Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/718392
6 Crusader Nation • Fall 2016 Emily Iannaconi '17 Cross Country/Track & Field Emily Iannaconi '17 (Long Valley, N.J.) has fully immersed herself in all of the opportunities Holy Cross offers. If she is not at practice, Ian- naconi is traveling to Haiti to build a house for a local family, studying abroad in Rome, covering the New York Giants for Inside Football, organizing The Crusader as the Editor-in-Chief, working at the library as a member of writer's workshop, writing feature stories for GoHoly- Cross.com, and being an Orientation Leader. All of this hard work was recognized recently when Iannaconi became one of 200 student- athletes nationally to be selected to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum. Even with everything she has been involved in, Iannaconi has made the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in every semester, including posting a 3.93 grade-point average this past spring. Q What did you take away from your experience in Haiti? A I was definitely a little nervous before leaving. Once I entered the doors of the Be Like Brit orphanage though, I was amazed by how at home I felt. The children welcomed our group with open arms and hearts and the country of Haiti itself is unbelievably beautiful. The experience as a whole taught me how to love fearlessly and always stay open minded to new places and people. Q Why do you to want to pursue a career in sports? A I am particularly interested in sports journalism and I would love to be reporting for a professional baseball or football team someday. I grew up watching the Yankees and the Giants with my dad and I think that his passion for sports has definitely influenced me. Sports are incredibly hopeful and exciting. Q What has it been like covering the New York Giants? A I am so grateful to have the opportunity to intern under Patricia Traina and it has been incredibly eye-opening. She has taught me how to conduct and prepare for interviews, but what's more, she has taught me how to navigate a men's locker room as a woman as well as how to main- tain confidence and composure in a room of mostly men. The players still intimidate me a little, but the experi- ence has taught me that professional athletes are still human and each has their own unique story to tell. Q What is your favorite thing about being on the Cross Country and Track teams? A My favorite thing, without a doubt, is the people that I get to run the miles with. The friends whom I have met through running make all of the hard workouts worth it. Q What do you like about working in the Athletics Media Relations office? A Junior year was one of my favorites and that has a lot to do with working in the office. I have learned the importance of loving what you do and have learned how to expand my comfort zone in ways that I could not have imagined doing a year ago. Q What did you like about studying abroad in Rome last summer? A I had the opportunity to become fully immersed in the Italian culture during my time in Rome and I learned about Italian language and history. I also was lucky enough to make many new friends during my time there that I may not have met otherwise. Having the chance to travel to new places in Italy (and try lots of gelato!!) with my friends is something that I will never forget. By Jim Wrobel, assistant director of Media Relations Student spotlight