much hands-on experience that has equipped me with the tools to go out and do good for the world.
MaryAnna Bailey
Major: Communication; Minor: Theatre
This summer, MaryAnna will perform in South Carolina with Lakewood Camping Resort’s High Steppin’ Country! In September, she will move to Florida to begin a four month long internship with the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World.
Virginia Bensch
Major: Critical & Creative Media - Film Studies; Minors: Communication, Creative Writing
Virginia has worked alongside professors in the Summer Immersion Program’s Screenwriting and Filmmaking institutes for several years and has been involved with film around campus through Wakeville and Wake Screens.
After graduating this year, she will continue screenwriting and begin working towards her MFA in Film as a part of the writing for film and television cohort at Columbia University School of the Arts.
Parker Beverly
Major: Documentary Film - MFA
After graduation, Parker will be staying at Wake Forest working as a Video Coordinator for the Creative Services Team in Athletics.
Watch one of her latest projects for Athletics in celebration of Women's History Month here:
I'm so grateful for the many opportunities I've had both as an undergrad and grad student at Wake Forest that have allowed me to expand my creative horizons. From working with the Special Collections & Archives to telling the stories of student athletes, my time at Wake has prepared me well for what lies ahead.
Isabella Biricik
Major: English; Minors: Theatre, Psychology
Isabella has acted in numerous theatrical productions while at Wake Forest including Backstory, Witness for the Prosecution, Sense and Sensibility, Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, and The Tempest. Wake’s theatre department recultivated her love for theatre, and she will be getting her MFA in Acting at Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall.
Meg Campbell
Major: English; Minor: Dance, Spanish, Chemistry
After having worked in Special Collections and Archives as a student, Meg is going on to pursue a Master's Degree in Archival Management.
My involvement with Dance Company was my most meaningful experience at Wake! As a lifelong dancer, still being able to perform with so many talented dancers, and showcase my own choreography is something I’m incredibly grateful for.
Alyssa Eaton
Majors: Art History, History; Minors: Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies
Alyssa is graduating with honors after defending her art history thesis, "Architectural Design of Follies at Stourhead Gardens: Style and National Identity." She is working as a student researcher with Winston-Salem's Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Research Group.
Alexandra Eliasek
Majors: Music, Elementary Education; Minor: Psychology
After graduation, Alexandra will be moving to Charlotte, NC and teaching fourth grade at Charlotte Country Day School.
I have loved being a member of the Chamber Choir at Wake Forest. This group has helped me grow immensely as a musician and establish lifelong friendships that I will forever cherish.
Hannah Elluru
Major: Sociology; Minors: Politics & International Affairs, Communication
Student Body President Hannah Elluru danced with the Wake Forest Dance Company and has been accepted to the Wake Forest School of Law. She hopes to become a public interest lawyer, advocating for others and helping her community.
My time in the Wake Forest Dance Company has meant so much to me. Growing up dancing, I knew I wanted to dance in college, but I didn’t expect the community and home I would find in the Dance Company. The warm environment and shared love for dance made every rehearsal and performance even more special. I am grateful to have been able to be a part of this group and believe it has been the most meaningful experience to me.
Nadia DeMarinis
Major: Studio Art; Minors: Art History, Entrepreneurship
An artist, athlete, and entrepreneur, Nadia plans to work in film and post-production while continuing to grow her business RetroXO Elements, which she founded with twin sister Olivia.
I want to give a shoutout to the Art Department for giving me memories that will last a lifetime—I got to look at the world around me with a different lens. Special thanks to Joel Tauber and Endia Beal for being such guiding professors and supportive role models!
Olivia DeMarinis
Major: Studio Art; Minors: Art History, Entrepreneurship
Olivia DeMarinis is a filmmaker, video editor, designer, and entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and visual creativity. Alongside her twin sister Nadia, she co-founded RetroXO Elements, a brand inspired by their love for all things retro—especially the '80s. Olivia also enjoys capturing the beauty of nature through her lens and plans to work in post production video after college while maintaining her business.
I want to give a special thanks to the Art Department at Wake Forest University for giving me the opportunity to explore a wide range of artistic mediums under the guidance of passionate and talented professors. It’s been an incredible experience to be part of a community that truly nurtures and celebrates individual creativity. I'm especially grateful to Professors Joel Tauber and Endia Beal, whose artistic work has deeply inspired me and whose guidance has been invaluable throughout my journey.
Patrick Fenlon
Major: Computer Science; Minor: Spanish
Patrick plans to pursue acting professionally after moving to NY, LA, or Chicago. He'll spend this summer honing his Spanish fluency in Costa Rica through the Workaway program.
I’m incredibly grateful for my experience in the arts at Wake. Creating art went from something I was interested in trying out during freshman year to my favorite part of Wake.
Vir Gupta
Majors: Theatre, Critical & Creative Media; Minor: Economics
Vir has starred in numerous Theatre productions as well as serving as president of the Anthony Aston Players. He's looking forward to pursuing his career as a multidisciplinary storyteller and media creator.
Professor Brook Davis has been a shining light and one of the loveliest humans ever. She took me under her wing and through her own practices really taught me what it truly means to be selfless. She embodies the idea of Pro Humanitate in every way possible.
Ellie Howell
Majors: Theatre, History
Following graduation, Ellie will be pursuing a career in the theatre industry. She will be in Aspen, CO over the summer as a Company Management apprentice at Theatre Aspen, and she'd like to thank everyone in the Wake Arts departments for encouraging her to follow this path.
Not only did I find a community and home in Scales, I found a drive and appreciation for art that I do not think I could've gotten anywhere else.
Jacob Kathman
Majors: Music - Performance, Applied Mathematics
After graduating, Jacob will pursue a Masters in Business Analytics from the Wake Forest School of Business with the hopes of going into consulting in the future.
Outside of performances with the marching band (Spirit of the Old Gold and Black), symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, and jazz band, he also played trombone for the musical She Loves Me and the 24 Hour Musical Project: Legally Blonde.
Kathrine Kiersted
Major: Critical & Creative Media; Minors: Writing, Psychology
During her time at Wake Kathrine served as the president of Wake Studios, a student-run film production club. Last summer she received the Richter Scholarship and made a short documentary, “The World’s Happiest People”, which she is now submitting to film festivals across the country. She has also enjoyed sharing some of her other short films with the Wake Forest community at Wake Screens over the years, including her film “Reunited and it Feels So…”, which won the Jury Award and will become part of Wake’s digital special collections and archives.
After graduation Kathrine plans to move to LA to work in the film industry and potentially attend film school.
I am so grateful for my time at Wake and for the film education I have received here. While it certainly wasn’t always easy, I have grown so much as an artist during my four years here. I am endlessly appreciative for the mentorship I’ve received from my professors here at Wake, and I can’t wait to watch the arts community at Wake Forest continue to grow and thrive.
Mary Caroline McCormack
Majors: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Art History
Graduating with honors in Art History after recently defending her thesis “Holy Pop: Transfiguration of the Sacred in Andy Warhol’s The Last Supper,” Mary Caroline plans on taking a gap year working at a hospital before attending medical school where she plans to pursue a career in psychiatry.
She served as the co-president of Musical Empowerment, a non-profit volunteer organization focused on providing music lessons to underserved children in the Winston-Salem community.
Wake Forest has given me a space to explore my creativity in ways I never expected. The art department’s welcoming and inspiring community has shaped so much of my college experience. Through both coursework and volunteering, I’ve seen how powerfully the arts can build confidence, foster connection, and transform lives.
Nora Resk
Major: Business & Enterprise Management; Minor: Music
Nora will be moving back to New York City to pursue a career on the business side of the music industry (get in touch if you have a lead!). This summer, she will be an intern in Label Catalog at Verve Records.
Nora is a Presidential Scholar in Music. She was involved in the Theatre Department's 2022 production of She Loves Me and has competed in the annual Giles-Harris and Concerto Competitions almost every year. Nora is also an active member of the WFU Chamber Choir and Schola Cantorum. This March, Nora put on her own senior recital that featured vocal works from Schubert, Tailleferre, Verdi, Sondheim, Copland, Barber, and more.
Sofia Trujillo
Major: Studio Art; Minors: Entrepreneurship, Creative Writing
Sofia completed her Studio Art Honors exhibition “With,In” at the Hanes Art Gallery (one of the photographs from her show was acquired for WFU's John P. Anderson Collection of Student Art). After graduation, she will serve as the 2025-2026 Fellow for the Office of the Provost at Wake Forest.
Sofia's writing has been featured multiple times by Wake's 3to4 ounces literary magazine, and her artwork has been exhibited in three of the annual Hanes Gallery student exhibitions.
Wake the Arts is the reason why I identify as an artist now. This community believed in me, even when my ideas seemed unfeasible; it’s these opportunities that allowed me to grow into the person I am today.
Katherina Tsai
Major: French Studies; Minors: Chemistry, Music
At Wake Forest, Katherina conducted research on prosthetic heart valves under the mentorship of Dr. Olga Pierrakos. She won the Marc and Kirk Elvy Award for her piano performance at the 2025 Giles-Harris Music Competitions. After graduation, Katherina will work as an emergency department tech and apply to medical school.
My experience at Wake solidified my passion for pro humanitate through the intersection of public health, medicine and philanthropy.
Adam Waszkiewicz
Major: Mathematics, Music Performance
Adam was principal clarinetist of the Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra and university's wind ensemble during his four years at Wake Forest. After graduating, Adam will continue to attend Wake Forest University in order to obtain his Master's of Science in pure mathematics with the university's Department of Mathematics.
Haozhen Xu
Majors: Music, Politics & International Affairs
A brilliant percussionist, Hoazhen won awards at the Giles-Harris competitions and the Concerto Competition. He will be attending graduate school to pursue a Master of Arts in Global Thought at Columbia University in the City of New York.
I am very excited to to enhance my perspectives interdisciplinarily, while continuing to develop skills in music as a percussionist and a composer.