Our members participate in volunteer events and take part in a wide range of community service initiatives. Upon graduation, they apply the interpersonal skills they've acquired to start businesses, pursue promotions, and more, using what they have learned to Build Leaders Who Make a Better World.
Check out the headlines made by NSLS members who used their leadership skills to level up in their careers, earn outstanding academic honors, and help make a positive impact on their communities this month.
Marisol Ponce, Rowan College of South Jersey–Cumberland (RCSJ), was chosen to deliver the student commencement address at the college's seventh annual graduation ceremony, capping a college experience she once never imagined pursuing.
A first-generation college student, Ponce gave little thought to higher education while in high school. Once enrolled, she built a record of leadership and involvement on campus. Along with representing her class as commencement speaker, she served as executive vice president of the Student Government Association, took part in the campus ministry group Cru, and completed an internship with the American Federation of Teachers.
A Social Services major, Ponce plans to build a career helping families and children as a social worker. Her next step is Stockton University, where she will pursue a bachelor's degree in social work.
Read More from South Jersey Local News >>
Larry Gill, Coppin State University, has earned one of the institution's highest student honors, serving as the 25th Mister Coppin State University and representing his peers across campus.
Gill, who grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and is the first in his family to attend college, picked Coppin because he wanted a tight-knit HBCU where he could come into his own as an artist and as a person. Four years on, his Bachelor of Science in Urban Arts is in hand, earning magna cum laude with a Technical Theatre concentration and a Lighting Design specialty.
His leadership reached nearly every corner of campus life. Gill was a three-year member of the Coppin cheer team and a contributor to the Campus Activities Board, along with roles as a student ambassador for Admissions and a student worker for Events and Conference Services. He also spearheaded the revival of the Coppin Players Theatre Club, later leading it as president to secure its future for the students who follow him.
Looking ahead, Gill plans to build a career in entertainment, live production, and technical theatre, with an emphasis on lighting design and event production, while exploring opportunities for graduate study in storytelling and live entertainment.
Read More from Coppin State University >>
Farah Naz, The New School chapter, was recently featured by Couture Fashion Week, a spotlight that reflects her rise as a designer and creative director known for blending haute couture tradition with sustainable innovation.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Naz grew up surrounded by a culture rich in decorative arts and embroidery, an early influence that shaped her lifelong passion for textiles and design. She went on to build a foundation in both creativity and business, earning an Associate Degree in Business Management from Warren County Community College in 2017, where she graduated magna cum laude, followed by an Associate Degree in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design in 2018.
After graduating, Naz founded Farah Naz New York, a Manhattan-based luxury label built on the belief that high-end fashion can embrace sustainability without sacrificing quality. The brand made its debut at New York Fashion Week in 2019 at Pier 59 Studios, presenting gowns marked by intricate embroidery, hand-crafted detail, and environmentally responsible materials. Now operating from the New York metropolitan area, she continues to champion sustainable luxury, using recycled and responsibly sourced fabrics and designing garments made to last as an alternative to fast fashion.
Read More from Couture Fashion Week >>
Allison Hill, North Central Texas College chapter, has joined KVUE in Austin, the latest step in a fast-rising broadcast journalism career.
Hill comes to Austin from KXXV 25 News in the Waco–Temple–Killeen market, where she spent two years covering Central Texas and most recently worked as lead news reporter. She first joined KXXV in June 2024 as a neighborhood reporter covering Gatesville and Lampasas County. Before that, she built her foundation at KCBD NewsChannel 11 in Lubbock, starting in 2022 as a newscast producer for the noon and 4 p.m. broadcasts before moving into reporting in early 2024.
Hill balanced her early career with her education, graduating from Texas Tech University in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. She kept that momentum going by earning a Master of Business Administration from Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business in May 2026.
Natalie Santana, Cambridge College, has been named residential loan servicing manager at Monson Savings Bank, where she will oversee the institution's residential and consumer loan servicing and collections operations while supporting its customer service and community banking initiatives. Santana brings nearly two decades of industry experience to the role. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bay Path University in May 2026 and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovative Practice, also at Bay Path. Full Story >>
Ishani Senthilkumar, Middlesex Community College, was recognized as a Chelmsford High School Student of the Month, one of six seniors named to the Lions Pride/Rotary honor for June. A standout in the classroom, Senthilkumar carried a demanding course load in her final term that included many AP classes. Outside of school, she gives her time generously, volunteering at the Chelmsford Public Library, tutoring fellow students, and serving as a referee for the Chelmsford Youth Basketball League. She plans to attend UMass Amherst, where she will major in biomedical engineering. Full Story >>