spring forward students

Sophia Balabanova-Gebreab

Sophia Balabanova-Gebreab

Performance Ambassador. Sophia Balabanova-Gebreab is a first-year from Minneapolis, MN whose major is currently undecided.

Lilly Hackworth

Lilly Hackworth

Circus Ambassador. Lilly Hackworth has been involved in circus since starting college and is in her second year as circus ringleader (aka co-president). She primarily does partner acrobatics and aerial silks and has choreographed for both. In her spare time, you can find her out by the lake or playing Phantom of the Opera and Les Mis on the piano.

Jaden Hamilton

Jaden Hamilton

Video and Photography Ambassador. Jaden Hamilton is a first year at UChicago from Topeka, Kansas. He is planning to major in Public Policy and Cinema and Media Studies. He’s passionate about storytelling and filmmaking and hopes to develop his videography skills through this experience. In his free time, you can catch him playing music, making cringey TikToks, and keeping up with the latest US and International News.

Emily Her

Emily Her

Design Ambassador. Emily Her is a senior at the University of Chicago, completing her Bachelors’ degree in Economics with a Visual Arts minor. As a marketing and advertising designer, she has worked with over 40 companies to develop their branding language and direction. Emily’s artistic style incorporates the whimsical with the big and the bold for a bigger than life experience.

Rebecca Husk

Rebecca Husk

Event Coordinator. Rebecca Husk is an experience designer currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Digital Humanities. Her work ranges from large immersive spectacle (like Spring Forward!) to puzzle design to alternate reality games and more. When not crafting or designing, catch her ranting about Batman villains or staying up too late playing board games. www.rebeccahusk.com

Carolyn Johansen

Carolyn Johansen

Costume Ambassador. Carolyn Johansen is a second year in the College, double majoring in Economics and Chemistry. She began sewing in elementary school, inspired by her grandmother and older sister. Since then, she has taught sewing lessons, completed custom sewing orders, and outfitted herself for events like prom and graduation. While in high school in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Carolyn took several courses in fashion illustration, draping, and construction at the Fashion Institute of Technology. At UChicago, Carolyn designs for MODA and plays flute in the Wind Ensemble.

Angelie Miranda

Angelie Miranda

Music Ambassador. Angelie Miranda is a first year from Chesapeake, Virginia. She is majoring in Statistics and is excited to be serving as the Music Ambassador on the Spring Forward team. When not emailing musicians and sound technicians, she can be found learning to play her new kalimba.

Renee Wehrle

Renee Wehrle

Poetry Ambassador. Renee Wehrle is a fourth year student studying English Literature and Creative Writing.