Gaby Maldonado

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Recent Articles

LIFESTYLE 12/31/25 8:35am

The Blend Burlington celebra raíces hispanas y cultura

By Gaby Maldonado

Cuando Lucero Marti entró por primera vez a The Blend hace siete años, se enamoró al instante del lugar. "Le pedí a Dios: 'Me encantaría que este lugar fuera mío algún día'", contó Marti. Y gracias a su participación en el Club Rotario local, una organización humanitaria sin fines de lucro de alcance mundial, la conexión de Marti con The Blend se fortaleció. Los miembros del Club Rotario comenzaron a celebrar sus reuniones en la cafetería, lo que le dio la oportunidad de entablar una amistad con el antiguo dueño. Cuando este, tras casarse, se vio imposibilitado para seguir gestionando el negocio, le propuso a Marti que se hiciera cargo. Ese momento crucial marcó un nuevo comienzo, y ella se convirtió en la nueva propietaria el 2 de enero.

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LIFESTYLE 12/31/25 8:34am

The Blend Burlington celebrates Hispanic roots, culture

By Gaby Maldonado

When Lucero Marti first walked into The Blend seven years ago, she quickly fell in love with the space. “I asked God, ‘I’d really love for this place to be mine one day,’” Marti said. And through her involvement with the local Rotary Club, a global nonprofit humanitarian organization, Marti’s connection to The Blend deepened. The Rotarians began holding their meetings at the shop, giving her the chance to build a friendship with the former owner. When the former owner found himself unable to continue running the business after getting married, he approached Marti about taking it over.

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LIFESTYLE 10/9/25 4:08pm

Elon students celebrate cultural identity through on-campus clubs

By Gaby Maldonado

From cultural celebrations to social advocacy, identity-based affinity groups shape student experiences at Elon University. These organizations provide students with spaces to connect over shared identities, experiences and interests while fostering inclusion and community across campus. Groups such as the Black Student Union, Asian-Pacific Student Association and Latinx-Hispanic Union give students opportunities to celebrate their culture, raise awareness and participate in meaningful campus events.   “Especially at a PWI, it’s very important that Black students have somewhere to go because there are not many people that look like them,” sophomore and vice president of special events for BSU Damani Grayson said. “It’s really a home away from home.” 

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LIFESTYLE 4/2/25 10:03pm

Eid al-Fitr celebration at Elon University brings faith, culture together

By Gaby Maldonado

Students, faculty and community members of all ages gathered in the McBride Gathering Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion on April 2 to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Also known as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," Eid al-Fitr is a time of communal prayer, celebration and generosity for Muslims worldwide. Hosted by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Elon Muslim Society and Muslim Life at Elon, the event featured a shared dinner and reflections on the significance of Eid al-Fitr.

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NEWS 11/25/24 4:41pm

North Carolina Student Legislature empowers students to shape state politics

By Gaby Maldonado

The North Carolina Student Legislature is a nonprofit organization that gives students firsthand experience of the legislative process at Elon University. Through debates, students enhance their public speaking skills and work on real-world policy ideas. Junior Eva Farmer, who serves as the vice president of Elon’s NCSL, explained that members bring resolutions to meetings — written proposals for new laws or changes to existing ones — sparking debates among the group.  Every Monday, NCSL holds meetings where members propose resolutions on various topics, ranging from education to abortion and other pressing issues. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/11/24 4:40pm

Elon University tunes into first-ever SUBFest with student performances

By Gaby Maldonado and Lauren McCowan

Elon University's Student Union Board hosted its first SUBFest on Nov. 8, an outdoor music festival featuring live performances, student-run businesses and giveaways. In partnership with Limitless, Limelight Records and WSOE, the event aimed to provide students with an afternoon of entertainment in Young Commons. Junior Caroline Reich, the graphic design chair of the Student Union Board, said the idea of SUBFest was inspired by her experience at a college music festival that she attended before coming to Elon.

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NEWS 10/25/24 9:06pm

Elon community supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month with mobile screenings, local fundraisers

By Gaby Maldonado

Every October, communities worldwide support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, raising awareness, promoting early detection and contributing to research. Elon University partnered with Cone Health, a nonprofit healthcare network, to bring a mobile screening van to bring awareness and resources to campus. The cancer screening unit, stationed at Koury Parking Lot during HealthEU Day, provided mammograms to 45 individuals. Local restaurant Pandora's Pies also supported breast cancer awareness by donating 10% of its October, garlic knot sales to breast cancer research for the 12th year in a row.

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LIFESTYLE 9/22/24 5:37pm

Shirley Tempos take center stage for first ‘Tiny Shelf Concert’

By Gaby Maldonado

Elon University’s Belk Library became a small concert venue Sept. 20 as it hosted its first-ever “Tiny Shelf Concert,” inspired by NPR’s famous Tiny Desk Concert series. The event featured a performance by the Shirley Tempos, an all-female a cappella group, who performed among the library's shelves — making it a unique place for live music. Shirley Tempos is set to perform again at Rockapella on Sept. 28 during Elon’s Family Weekend and at Acapocalypse, a benefit concert in Whitley Auditorium on Oct. 5 with proceeds going to Elon Academy.

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