Throughout the spring semester we are celebrating our senior student-athletes with a Senior Salute series. Today's featured senior is women's basketball's Ella Biondi. Biondi is an archaeology and classical studies major.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend Wooster because of the tight-knit community and support from my coaches, professors, and peers. I also loved that I could study classics and archaeology together and merge my two passions in one. In addition, I really liked the culture of the basketball team and how close they all were.
Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: Being a Fighting Scot means pursuing excellence not only on the court but also in an academic setting. The College does a great job setting students up for success while being athletes, and my professors have loved watching my games over the years.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite memories as a student-athlete center around supporting other female sports on campus. A few highlights include women's lacrosse being part of the NCAA Div. III Championship and working the games. My favorite basketball memory comes from my junior year, when we beat Kenyon College twice in North Coast Athletic Conference play.
Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part about being a student athlete is meeting and getting closer with other student-athletes. I have formed close bonds with members of softball and women's lacrosse that will last a lifetime. I am also a member of Alpha Gamma Phi, a sorority which has a large percentage of athletes, including basketball, women's soccer, softball, volleyball, track and field, cross country, cheer, and tennis. We come to events to support each other.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I serve as president of both my sorority, Alpha Gamma Phi, and president of Eta Sigma Phi, the classical studies honor society. I am also co-president of Inter-Greek Council and the senior Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative for the women's basketball team.
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: The professor who has made the biggest impact on me is Dr. Monica Florence, who is the associate chair of the classics department and one of my Independent Study advisors. Dr. Florence was the first professor I had in the classics department. She taught me ancient Greek, the history of Egypt, and the cultures of ancient civilizations. Dr. Florence was always one chat away, whether it was about basketball, study abroad opportunities, grad school, or life.
Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Dr. Kara Morrow, department chair of art and art history, also impacted my time here at the College. She helped me realize I want to pursue a career in a museum or work closely with art history in the future. In addition, Coach Olivia Besancon and Coach Morgan McMillen were a great support system during my basketball career. I am grateful for the time and effort they have invested into creating a culture for the team.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: My Independent Study is a joint project in classical studies and archaeology that combines other sections such as art history, history, and philology. I am analyzing the Panathenaic Procession in ancient Greece, and how that relates to the religious and civic identity of Athens during the Archaic Period. I also analyze how this built the newfound Athenian identity and its relationship with the patron deity Athena.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: As a student I had the opportunity to travel abroad twice. I went to Greece in summer of 2023 through a three-week TREK of the mainland and the islands, where I learned about science and technology of ancient Greece. During the summer of 2024, I spent two weeks on the island of Despotiko in Greece excavating the ancient site. Studying abroad helped me find what I wanted to study for my I.S., which was an amazing opportunity and experience I will never forget.
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: I would tell my first-year self to breathe and to step out of my comfort zone to create amazing memories.
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