Katherine Makepeace is a senior at Elon University, working toward her BA in both Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric. She is also a Writing Center Consultant, and enjoys collaborating with her peers on a spectrum of textual genres and research projects. Growing up in the rural mountains surrounding Asheville, N.C. Katherine cultivated a passion for exploration and the outdoors that she was ecstatic to indulge throughout her research for the Mountain Group. In the near future, she also looks forward to applying her writing, editing, and design skills in the publishing or copywriting fields.

Hi everyone! This is my second round of contributions to our Highway 64 website, so I’ll keep things brief. I’m still discovering adventure across borders, still doing my best to embrace different ways of life first-hand, and definitely still making friends along the way. I’m well on my way to law school now, but travel writing will always be my favorite way to break from the routine and reconnect with the world around me.

Alexa Dysch is pursuing an English major, with a double concentration in Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric, and a minor in Psychology. She is also a CUPID Associate and enjoys collaborating with peers to discuss rhetoric and its modern application. Alexa grew up in South Florida and was very excited to be a part of the Mountain Group, because of the opportunity to study an unfamiliar region and culture. Her articles on the blog include features on the Folk Festival and Mountaintop Wine Shoppe and reflections about Floridian influence and husband/wife duos in the mountains. After this experience, Alexa plans on moving to the mountains as soon as possible, preferably along Highway 64.

Emilia Azar is a senior Professional Writing & Rhetoric (PWR) major and Psychology minor. Her biggest loves in life are travel and writing – which she hopes to incorporate into whatever job field she finds herself in after graduation – so this class was a perfect fit. On Elon University’s campus, she has further expanded her passion to include advocacy & awareness for mental health. This past summer, she founded Active Minds at Elon, a student-run organization that empowers others to talk about mental health. Additionally, she is a Writing Center Consultant for Elon’s Writing Center and the External Philanthropy Chair for Kappa Delta Sorority. What is she always doing? Listening to music in the background of her busy, but passion-filled life. Current tastes range from Trevor Hall to the Rent Movie Soundtrack to … of course ladies … Luke Bryan.

Emilia is a part of the Mountain Region group and is very excited to share this life-changing experience with you through written pieces, photographs, and videos.

Taylor Logeman is a senior English major with a concentration in Professional Writing & Rhetoric, and a minor in Marketing & Professional Sales.  Taylor hails from Easton, Maryland, and greatly enjoys living on the Eastern Shore.  Her main involvements on campus are her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, and her leadership position in Young Life.  Her passion lies in traveling, and her journeys have crossed through Canada, Europe, and Africa.  She also loves her two dogs, riding horses, reading, and raspberry chocolate chip ice cream.

Taylor hopes to find work in New York City, either writing for an online magazine or in a Marketing/Advertising agency.

Rachel Fishman is an English major with a concentration in Professional Writing & Rhetoric and a minor in Business Administration. She is passionate about traveling, a desire that only increased after her semester abroad in Denmark during Fall 2013. Rachel was a part of the Mountain Group for the Highway 64 Project, an experience that provided her with a whole new perspective on North Carolina. The mountains were even more alluring than she ever imagined, possessing a distinct quality that is drawing her back. Her pieces on the blog include a profile on Franklin and its charitable mindset, a feature on Appalachian Toys, a travelogue on the hotbed of advice available in coffee shops, and reviews of Folk Festival food and wine shoppes, among others.

Miranda Romano is a junior English major concentrating in Professional Writing & Rhetoric and Creative Writing with a minor in Spanish. On campus she is part of ESA, Elon’s Ballroom Dance Team and works as a consultant in the Writing Center. She was already relatively familiar with 64 since it makes an appearance on the long 8 hour drive from Cincinnati, Ohio. She traveled with her group around the Piedmont area.

Hi friends! My name is Gina Apperson. I am a strategic communicator, avid blogger and graphic designer. In Spring 2014, I studied abroad in Seville, Spain, where I discovered my passion for traveling and storytelling. On campus, I work with Elon University’s yearbook as well as Live Oak Communications, a student-run communications agency. I believe something magical happens when we combine adventure and creativity, and I hope to inspire and fuel these creative callings within us all.

My name is Katie Stewart and I am an English professional writing major with minors in creative writing and human service studies. I love writing, hiking, and exploring new places. My favorite travelling experience so far was in Yosemite National Park, where I hiked on beautiful and unfamiliar terrain. You can find my work in the 2014 Foothills section. I can’t wait to share my new experiences on Highway 64 with you!

Hello and welcome to the Highway 64 Project!

My name is Miranda Allan. I am an English major with a concentration in Professional Writing and Rhetoric and a minor in Political Science. I intend to pursue a career in social work and have interned with First In Families of North Carolina, a non-profit organization providing services to families with members who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, I work as a consultant in Elon’s Center for Writing Excellence. I first became interested in travel writing while studying with the Elon Center Abroad in Florence, Italy in the Spring of 2014. My work is featured in the Fall 2014 Foothills section.