Linehan Scholars | 1st Year______________________________________
Joaquin Abarcar-Calugay is a Linehan artist scholar pursuing a BFA in Visual Arts with a concentration in animation. He is a certified professional in multiple Adobe programs, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and After Effects. In his graduating year at Howard High School, Joaquin served as his school’s senior speaker in the 35th annual HCPSS Junior/Senior Art and Photo exhibition, where he shared his work processes and love for art. His work was also featured in the 33rd annual HCPSS Junior/Senior show and the Howard County Youth Art Exhibit. His time in Howard County’s Animation and Interactive Media career academy led him to develop a love for the problem-solving aspects of art. It exposed him to many new digital art mediums. As a Linehan scholar, Joaquin hopes to explore and combine the different areas of art in order to compose powerful pieces that spark conversation and shed light on new ideas.
Katie Atkins is incredibly excited to be majoring in Dance and Mathematics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She began dancing at the age of three and is grateful that she has been able to continue dancing for as long as she has. Katie attended Annapolis High School; there, she dedicated her time to the Apex Arts Magnet Program. This was where she was able to meet Emily Zinski and Rachel Cagle. Both of whom fostered very different and important aspects of her as an artist and individual. She also ran two workshops for the Apex Open House, received an award for her collaborative capstone project, choreographed for Apex Arts Varsity Dance Company and Annapolis High School Drama Company, and was even featured in Muse – a student-made magazine. Recently, she had the opportunity to attend the summer intensive at the New England Center for Circus Arts. There she concentrated in Rope and cultivated many injury protection techniques. Katie is very excited to experience dance through a collegiate lens and take in as much as she can.
Brady Bell is a Performing Arts double major, concentrating in Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance. A graduate of Westminster High School, Brady appeared in nine theatrical productions and served as the Tenor section leader in the Honors Festival Chorus for two years. During his senior year, he directed a one-act play and was selected to sing in the Maryland All-State Chorus. Shortly before graduation, Brady was awarded the 2025 Carroll Singers Scholarship, recognizing his exceptional vocal performance, skill, and dedication. Looking ahead, Brady aspires to become a high school chorus teacher, where he hopes to continue his passion for music while mentoring students on the same journey of growth and discovery that shaped his own experience.
Maura Bohn is a Linehan scholar pursuing a degree in Design and Production. She graduated from Carver Center for Arts and Technology on the design and production track. Maura specializes in scenic design, having learned much of what she knows from UMBC and Linehan alum Katherine Schuster Fleshman. She has held two designership roles already, her senior musical, The Prom, and sophomore spring play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, along with several technicianship roles under her belt from her time at Carver. Maura aspires to continue working in the world of theater, wanting to build and/or design sets for larger productions, those being movies and tv shows or well-known theater companies.
Emily Burgess is a Theatre Design and Asian Studies major at UMBC. She has enjoyed the magic of technical theatre throughout her time at Howard High School. In her senior year, Emily had the honor of helping run the first one-act taken by the school to the Maryland Thespian Festival. Along with this, she earned the Principal’s Award for her contribution to Howard High School’s theatre department, as well as had the opportunity to work on shows at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore. Emily is excited about the opportunity to be part of the Linehan program and the UMBC Theatre Department, and hopes to one day pursue a career as a professional lighting designer.
Grace Butler is a Design and Production Major with a focus in Costume Design. In high school, she had two mentors: her Fashion design teacher, Ms. Savage, and her Theater teacher, Mr. Buchanan. With their help, she completed a summer college program at VCU in fashion design. She also graduated from Jemicy Upper School, a private school that focuses on people with learning disabilities. At Jemicy, she was awarded a Headmaster Commendation in fashion design and was accepted into the National Honors Society and the National Thespian Society. Grace hopes to gain experience at UMBC to pursue a career in theater as a costume designer, with a focus on designing costumes for underrepresented groups, including individuals with physical disabilities.
Robin Christensen is a BFA Acting student and a Linehan Scholar at UMBC. Growing up, he was introduced to the world of theatre through performing in and viewing community productions. He loved watching stories come to life, and always wanted to find a way to be a part of it. He participated in productions throughout his grade school years, and in high school, he decided to pursue acting as a career. In the summer of 2024, he attended Catholic University’s High School Summer Drama Institute, focusing on Musical Theatre, to further his training and prepare for college. In the future, Robin hopes to act in professional theatre productions and to continue to grow as an artist.
Esme Clarke is an Instrumental Music Education Major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She started playing an instrument in first grade under the direction of Ms. Dana Shieh at Thomas G. Pullen in Landover, Maryland. Esme continued her music studies under the tutelage of multiple teachers at Northwestern High School, where she is also an alumna of their esteemed Visual Performing Arts (VPA) orchestra program led by Ms. Rose Alon. As a musician, Esme has had the pleasure of being a nine-year member of the DC Youth Orchestra, where she was granted the opportunity to perform with the Afghan Youth Orchestra on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage (2024). This past summer, Esme interned with the DC Youth Orchestra during their ‘Summer to Passport’ program, where she also performed at the Smithsonian’s Summer Folklife Festival while serving as an assistant teacher. As an educator, Esme aims to foster an environment where students retain a continued love for music through any chosen path. (Music Resume)
Sophie Crossland is pursuing a double major in Vocal Performance and Psychology at UMBC, with the goal of establishing a music therapy program on campus. She graduated from Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Maryland, in May 2025. Throughout her musical journey, Sophie has been deeply involved in a variety of musical ensembles, including school orchestras and choirs, Gifted/Talented orchestras and choirs, the Maryland All-State choir, and theatrical productions both at school and summer camps. She has also performed professionally at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, a local professional theatre. At Wilde Lake, Sophie held leadership roles such as co-concertmaster of the orchestra (violin), student director for the choirs, and dance captain for school musicals. She earned several music department awards and was voted Best Actress, with standout roles including Cinderella in Into the Woods, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, and Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Beyond performing, Sophie has taught dance and choreographed four musicals: Into the Woods, Frozen Jr., Something Rotten Jr., and Mary Poppins. Looking ahead, Sophie hopes to combine her passions for psychology and music by working in crisis prevention and recovery for children, using music as a tool to help heal those who have experienced trauma.
Mariah Demerest is a Music Education Major for choral. At Mariah’s previous school, she was a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and participated in her school’s chamber and a cappella ensembles for three years. Mariah has also completed a teaching assistant internship at Lakeshore Elementary School in the summer of 2024. She has also won the outstanding soloist in 2023 at an ICHSA competition for a cappella. Mariah aspires to become a music teacher in an elementary school, hoping that one day she can inspire young children to develop a passion for music, just as her music teacher inspired her.
McKenna Diaz (she/her) is a first-year Linehan Scholar pursuing a BFA in Acting. She has been actively involved in the performing arts for many years, participating in both school and community theatre productions, as well as serving as the first chair violinist in her school’s symphonic orchestra. As president of her school’s chapter of International Thespian Society, McKenna has worked on community outreach in the form of hosting welcome events designed for incoming students and participating in and leading workshops within the theatre department to inspire and encourage younger students to explore the performing arts. Her notable stage credits include Roxie Hart in Chicago, Pearl Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and featured ensemble roles in The Addams Family and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Through her pursuit of a degree in the performing arts, McKenna aims to use film and television as platforms to reach broad audiences, shed light on social issues, and inspire meaningful change within communities.
Gage Gann is a Linehan Scholar at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has studied piano for 10 years and clarinet for 6, and is majoring in Instrumental Music Education. During high school, Gage attended two different schools, which allowed him to be an active member of several jazz bands, wind ensembles, marching bands, and choirs. Additionally, he works as a woodwind instructor outside of school, helping him further hone his craft. Through the Linehan Scholar program, he aims to expand his knowledge of various art forms, cultivating a deeper appreciation for all forms of expression. As a teacher, Gage’s goal is to create an environment built on collaboration and connection, demonstrating how music can bring people from all walks of life together.
Gisselle Guevara-Melendez is a student at UMBC majoring in Animation with a certificate in Education. She graduated with honors from the Visual Art Center at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland. With the help of her art teachers, Mygenet Harris and Sarah Harnish, Gisselle was awarded a Gold Key by the Scholastics Art & Writing Awards, one of the oldest existing art competitions in the United States. She hopes to apply what she learns at UMBC to become an art teacher who can help other students, like her, achieve their dreams.
Meredith Hawkins is a dance major pursuing a career as a performer and choreographer. She has been immersed in dance since the age of three, training in various styles over the years, including ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, and tap. In her senior year of high school, Meredith was a hip-hop instructor at a dance studio in Westminster, MD. Her decision to apply for the Linehan program was inspired by the mentorship she received from Ryan Bailey (LAS Dance ’16) and Ashley Baer (LAS Dance ’27). Meredith is greatly inspired by their originality in movement patterns and qualities, which she strives to embody in her own choreographic process. In 2022, Meredith was recognized by her dance studio as the Full Tuition Merit Scholar, as she prioritizes hard work and consistent attendance in all areas. She is immensely grateful for the connections and friendships the LAS Program has brought her thus far and looks forward to those she will form in her emerging career as a performer and choreographer.
Quinten Hofstedt is an Animation Major in the Linehan Scholars program at UMBC. Having graduated from Annapolis High School as a part of the Apex Arts Magnet Program (Film & New Media prime)he can not wait to continue his artistic journey. He has won a Scholastic Gold Key for his animation Always Cook Your Chicken, and has completed an internship with AND Creative, a local gallery and arts space. As of yet, he’s still unsure of the exact career path he wants to take, but hopes to narrow down on a direction through his time at UMBC and the Linehan Program, with plans such as pursuing a minor in Theater Production alongside his Major.
Jaiden Jennings is a double major in Visual Arts with a focus in Animation and Psychology on the Developmental Track. Her self-taught art skills led to her acceptance to George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. At the Carver Center, she found wonderful mentors, such as Theresa McDaniel Shovlin and Joseph Cypressi, who helped push her art skills beyond what she could have ever imagined. She has won a Silver Key and three honorable mentions in the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition, a highly accredited teen art competition. She was a member of four national honors societies, including the National Art Honor Society. She pioneered an art competition. Her principal elected her to be the Carver Center’s student representative in the BCPS Outstanding Young Women Leaders Program. In the future, she would like to combine her passion for the arts and helping others through a form of art therapy.
Krista Moriah Koomson is a UMBC Linehan Scholar and Adobe Certified Professional pursuing a B.F.A in Visual Arts with a concentration in Animation and a minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Her high school work experience includes designing art activities for children at CREATE Arts Center, creating a logo for Moijey Fine Jewelry and Diamonds, and designing the intermission screen for Game Gym’s 2023 Winter Games Tournament. She has also made numerous pixel animations and UI elements for small, independent, and academic game development projects, building experience for more advanced animation in the game industry. While familiar with digital software, she primarily works as a traditional illustrator and character/concept artist, with proficiency in graphic design. Her preferred medium includes pencil, ink, alcohol markers, and gel pens. Whatever its form, she strives to use her art to convey characters, worlds, and narratives that invigorate the minds and passions of others.
Travis Korn is a double major in Music Education (Instrumental) and Music Composition. A graduate of Council Rock High School South in Holland, Pennsylvania, he served as drum major of the marching band and held a leadership role in the orchestra. He was also an active jazz musician, earning multiple soloist awards—most notably for his performance of Duke Ellington’s The Star-Crossed Lovers. During high school, Travis studied under orchestra director Mr. Chris Simon, whose mentorship helped spark his dual passion for music and teaching. Looking ahead, Travis plans to pursue a PhD in Music Composition with the goal of teaching collegiate-level composition while continuing to direct high school ensembles.
Isabella Manalansan is a Dance major and hopes to join the K-12 Dance Teacher certificate program. She studied at Dance Explosion in Elementary school, the TWIGS program in Elementary and Middle school, and the Baltimore School for the Arts in high school. Isabella has also spent summers dancing and performing with Alvin Ailey’s professional division and The Orlando Ballet, as well as dancing, acting, and singing with Camp Hippodrome, where she returned as a camp counselor in high school. She has worked with choreographers like Amy Hall Garner (The Nutcracker), Sonia Dawkins (28), Ian DaSilva (Sonder), Hollie Wright (Tina by way of Tally), Natrea Blake (Transcendence), and Michelle Manzanales (Celebración). Isabella wishes to work for the Disney company one day, as well as join a contemporary ballet company. Her dream is to bring attention back to the dying art form of ballet and to encourage young boys and girls to gain empowerment through the arts.
Lily Metz (they/she) is a Theatre Education major at UMBC with a deep passion for performance. They spent most of their time in the theatre, both directing and acting in productions that shaped their love for the stage during their time in Catonsville High School. Each summer, Metz participates in the STARYA program, working under the guidance of director Lauren Lowell. Looking ahead, they hope to become a high school theatre teacher or a college professor, sharing their passion for theatre with future generations and inspiring others to find their voice through the arts.
Miyoko Michaela Mosby is a Music Education major with a focus on choir. Her love for music began at a very young age, when she sang in the Ascension Catholic Church Choir. She has been involved in different choirs since elementary school. In high school, she joined Tonal Eclipse, her school’s a cappella group, which led to her being scouted for the Bowie High School Madrigal Choir. She stayed with this choir throughout her entire high school career. They received a 1 in every entered annual state and regional choir competition since joining. She auditioned for the school musical, Little Shop of Horrors, in her senior year, where she played Crystal and acted as the assistant vocal coach for her castmates. The cast received a 2 in the Prince George’s Theater competition. She has been a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society since her sophomore year. They awarded her their scholarship for music majors, encouraging her to continue her dreams. She hopes to be an educator to facilitate the same passion she has for music in her students. She strives to create a class environment that is a safe space for her students where they can enjoy learning about music.
Andrew Whipple, a Visual Arts major with a concentration in Graphic Design, has been drawing since he was around 8 years old. Passionate about art, he has experience with both traditional and digital mediums. In high school, Andrew participated in the Jim Henson Visual and Performing Arts program, focusing on visual arts and majoring in graphic design as well as drawing and painting. During his time in the program, he had the privilege of traveling to Paris and having his art featured in the Phillips collection in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Andrew has co-curated two exhibitions at the Hyattsville Public Library and three at Northwestern High School. His dedication and hard work have led him to speak at UMBC’s fall 2025 opening meeting and to graduate from high school with honors, earning various medals and certificates. In the future, Andrew wants to pursue a graduate degree in costume design, aspiring to become a graphic and costume designer.
