The journalism and media analytics double major will investigate illegal hammerhead shark fishing in Costa Rica, a country deeply connected to her heritage.
Lilly Molina ’27, an Odyssey Scholar and Communications Fellow, has been selected for the 2025 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship. A student media leader at Elon News Network and a recent contributor to La Noticia, Molina will use the fellowship to investigate illegal hammerhead shark fishing off the coast of Costa Rica.
For the Elon sophomore, the fellowship represents a personal and professional milestone. “I applied for the fellowship because I wanted an opportunity to report in the country that I have called my second home for so many years and that my parents and grandparents call home,” Molina said. “I’ve always wanted to do something that I am passionate about, like journalism, in a country that means so much to me.”
Her proposal was chosen in a competitive selection process by the Washington, D.C.-based Pulitzer Center, which funds international journalism on underreported stories. Judges commended her pre-reporting efforts to contextualize the significance of the fragile keystone species, as well as her working knowledge of Costa Rica and training in multimedia technology. The fellowship grants, ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, cover travel and reporting expenses.
Molina’s passion for wildlife reporting stems from her upbringing in Tampa, Florida. “I’ve always loved animals and learning about them,” she said. “I grew up within 300 feet of a zoo my entire life, so when I found this story, I immediately knew that I had to cover it.”
As a journalism and media analytics major with a minor in peace and conflict studies, Molina is well-prepared for the challenge ahead. She currently serves as ENN’s audience engagement manager and previously held the role of news editor. She credits her experience at Elon News Network for refining her skills.
“ENN has helped me get my reps in, helped me grow, and find my voice as a reporter,” she said. “Then the Gear Room, where I work, has exposed me to gear that I didn’t even know existed before I came to Elon. It has allowed me to get hands-on experience with so much equipment.”
Looking ahead, Molina is focused on meticulous preparation for her field reporting. “I am definitely a planner,” she said. “I want to make sure I have my entire itinerary planned out before I depart. I will be spending these next few months coordinating interviews and making sure my plan is solid.”
Elon is a partner in the Pulitzer Center’s Campus Consortium, a network of colleges and universities that support the center’s mission to promote journalism on critical global issues. Along with travel funding, the fellowship provides mentorship, journalism resources, and the opportunity to present work at an annual fall conference in Washington, D.C. Student projects are published in major media outlets nationally and internationally, as well as on the Pulitzer Center website.
“This fellowship is a game-changer for emerging journalists,” said Lorraine Ahearn, an assistant professor of journalism and Elon’s liaison to the Pulitzer Center. “Students not only get to pitch big ideas, they benefit from the expert guidance of seasoned international journalists and help getting their work disseminated to a broad audience.”