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The Spark is the official blog of Alfred University, created to illuminate the dynamic experiences, creative achievements, and unique perspectives of our student community. The Spark captures the essence of what it means to be a Saxon. Whether you're a prospective student dreaming of your next chapter, or a current Saxon shaping your journey, let The Spark guide you. 

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Nick Gaglio ’28 Makes His Mark On and Off the Football Field

Posted By Alfred University

Nick Gaglio ’28 came to Alfred University because he wanted to play football at the next level. Now in his junior year, he’s taking on leadership roles and helping other students find their own opportunities along the way.

A double major in criminal justice and sociology, Nick balances academics with football, leadership of the Pre-Law Club, student government, and an active social life.

“When I first joined the football team, they said it was like having built-in best friends, and I couldn’t agree more,” Nick said.

As an offensive lineman, Nick is familiar with taking on big responsibilities. Balancing a packed schedule of classes, practices, meetings and activities has taught him how to manage his time while working toward his goal of attending law school and becoming a lawyer.

But Nick isn’t focused only on his own future. As an upperclassman, he wants to use what he has learned to help other students find their path.

“I’m an upperclassman now. It’d be good for me to share my knowledge with the incoming freshmen to help not just myself get there, but get the next classes there, too,” he said.

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Helping others find their path

As the Pre-Law Club’s new president, Nick wants to give students access to the same opportunities he had as a new student—and help create new ones. This year, he plans to connect students with LSAT preparation and resources that can help them navigate the law school application process.

In previous years, the Pre-Law Club has traveled to law schools to meet with admissions teams and learn more about the application process. Nick can draw on those experiences as he helps younger students begin thinking about their own paths after Alfred.

Photo: Nick Gaglio (far right) with students at Syracuse University to learn about their law school.

Giving students a voice

Nick sees his Student Senate role as another way to advocate for his classmates.

“Someone has to represent students—to tell people how they feel and what they want to see on campus.”

As chair of the Student Senate’s food committee, Nick brings student feedback directly to dining staff. The conversations can influence menus, operations and other aspects of the campus dining experience. Working with dining staff and coordinating a large group of students have also given Nick opportunities to strengthen his communication and leadership skills.

“I’ve got meetings today. I’ve got meetings tomorrow. It’s a lot to pack in, but it’s also a very good way of teaching life skills,” he said.

Nick wears a lot of different hats at Alfred—student, athlete, leader, mentor and friend. Each role gives him another opportunity to learn, connect with others and prepare for what comes next. And along the way, he’s helping create opportunities for other students to flourish, too.

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About the Writer

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Meet Cameron

Cameron Begue is a junior at Alfred University from Long Island, New York, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communication Studies. As a student writer for The Spark, Cameron highlights the unique community and culture at Alfred University. His interests include history, current events and physical media. He is a passionate writer and member of Alfred’s Fiat Lux newspaper, hoping to build a successful career in journalism. On the weekends, Cameron enjoys browsing local thrift stores and visiting friends across campus.

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