Makayla Neilson has been named Student of the Month for October by the Office of Residence Life.

Makayla is a senior from Homer, NY, with a Graphic Design major and a Computer Science minor. She is also a participant in the Fredonia Field Hockey Club and has been its president for two and a half years. She was nominated for Student of the Month by Residential Technology Coordinator Mark Mackey.

Makayla is also a participant in the Fredonia Honors Program, a Department of Visual Arts and New Media (VANM) Ambassador tour guide, and serves on the Senior Class President’s Committee. She has worked at the ITS Service Center and ResNet as a student technician for six semesters.

“I love the sense of community Fredonia has. Due to the smaller class sizes, I was able to establish close relationships with my peers and work closely with professors which, in retrospect, has enhanced my growth as an artist and as a student.” – Makayla Neilson

When asked about her favorite thing(s) about SUNY Fredonia, Makayla said “I love the sense of community Fredonia has. Due to the smaller class sizes, I was able to establish close relationships with my peers and work closely with professors which, in retrospect, has enhanced my growth as an artist and as a student. In both the VANM department and Computer [and Information Sciences] department, this sense of community has opened the door to a wide expanse of knowledge, opportunities and connections. Outside the classroom, my work at the ITS Service Center and ResNet has also opened up doors to help me to grow as a student, allowing me to learn a new set of skills while also building connections within the office and across campus.”

When asked about her future goals, Makayla said “After I graduate in the spring of 2024, I hope to find a job I love in either web design or as a publication designer, while also freelancing and traveling the world.”