Letter from the Web Editors

Letter from the Web Editors

Dear Multimedia Readers, Creators, and Consumers,

From 2013 to 2018 Elon University sought to enhance campus-wide practices of teaching and learning writing under the Writing Excellence Initiative, the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan. In 2018, the Multimodal Writing Contest was created as part of the initiative. Over the past 6 years, the contest, coordinated by the Center for Writing Excellence, has continued to highlight the importance and values of multimodal writing as well as celebrating the talent within Elon students’ projects.

Multimedia encompasses and spans across all disciplines, especially in the 21st century where interactive technology exists at the forefront of day-to-day life. Everything from your phone’s digital interface to public transportation advertisements to your favorite news podcast is considered multimedia. The contest aims to recognize the integration of multimedia throughout society and include entries from all areas of study across campus as well as encouraging students to submit content created through internships and campus involvement outside of classes. Examples of entries span across short form documentaries and films, to zines and booklets, to posters and infographics.

As the editors of the Multimodal Writing Contest website, our primary goals are to educate and encourage students to not only create multimedia content, but to showcase it through this contest. Our secondary goals consist of creating a streamlined user interface experience and promoting the contest through outreach initiatives, social media posts, and display advertising across Elon’s campus.

Each of the editors of this website has an interdisciplinary minor in Multimedia Authoring, which extends across departments such as Professional Writing and Rhetoric, Design and Arts, Computer Science and Business. Throughout the spring 2024 semester, our senior seminar class MMA4600 class was tasked with revising this website as a client project. As students pursuing this minor, we have learned that multimedia extends beyond text and image. We are passionate about creating multimedia content and also understanding how it utilizes strategic rhetoric and design choices to communicate messages with various audiences. Throughout this website, we share resources to provide students interested in submitting to the contest insight into what makes a stellar piece of multimodal writing.

As the editors, we hope that we have created an easy to use and understandable website with enticing information that encourages students to submit their projects. We hope faculty throughout all disciplines encourage their students to create multimedia work through assignments. We wish students the best of luck in showcasing their multimodal writing.

Sincerely,

Julia Ashbrook ‘24 Marketing, Arts Administration; Multimedia Authoring
Brett Ciccolo ‘24 Communication Design; Multimedia Authoring
Jessie Cordwell ‘24 Strategic Communications; Multimedia Authoring
Emma Farrell ‘24 Communication Design; Computer Science, Multimedia Authoring
Major Legoullon ‘25 Music Production and Recording Arts; Multimedia Authoring
Nina Lupinacci ‘24 Strategic Communications; Multimedia Authoring
Corinn McKenna ‘24 Strategic Communications; Multimedia Authoring
Kai Mitchell ‘24 Music Production and Recording Arts; Communications, Multimedia Authoring
Leah Schneider ‘24 Communication Design; Multimedia Authoring
Avery Sleeper ‘24 Communication Design; Multimedia Authoring

Author Bios:

Julia Ashbrook is a current senior at Elon University from Wichita, KS. Julia is pursuing degrees in both Marketing and Arts Administration with a minor in Multimedia Authoring. Throughout her time at Elon, Julia has served in various positions and on many committees for numerous on-campus jobs, and has been heavily involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. As she searches for a post-grad position, Julia is focusing on becoming a recruiting/casting/sales professional.

 

 

Brett Ciccolo is a senior at Elon University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communication design. He is a designer who enjoys making visually appealing work with an abstract flair. He has developed a sense of meaning to his work and strives to overcome new challenges. His past experiences include his time as a marketing intern for BXP (Boston Properties) working in the heart of Boston. He plans on continuing a career in the real estate world as a marketer and utilizing his communication skills that he’s been developing over the years.

 

 

 

 

Jessie Cordwell is a senior at Elon University pursuing a Strategic Communications degree. While at Elon, Cordwell participated in Elon Student Television and Live Oak Communications as extracurriculars. She has studied across the United States in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and North Carolina, and in London, England. She has a strong passion for writing, creative development, brand strategy, and consumer behavior.

 

 

 

 

Emma Farrell is a communications student at Elon University, with a major in Communication Design and minors in Computer Science and Multimedia Authoring. During a semester abroad at Dublin Business School, she gained valuable insight into Irish culture and politics, enhancing her global outlook. Emma aims to apply her skill set at an integrated marketing agency, providing creative consultation and delivering exciting graphic design solutions.

 

 

 

 

 

Major LeGoullon is a Junior at Elon studying Music Production and Recording Arts with a minor in Multimedia Authoring. He works freelance photography for Burlington motorsports events and Elon club athletics. After graduation, he plans on working in either the music industry or photojournalism. He spends most of his spare time playing guitar, writing music, and reading.

 

 

 

 

 

Nina Lupinacci is currently a senior at Elon, originally from Greenwich, Connecticut, majoring in Strategic Communications with a minor in Multimedia Authoring. This past fall semester she participated in Elon’s Study USA: Los Angeles program, where she interned at a music publicity firm as their Music Publicity And Social Media Intern. That opportunity has steered her towards her post-grad goal of continuing to work in music publicity.

 

 

 

 

Cam McKenna is currently a senior at Elon University, from Elmhurst, IL. She is pursuing a degree in Strategic Communication with a minor in Multimedia Authoring. During her time at Elon she was able to take part in a Study USA program in Los Angeles, where she interned at a boutique fashion public relations firm. After graduating in May 2024, she is excited to head to central New York to pursue a Master’s in Public Relations at Syracuse University.

 

 

 

 

Kai Mitchell is a senior Music Production and Recording Arts Major with minors in Communications and Multimedia Authoring. Throughout his academic years at Elon, Kai has completed three internships in the music and entertainment industries, at SoundLizzard Productions, Earthtones Recording Studio, and Interloper Films respectively. Post-graduation, Kai is preparing for a career in film post-production.

 

 

 

 

Leah Schneider is a fourth-year student at Elon studying Communication Design and Multimedia Authoring. She has worked in multiple industries including professional services, fashion, skincare and beauty, and athletics. She has a variety of domestic and international abroad experiences such as in New York City and Vietnam. After graduating, she’ll be moving back to the Midwest to work as a Copywriter with Mosaic North America, a marketing agency with a variety of consumer packaged goods clients.

 

 

 

Avery Sleeper is a senior at Elon University, originally from Burlington VT. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communication Design and a minor in Multimedia Authoring. She completed a marketing internship in London, UK during her time abroad and worked as a Layout Designer for a lifestyle magazine based in Elon’s campus. Post-graduate, she plans to move to Boston.