BIO

Born and raised in Minnesota, Ava is a Dean’s List student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison double majoring in Journalism and Strategic Communication with Minor in Sports Communication. Music runs in her blood, and she has been playing the guitar, singing, songwriting, and performing for the past 12 years.

 

Ava is in her fourth year as a “Best Buddy” to her friend Elizabeth, who has Down Syndrome. In 2022, Ava had the honor of emceeing the annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk. After discovering that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are three times more likely to be bullied, Ava created a program called “Choose to Include,” which promotes kindness, acceptance, and inclusion for people with IDD. She has presented her anti-bullying program to local elementary schools and distributed a specially designed bandana for students to tie onto their backpacks as a visual reminder to always be kind.

 

Ava served as a National Youth Advisory Board Member for five years with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, the nation's largest anti-bullying organization. She was one of eight students from across the country chosen for this honor. She created Unity Day programming, was a voting member for the annual Unity Awards, and captained multiple teams for PACER’s Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying event.

 

Currently a sophomore in college, Ava is active in her sorority as the Electronic Communications Director. She has also served as the Campus Relations Director, and had a lead role in the University's largest fundraiser (Humorology), which raises over $500,000 each year for various charities. Ava is also an active member of the UW - Madison Best Buddies chapter.

 

In high school, Ava was a member of the S.O.A.R. & Link Crew, Student Council, DECA, “A” Honor Roll, National Honor Society, lacrosse, dance, and swim teams. In 2022, Ava was among 36 Minnesota high school juniors to receive the prestigious ExCEL award from the MN State High School League for excellence in school activities, leadership, and volunteerism. Ava was first runner-up for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Student of the Year” program, where she and her childhood best friend raised $85,772 in seven weeks for blood cancer research. 

  

Ava's love for travel has taken her to 37 countries, from Russia to Zimbabwe. She is a self-professed Star Wars geek, an “expert” turkey caller, and an avid downhill skier.