Meet Our Team 2024
Pearl Gluck, Co-Founder, Artistic Director
Pearl Gluck is the co-founder and artistic director of the Centre Film Festival. Gluck’s work has been part of the Sundance Lab, Cannes, PBS, and won prizes such as Best Actor, Best Film, Best Debut Feature and Best LGBT Short at festivals worldwide. Her first documentary feature, Divan (2004) opened theatrically at the Film Forum in NYC and premiered on the Sundance Channel. Her award-winning fiction feature, The Turn Out, (2018) as well as her short films, Castles in the Sky (2023), Summer (2018) Write Me (2020), and Castles in the Sky (2023) have screened at festivals and available on platforms such as Amazon, ChaiFlix, Zeitgeist Films, and Netflix. Her work has been supported by the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, an Institute for International Education Fulbright Student fellowship to Hungary as well as two Fulbright Global Scholar awards to Poland and Israel. She continues to make both doc and narrative films that explore themes of faith, class, and gender. She teaches Screenwriting and Directing at Penn State University.
Helena McHugh, Operations Manager
Helena McHugh is a recent graduate of Penn State with a BA in Film Production and a minor in English. Helena currently serves as the Operations Manager for the Centre Film Festival. In this role, she oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of festival events, ensuring a seamless experience for filmmakers, attendees, and staff alike. Her career in film began with a production internship at Palinka Pictures, where she gained hands-on experience in project development, research, and grant preparation. Later, she worked as a Script Supervisor on the short film Stars and Bars, where she ensured continuity and collaborated with the director to maintain storytelling integrity. With a strong foundation in both film production and festival operations, Helena aspires to continue supporting creative projects and grow her production experience.
Sophia Alexander, Lead Graphic Designer
Sophia is the Lead Graphic Designer for the Centre Film Festival. While leading her design team, she created and coordinated CFF’s 2024 style, social media posts, motion pieces, digital and print advertising, and merchandise designs. A graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Graphic Design, Sophia values the experience and challenges that come with every new project. When she isn’t working, she can be found drawing, animating, and writing for her growing fanbase online. Other hobbies include crochet, poetry, and nature photography. Her other latest design adventure is at 1st Team Advertising in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She aspires to one day create her own animated series, and with her mixed bag of interests she hopes to work with many fun clients that want to make their dreams a reality.
Maddie Sherbondy, Director of Hospitality
Madeleine Sherbondy is a State College native and recent graduate of the Susquehanna University Writers Institute, majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Film Studies. In her post-graduation life, she’s become involved with the Centre Film Festival and local film productions while working towards attending an MFA program to continue her education in fiction writing, and hopes to one day publish a collection of magical realism-inspired short fiction. Outside of her work in the arts, she is involved at the State College Y as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and swim team coach. Her favorite part of working on the Centre Film Festival has been learning all that goes into the event, from hospitality to operations to community engagement, and seeing the hard work of everyone involved come together to create something special celebrating film! When she is not writing, reading, or doing film things, she enjoys studying languages, solo traveling, and hanging out with her two cats.
Tasha Bourjaily, Operations
Born and raised in Central Pennsylvania, Tasha provides administrative support to the Bellisario College of Communications.
Paul Cassarly, Web & Media Management
Paul Cassarly is the President & CEO of Cassus Media | Digital Marketing Solutions™ headquartered in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His company provides in-house media production, website services, and other digital services to small businesses and government agencies. You can learn more about Cassus Media by visiting www.CassusMedia.com.
Michael DePiro, Operations & Management
Michael A. DePiro is the CEO and founder of [Untitled] Productions Company, LLC. With over 15 years of experience in Film & TV Production and Live Event Management. He holds a Masters in Entertainment Business and Global Media Marketing from Full Sail University.
Michael excels at turning creative ideas into reality.Notable projects include “No Game Like Foxes” (2019) and “ZERA & The Thieves Of The Light” (2023). In addition Michael has been a producer and director on the touring show DePiro’s Divas since 2020. He’s collaborated and managed projects with industry giants like Red Bull, Netflix, Hulu, Bravo TV, VEU, Inc., and The Imaginarium Studios in London.
Matt Jacobs, Videography and Photography
Matt Jacobs is a filmmaker, photographer, and musician from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Though he had many artistic passions growing up, his interests eventually fixated on telling stories with the camera. Since graduating from Penn State in May of 2023, he has been doing freelance photography and videography full time under his own company, Matt Jacobs Productions.
Sam Rudy, Press & Public Relations
Meet our PR pro Sam Rudy! A Native of Centre County, Sam fell in love with the arts while attending Penn State. After 40 years on Broadway in public relations, he is happy to be back for more of the same.
Angelique Redwood, Copy Editor
With an innate passion for the written word, Angelique Redwood has spent the past few years growing her portfolio through the creation of blogs based in mindfulness & spirituality, creative writing, and book reviews. When she’s not pressing pen to the page, she’s either immersing herself in nature, satiating her large reading appetite, or indulging herself in all things entertainment, whether that be through movies, television, or music.
Haley Singer, Design
Full-time Freelance Graphic Designer, currently doing projects such as, social media management and content creation, brand design, and logo design. At the beginning of 2020, I moved from Baltimore, MD to Central Pennsylvania where I am from.
STUDENT PRODUCTION INTERNS
Beatriz Rocha, Intern, First-Year PSU Student
My name is Beatriz, though I’m most commonly known as Bia, and I am an advertising major at Penn State. I was born in Brazil, and I immigrated to the United State when I was very young. I’ve lived in Florida for the past ten years, where I discovered my love for creating different forms of media. I have always been passionate about creativity, which comes from years of involvement in musical theatre and dance. I discovered my love for film and media in my sophomore year of high school, but only began pursuing it a year later when I decided to start taking media studies classes. I decided to come to Penn State because I discovered how many incredible opportunities the College of Communications has to offer, and I am so glad I made that choice. Now I am an intern at the Centre Film Festival and I’m excited to gain experience!
Owen Pohlkotte, Intern, First-Year PSU Student
Owen Pohlkotte is a first-year student at PSU. After joining the Centre Film family as a student in his first-year seminar class, he became an intern to gain valuable skills and knowledge in his field. With a few years of film and broadcasting experience in high school, and now his future major in telecommunications, he plans to become a T.V news producer. Fittingly, his favorite movie is, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”. Owen has received multiple awards from the Student Television Network, an honorable mention in the silent film competition and his high school news team received a broadcast excellence award: outstanding achievement for the daily show – “CCHS Today” for which he was a co-producer. His other hobbies involve acting in local theatre productions around his community, singing in both choirs and musicals and cuddling with his dog and two cats. Lastly, he hopes to have a great first year at Penn State!
STUDENT DESIGN INTERNS
Abdiel G. Gonzalez-Santiago, Design Intern, Senior PSU Student
I’m a Senior at Penn State in the DART major. I’m studying 3D modeling and game design. I arrived at Pennsylvania from West Virginia, however I moved to West Virginia from Puerto Rico where I was originally born and raised from. With my studies, my plan is to take these skills to apply them in the gaming industry. I enjoy game design as it stems from my hobbies of video games and tabletop games. My passion of my artwork is driven by my hobbies, and I enjoy the relationship between them as it is never limiting in what I can create. I thank Penn State in helping find like-minded peers that share my hobbies along with interest in game design as it has helped me learn more through others. Although the environment does not match my area, I hope to learn a lot with this internship and what it means to work as a team.
Connor LaTour, Multimedia Artist, Senior PSU Student
Hi, I’m Connor! I am currently a senior at Pennsylvania State University working for my Fine Arts degree with a focus in New Media. I consider myself a multimedia artist, as I would like to be well-versed in all types of art. Whether that be through traditional mediums like graphite, pen, and textiles, or digital mediums working in a technological atmosphere, I want to learn them all! My dream is to be involved in character design and concept art, but I have a lot of passion towards other forms of creativity like graphic design and traditional materials like embroidery! My art is inspired through personal experience and the types of media (mainly music) that I consume, with current inspirations being older European art and medieval armor. I want my art to be able to invoke ideas and emotions in people, as well as encourage others to make their own art, no matter the skill level!
STUDENT SOCIAL MEDIA INTERNS
Alexandra Mondi, Social Media Intern, Junior PSU Student
Hi! I’m Alexandra Mondi, and I am a social media intern for the Centre Film Festival this year. I am currently a junior majoring in Media Studies and Pursuing the Smeal Business Fundamentals certificate. This role gives me the perfect opportunity to blend my passion for creativity with my skills in social media. I look forward to enhancing the festival’s online presence and engaging with our audience. I’m excited to create content that highlights the incredible films and filmmakers featured at the festival. I believe that effective storytelling on social media can foster a vibrant community around the event. I can’t want to collaborate with the talented Centre Film Festival team and contribute to making this festival a memorable experience for everyone!
Anh (Paul) Nguyen, Social Media Intern, Senior PSU Student
Anh (Paul) Nguyen is a senior majoring public relations and international politics at Penn State. He was born and raised in Vietnam, and he is living in Williamsport, Pennsylvania right now. He is the Vice President of Happy Valley Communications and also works as Student Manager of Officials’ Development for Penn State Competitive Sports. After college, he is planning on going to graduate school. He is very excited to learn more about social media planning and have more real-world experience in the communications field through this internship with Centre Film Festival.
Rayna Shea, Social Media Intern, Senior PSU Student
Rayna is a dedicated fourth-year student at Penn State University, majoring in communications, with a minor in Psychology. She is thrilled to take on the role of Social Media Intern. Rayna is very excited to have this opportunity, seeing it as a chance to apply her academic knowledge and creativity to enhance the organization’s online presence. With a strong passion for social media marketing, she aims to develop engaging content that resonates with audiences across various platforms. In addition to her social media responsibilities, Rayna is looking forward to the upcoming film festival, from November 11th to the 17th. Outside of her studies and internship, Rayna enjoys exploring new trends in digital marketing and staying updated with the latest social media strategies. She eagerly anticipates collaborating with the team and contributing to meaningful projects.
STUDENT IT INTERNS
Diane Akpovwa, IT Intern, Junior PSU Student
I am a 3rd year majoring in Human-Centered Design and Development, with a minor in Art History and pursuing a certificate in Museum Studies so I can apply my technical skills towards revolutionizing the art-viewing and entertainment industries through the use of Virtual Reality technologies.
Adrian Bett, IT Intern, Senior PSU Student
Born in Lancaster PA, and raised in Edmonton Alberta Canada, he is no stranger to changing environments. He is a senior at Pennsylvania State University from the college of IST, majoring in Enterprise Technology Integration, with a focus on Application Development. With a strong interest in Website development and art, Adrian is eager to hone his skills with his IT internship with the Centre Film Festival.
May Salama, Application Developer & Designer, Senior IST Major
May, a senior majoring in Information Sciences and Technology, is currently thriving in her role as an application developer and designer at the Centre Film Festival. In this multifaceted position, she seamlessly blends her coding expertise with her creative design skills, contributing significantly to the festival’s digital presence and user engagement strategies. Aspiring to become a UI/UX designer, May sees her work with the Centre Film Festival as a crucial stepping stone. She’s gaining valuable experience in research and design, all while working with a diverse audience in a dynamic, creative environment. Outside of her professional pursuits, May likes to do graphic design as well as building prototype and gadgets for fun. May is excited about leveraging her unique blend of technical and creative skills to drive innovation in UI/UX design. She views each project as an opportunity to grow and push the boundaries of digital interaction in the film festival space.
Drew Waterman, IT Intern
Hi, I’m Drew, a Junior at Penn State majoring in Information Sciences and Technology. Born and raised in Abington, PA, I’ve always had a passion for technology and its potential to shape the future. When I’m not diving into tech projects, you can find me exploring the outdoors, whether it’s hiking through scenic trails or biking along new paths. I love connecting with people and bringing creative ideas to life.
FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR INTERN TEAM
Maggie Alderisio, First-Year Seminar
Maggie is a first year student at Penn State from Delmar, New York. She is in the Bellisario College of Communications and is majoring in Broadcast Journalism. She is so excited to be a part of the Centre Film Festival this year as part of the freshman year seminar!
Hannah Baker, First-Year Seminar
My name is Hannah Baker and I am from Kensington, Maryland. I have always had an interest in media studies as I grew up around it due to my dad being in the industry. My dad works for Fox News and my favorite thing to do as a kid would be to go to work with him and follow him around while he’s shooting, editing, and introducing me to the world of television. I would see interesting people on TV and getting to see behind the scenes as well was very interesting to me. As I grew older I have found a new love for the PR and AD. I have become fascinated by how social media can influence people to do things just by its marketing and advertisements. I enjoy learning about the little things that make people just want to click and engage. I aspire to work in the social media PR or AD team for a big fashion company or cosmetic company as those are huge parts of my interest as well.
Jimmy Blair, First-Year Seminar
Hello! My name is Jimmy Blair. I am a first year student at Penn State University Park. I intend to major in broadcast journalism to go into either the broadcasting world or the path of traditional journalism. Throughout my whole life, I have always believed in the power of storytelling. How stories, characters, and events can make us feel such a wide variety of emotions is such a powerful quality of stories. Films are one way we can experience stories, and films throughout my life have had so many memorable effects on myself as a person. I was a broadcaster at my middle school and high school, and I intend to use my talents to make the Centre City Film Festival that much better this year!
Natalie Bohnsack, First-Year Seminar
Natalie Bohnsack is a freshman studying advertising at Penn State. She became interested in advertising after working on her high school’s yearbook staff for four years. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, she was drawn to the alumni connections, large amount of opportunities, and has enjoyed making a home here at University Park. She is also a member of Ad/PR Club and AAF, where she has expanded her knowledge of the field of advertising. She is excited to grow personally and academically at Penn State over the next four years. She would love to be a creative director some day, and hopes to tell meaningful stories through her work. In her free time, she likes to read, workout, hang out with friends, and watch sitcoms. She is also a member of the Silks in the Blue Band, and loves to spend her Saturdays performing in Beaver Stadium and making cherished memories with her friends.
Emily Bonavita, First-Year Seminar
I am a freshman student at Penn State currently studying telecommunications. I am on the social media team for the film festival and am looking forward to designing graphics and making fun and creative content for the Instagram/TikTok. Some of my interests include traveling, watching movies, and listening to music. I am looking forward to working with the Centre Film Festival team!
Bree Boyd, First-Year Seminar
Bree Boyd is a first-year student at Penn State University, where she is majoring in Public Relations and Advertising. She has a deep passion for fashion and social media, and she plans to build her future career around these two interests. Despite being new to campus, Bree has already joined several clubs and organizations, including NCNW, ED2010, Sisters on the Runway, Letters of Love, and Culture Central. She is enthusiastic about expanding her involvement even further and connecting with more people through internships or any other opportunities presented.
Bree describes herself as hardworking and outgoing, always seeking new opportunities to learn and grow. She enjoys surrounding herself with diverse individuals and embracing fresh experiences. Currently, Bree is especially excited about the Centre Film Festival, not only because of the films being showcased but also because of the connections she’s made with fellow students who helped organize the event. She’s proud to have contributed to such a widely enjoyed festival and looks forward to more experiences like this.
Laura Chiodo, First-Year Seminar
Laura Chiodo is a film major at Penn State University Park. She is from a small town in Massachusetts about forty minutes west of Boston. Laura is participating in this years Centre Film Festival as a member of the student jury and part of the video production crew. For as long as she can remember she has wanted to get involved in the filmmaking process. Eliciting emotions through acting and cinema has always been fascinating to her. She loves to entertain. In high school, she was involved in music programs such as theater, a cappella, and band. In her free time, she likes playing the drums, drawing, listening to music, going out with friends, and playing mini games of volleyball or soccer. Some of her favorite movies include Mamma Mia, Jojo Rabbit, La La Land, The Lion King, and Spider Man: Into the Spiderverse. She is very excited to see this year’s submissions!
Landon Clarken, First-Year Seminar
Landon Clarken is an aspiring filmmaker who will be majoring in film production next year. His passion for filmmaking began at a young age, inspiring him to spend his life behind, in front of, or anywhere the camera needs him. Last year, he made his directorial debut with the short film Unshaklen, showcasing his talent and dedication to the craft. Recently, he wrapped up his personal project, Ace’s Archives, a short documentary-style Instagram channel that chronicled his journey throughout high school.
At Penn State, Landon is eager to seize every opportunity available to him. He has already begun making his mark by hosting entertainment segments on PSN News and serving as a producer for Take Me Out Coach. With his creativity and drive, Landon is committed to making meaningful contributions to the world of film and storytelling.
Mia Debelevich, First-Year Seminar
Mia is currently a freshman at Penn State studying Digital and Print Journalism and Political Science, and is from Chicago, Illinois. Her favorite activities include reading, writing, photography, and record collecting; she enjoys playing piano and guitar. Her interests lie in editorial and feature writing, and draws inspiration from her favorite journalists, such as Hunter Thompson. Her main aspiration is to become a political reporter, preferably with a focus on print. She wrote for her high school newspaper and won first place in several Illinois journalism competitions. She currently works with Centre Documenters here at Penn State. She also loves getting involved with her community through volunteer work. While she prefers literature over film, she is thrilled all the same to be working on the 2024 Centre Film Festival.
Riley DiCio, First-Year Seminar
Hello, my name is Riley DiCio, I am a first year student at Penn State University, and I am from Long Island, New York and I attended Smithtown High school East. I am majoring in advertising and I am enrolled in the PSU 9 seminar class devoted to the Center Film Festival. Some hobbies that I enjoy doing include reading, listening to music, dancing, baking and painting. I am currently involved in multiple clubs on campus such as the Eclipse club, and the PSU reach club. I am super excited to be apart of the Center Film Festival this year. I can’t wait to be able to gain new skills and experiences from this amazing opportunity.
Chase Fisher, First-Year Seminar
I am a broadcast journalism major and a first year student at Penn State. I am from Duncannon, Pennsylvania which is a half hour outside of the state capital Harrisburg and graduated from Susquenita High School. In high school I played baseball and basketball, was a member in National Honor Society, varsity club, and media group, and graduated in the top 10 of my class. Outside of school I like to be active. I enjoy playing sports, running, hunting, and spending time with my family and friends. What I plan to do with my broadcast journalism degree is go into sports play by play. It has been a dream of mine since a younger age to get to be the voice behind some of the greatest moments in sports history and add significance to them as well. The reason I came to Penn State is because I have always been a fan of their sports teams but when I realized that they had a great program for sports broadcasting it became my target school. I am very excited for this next chapter in my life and can’t wait to see where it takes me.
Ali Goughnour, First-Year Seminar
My name is Alli Goughnour, I am currently a freshman studying advertising and public relations, set to graduate from Penn State University in 2028. This is my first year involved in the festival as part of a freshman seminar class under the direction of Pearl Gluck. I enjoy all things social media and hope to one day work in media advertising and/or branding. Throughout highschool I was involved in clubs like the National Art Honors Society, and the National English Honors Society. Being a president in both of those commitments helped improve my communication skills. At Penn State I am involved in things like advertising and public relations club, as well as being a Thon operations committee member. I look forward to working as part of the festival this year, and possibly in years to come. I also hope to study abroad in Italy at some point in my 4 years to deepen my understanding of the language.
Grace Haislmaier, First-Year Seminar
My name is Grace Haislmaier and I am from Boulder, Colorado.
I love to be outdoors, spend time with my family and friends back home, and find ways to be creative. I also love animals, working with younger kids, and being active! One of my favorite ways to be active is skiing – I am so grateful to live close to the mountains and ski in beautiful places, like Vail Mountain Resort.
I was a ballerina for the past nine years, and while I’m not dancing at the moment I hope to find a balance between academics and activities, so I can begin again and maybe even try different styles like contemporary.
This year, I am a freshman at the Pennsylvania State University – it’s been a huge adjustment but I really love the weather, the school spirit, and the environment. I currently do not have a major but I am considering Biobehavioral Health, or something along that career path. I really want to use my life and the opportunities I’ve been given to make a difference, and help people in any way that I can!
Gabby Henderson, First-Year Seminar
Gabriella is a freshman at Penn State majoring in Journalism but also has strong interests in studying more about AD/PR. She was born and raised in Fredericksburg, VA. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, going to work out classes and getting connected in the PSU community. Her main goal is to work in the sports industry reporting on either soccer or basketball. She inspires to create content for national sports teams around the United States. Her favorite type of journalistic writing includes writing feature articles. During high school she wrote for her high school newspaper as a feature editor and editor and chief. She also attended multiple journalism summer intensives in between the summers of her junior and senior years including the Washington Journalism and Media Conference and The School of The New York Times. She’s really excited about being a part of the planning process of the 2024 Centre Film Festival!
Ryder Holloway, First-Year Seminar
Ryder Holloway is a first-year student at Penn State University, planning on majoring in Advertising and Public Relations within the Bellisario College of Communications. Born and raised in Wallingford, Connecticut, Ryder graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in the spring of 2024. He chose to attend Penn State because of the university’s renowned alumni network and unmatched opportunities. Hockey has been Ryder’s biggest passion since he first started playing at the age of five. Through the sport, he has met so many amazing people and learned countless lessons that have shaped him into the person he is today. By taking advantage of the resources and networks Penn State has to offer, Ryder can continue pursuing his love for hockey and his goal of working for the National Hockey League after graduating. He is grateful for the opportunity to learn effective public relations and management skills through the Centre Film Festival.
Nathan Johns, First-Year Seminar
Nathan is a first year broadcast journalism major at Penn State University from the town of Dallas, Pennsylvania, within the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Area. He has been involved in theatre productions in his home town for the last ten years. He is very excited to work at the festival and see all the of the amazing films this week and getting to meet everyone who comes to check out the festival.
John Koman, First-Year Seminar
John Koman is a first-year seminar student enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University. He is from Toms River, New Jersey, and graduated from Toms River High School East. He is working at the Centre Film Festival as a part of the Print/Media Design team. John is also taking the Cinema Art course at Penn State, where he gets to watch timeless classics at the State Theatre. John likes to watch movies because he thinks they are the best way to convey a proper story, filled with compelling characters and captivating plots. John believes that participating and getting involved in the Centre Film Festival is a great way to get first-hand experience of the world of film festivals. He is super excited to see all the hard work of these up-and-coming filmmakers of the future finally payoff gets shown to a big audience at the State Theatre.
Bella Lama, First-Year Seminar
My name is Bella Lama and I’m a 1st Year at Penn State, however I am originally from a small town in New Jersey. I am majoring in Advertising and PR with a possible minor in graphic design or photography. I really love all things media and design so I hope to pursue a career in Graphic Advertising or Advertising Art. I have been enjoying my first year at Penn State and made a lot of really great friends and have been loving all of my class so far! I also joined a few clubs which have been really great to get involved on campus.
Andrea Lara-Marcial, First-Year Seminar
Hello, my name is Andrea Lara-Marcial! I am a first year student at Penn State University majoring in public relations. I am part of the PSU 9 Seminar class that works with the Centre Film Festival. I attended Collegium Charter High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. There I was part of many clubs such as NHS, SHS, Tri-M, and music ensembles. At Penn State I am involved in advertising and public relations clubs. I am looking forward to seeing the production of the Centre Film festival and getting more involved. I am also looking forward to seeing where these four years at college take me.
Jace Littlejohn, First-Year Seminar
Hi my name is Jace Littlejohn, I am a student at Penn State studying film production. I also run multiple social media pages across Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram. I love to cook, bake, and do gymnastics whenever I’m not doing school or social media work. And my top priorities are God and family because they are my sources of joy and peace.
Ali McGonagle, First-Year Seminar
Ali McGonagle is so excited to be a part of Centre Film Festival this year! She is currently a first year student at Penn State University and is a communications major with an emphasis in journalism. She is from West Chester, Pennsylvania and graduated from Rustin High School in 2024. While in High School Ali was a part of DECA, model UN, and the SPARK club. Ali is currently a part of ED2012 here at Penn State and aspires to get involved in THON and greek life. Ali thoroughly enjoy’s watching films and is so excited to be a part of the film festival. She can’t wait to support the filmmakers and see all the creativity Centre Film Festival has to offer!
Marty O’Leary, First-Year Seminar
My name is Marty O’Leary, I am a first semester freshman from whestchester NY with a major in AD/PR. I plan to focus on PR and I hope to work at a PR firm one day. I chose to come to Penn State because all of the extracurriculars offered to me and for philanthropic events such as thon. I enjoy watching sports and listening to music, I’m a New York sports fan and my favorite music to listen to is 90’s grunge.
Ben Papson, First-Year Seminar
I grew up in Washington Pa, which is right outside of Pittsburgh. I have always loved film from an early age, at which I was obsessed with movies like the original Transformers cartoon movie. Throughout my childhood, my film tastes changed as I grew, but one thing has always stayed consistent, my love of all things Cinema. I enjoy to run cross country races, watch movies, and listen to Dave Matthews Live albums. Some of my favorite Movies include: Empire of the Sun, Chinatown, and Star Trek 2 the Wrath of Khan. My favorite Dave Matthews songs are #41 and You Never Know. In my free time, I can often be found trying different pizza and ice cream restaurants. I am also interested in Accounting, Marketing, and Management. I am currently attending Penn State University at State College and am enrolled in the Communications college.
Alexandra Roushinko, First-Year Seminar
Alexandra Roushinko is a Penn State Undergraduate student studying Film Production. She’s a musician, writer, and crocheter, but has always had the most passion for filmmaking. Born and raised in Northern New Jersey, she spent most of her childhood consuming as many movies and TV shows she could get her hands on. Now in college, Alexandra has been running from set to set in State College as a Production Assistant, Boom Operator, Assistant Grip, or any other role she that needed her. She has a passion for stories and storytelling and is happy so long as she has a project to work on. In between classes, Alexandra is currently working at an internship for the content creation company Spark Pixel as a video editor. When she isn’t working, Alexandra is often found either enjoying nature on a long hike, or cuddled beneath piles of blankets, watching the same 3 movies on a loop.
Nicolette Satterfield, First-Year Seminar
Hello I’m Nicolette! I’m from Doylestown Pennsylvania and attended Central Bucks East High School. I am a first year student at Penn State University and am majoring in Film Production. I am enrolled in the PSU 9 seminar class that is dedicated to the Center Film Festival. Some of my hobby’s include, surfing, working out, hanging out with friends, and listening to music. I am a huge fan of reality TV and have recently been keeping up with Big Brother, The Bachelor, and Survivor. I am excited to gain some hands on experience and see what the Center Film Festival has in store for this year.
McKinley Soehren, First-Year Seminar
Hi, I’m McKinley! I’m a first-year student at Penn State, majoring in Public Relations. I’m part of the PSU 9 seminar, and I’m really excited to work behind the scenes at this incredible festival. Originally from Maine, I’m enjoying everything Pennsylvania has to offer. This opportunity at the Centre Film Festival is a great way for me to gain hands-on experience in publicity. I’ve always loved storytelling and connecting people through media, and I can’t wait to see how everything comes together at the festival. I’m looking forward to working with the team, meeting new people, and learning more about the ins and outs of the festival. Here’s to an exciting journey ahead!
Anthony Staley, First-Year Seminar
I am Anthony Staley and I’m here to make an impact on the film community. I specialize in sports media as that is my passion. I can defiantly make an impact on camera as I work for a sports media brand already. (benchwarmerbanter) I love to talk about sports and report on it. I love watching sports films and getting myself involved that way. I can’t wait for the film festival!!!!
Marissa Stiffy, First-Year Seminar
Marissa is attending Penn State University Park to major in Advertising and Public Relations. Here she can expand her knowledge and learn more about her future career in this competitive field. Networking and competition is something she has been involved with her whole life. Marissa has been dancing and performing for 16 years and competed 7 years. Through Marissa’s adventures she learned how to market herself and how to market others to help her and her peers reach their goals.
Kennedy Thompson, First-Year Seminar
Hi my name is Kennedy! I am a first year Advertising and Public Relations major, and I am currently enrolled in the Bellisario freshman seminar class dealing with the festival. I have always been very interested in the media, and hope to pursue a career in social media PR, media advertising, or something similar! I am very excited to be apart of the creation of this festival, and I can’t wait to see all of the behind the scenes. I am interested in being involved in the Public Relations aspect of the festival. Watching films, and seeing how they reflect on an audience is something I love to see, and that is one of the main things I am excited about going into this. Some of my favorite movies include Dazed and Confused, Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Challengers. Working with other freshman while helping with this film festival is a fun and exciting opportunity, and I can’t wait!
Alexander Underwood, First-Year Seminar
I am a freshman who is intending to major in broadcasting and minor in journalism. I am come from a family with two brothers and a single, immigrant mother who relocated to the suburbs of Washington DC. My family situation made me into the man I am today, as I have become super self-sufficient and hard working from a young age. Ever since I can remember, it was always on me to play the father-figure role to my younger brothers. Something that we would always do would be playing and watching sports. Whatever the season or the weather, us three would be playing in the yard until our mom had to drag us back in. It got to the point where we converted our mom into an even bigger sports fan than us. After we’d come in and get tucked into bed, I would grab my notebook and write the scores and best plays from the games we played in the yard in vivid memory so I could always look back and remember. This is where my love for sports writing comes from, and I intend to show my love for this infant of millions of people one day.
Sarah Walsh, First-Year Seminar
Born on October 17, 2005, in Ann Arundel, Maryland, I have spent my entire life in my hometown. I grew up with a supportive and loving family, including your brother, who is currently a senior at Penn State. Throughout my childhood, I was active in sports, participating in soccer, gymnastics, and softball. Beyond athletics, I developed a passion for creating videos, especially enjoying the editing process. My creative energy is also reflected in my love for English, where writing detailed essays stands out as one of my favorite activities. Both of my parents played an important and caring role in my life, always providing me with encouragement.
Sarah Wilkin, First-Year Seminar
Hello! I’m Sarah Wilkin, a freshman at Penn State, majoring in Public Relations/Advertising at the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. I’m originally from Pennsylvania and I’m thrilled to be part of the Penn State community and the Centre Film Festival this year. I’ve always dreamed of a career in media, particularly with the Walt Disney Company, a passion I had since I could remember. Additionally, I also play an instrument. I’ve played the Alto Saxophone since fifth grade, participating in jazz, marching, and concert bands, including a wind ensemble. I knew I wanted to continue in college, so I joined the Pride of the Lions Pep Band, where I can still pursue my hobby with people who enjoy it too! I am also a part of the Ad/PR club this year! I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and eager to learn from my experiences at the Centre Film Festival, which I believe will be an exciting adventure!
Zoe Williams, First-Year Seminar
Hi, my name is Zoe Williams, I am from Manhattan in New York City, and I am a first-year student at Penn State. This year I am on the social media committee, the film and photography committee, and the student jury for the Centre Film Festival. I love playing sports, spending time with my family and friends, being part of Penn State’s blue and white society, and most importantly film as I am a film major. I have been dedicated to film since middle school and since then have done what I can to be involved whenever I can within it. I have won an award for my film in the New York Film Alliance festival, ran live streams, and have written many scripts. A goal of mine is to one day work at Warner Brother studios and direct a film of my own. I love working with everyone for this film festival and cannot wait for November!
Jaden Young, First-Year Seminar
Jaden is a first year African American student attending Penn State University. He is interested in public relations but, wants to further pursue a career in project management. Jaden is originally from South Florida and brings with him the knowledge of diverse cultures. He believes in the motto ‘you are who you hang around’. He believes as one succeeds they all will. Jaden seeks to promote the growth and development of those around him. Over his years he has expressed his belief of having an optimistic and open minded attitude. Ready to work, learn and produce quality/the best he can, reflecting his ethics and integrity. As Jaden continues his years in college he will remain dedicated to building new connections and experiences with those around him. Embracing for new endeavors and anticipating new challenges he will continue to contribute to the culture around him. He will spread whilst share his insights showing others his identity.