This fall, the College welcomed more than 760 first-year and transfer students, including 66 first-generation Saints, representing 40 states and the largest group of out-of-state students in Flagler’s history.
With their first couple of months at Flagler underway, Lyla Berman, Lucca Tomassoni, Carli Collins, and Austin Hadd are already making their mark. Each of them came to Flagler with unique passions and goals, and their journeys reflect the energy and promise of this year’s first-year and transfer students.
Lyla Berman | Future Mental Health Advocate
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Academic Interests: Spanish and Sociology
For Lyla Berman, choosing to double major in Spanish and Sociology at Flagler College is more than an academic decision; it’s a step toward her ultimate dream of becoming a mental health specialist in a Spanish-speaking country.
“My dream would be to become a mental health specialist, hopefully in Spain or another Spanish-speaking country,” Berman said. “I hope that with the classes I am taking at Flagler, like Sociology 101 and Spanish 305, I can strengthen my Spanish and my understanding of people and societies around me.”
That goal is rooted in her transformative experience living abroad in Seville during high school. Immersed in the language and culture, she lived with a host family, learned to cook traditional dishes, practiced Spanish dances, and built friendships that changed her perspective on the world.
“Living in Spain with a host family shaped an entirely new perspective for me,” she said. “I can’t say enough about how much that experience changed my life. I would go back in a heartbeat.”
Her path to Flagler also reflects a pattern of leadership and service. As captain of her high school track team, she discovered how to balance discipline with compassion, lessons she’s carrying into her new role on Flagler’s track team. She also co-led her school’s Model UN program, where she honed her skills in debate and collaboration, and served as a counselor for a children’s theater program — an experience she described as “a privilege” after once being a camper herself.
Lyla Berman, Left
Now at Flagler, Berman is settling into a rhythm of early morning track practices, exploring historic St. Augustine with friends, and joining a local church choir. But every step forward connects back to her bigger vision: to combine her passion for people, her academic studies, and her love of the Spanish language and culture to build a career helping others.
“The first few weeks of Flagler have been incredible,” she said. “I love that I am able to go to the beach after class or go exploring downtown in the oldest city in the U.S. But what excites me most is knowing I’m on the path to the future I’ve always imagined.”
Lucca Tomassoni | 2nd Generation Saint & Future Business Leader
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
Academic Interests: Business Administration and Political Science
For Lucca Tomassoni, choosing Flagler College was both a family tradition and a deeply personal decision. The son of two Flagler alumni (Katie and Joey Tomassoni '02), Lucca grew up visiting campus year after year. But when it came time to choose a college, he says it wasn’t just his parents’ connection that drew him in.
“Flagler supported all the things I enjoy and value,” Lucca said. “At the end of the day, I’ll always thank my parents for embedding Flagler into my heart, but it was ultimately up to me to make the decision to spend the next four years of my life here.”
Now a first-year student, Lucca is most excited about the friendships and opportunities that await him. A former varsity lacrosse player and team captain, he’s eager to explore new interests on Flagler’s campus.
Service has also been a defining part of his journey. “One of the biggest takeaways for me was learning to put the needs of others before my own,” he explained. “At Flagler, I want to step in wherever I can—whether it’s a project, a social need, or just offering words of encouragement.”
Lucca also brings a thoughtful perspective on hard work. “I remind myself that hard work doesn’t pay off because the task is difficult—it pays off because I’m weaker than the task,” he said. “Hard work is the process of bridging that gap and becoming stronger. By flipping that mindset, I’ve been able to work through challenges with joy.”
Looking ahead, Lucca hopes to graduate with his bachelor’s degree, travel, and eventually pursue a master’s degree, potentially leading him into a career at the intersection of politics and business. In the meantime, he’s focused on embracing every opportunity, giving back to his community, and serving as a leader among his fellow Saints.
Carli Collins | Future Marine Mammal Rescuer
Hometown: Geneva, Florida
Academic Interests: Biology with a focus on marine conservation
For as long as she can remember, Carli Collins has been drawn to the water. Growing up in Central Florida, she split her time between the beach, boating, and riding horses. That early love for animals and the natural world shaped her decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology at Flagler College.
As a first-generation college student, Carli feels she is forging her own path while carrying the support of her family with her. “Being a first-generation student feels like I am forming my own unique pathway to my future,” she said. “The support I have received from my family has been a driving factor that keeps me motivated and reminds me that I am supported throughout this journey.”
Carli transferred to Flagler from Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida, and was awarded the prestigious Lewis Wiley Scholarship. For her, the scholarship has been transformative. “As a student who is working to sustain myself through college, I was very grateful to be awarded the Lewis Wiley Scholarship,” she said. “It eases the financial burden of being a full-time student.” The admissions team highlighted her extensive volunteer and internship experience with the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute as a major reason she was selected.
That experience proved life-changing. With Hubbs-SeaWorld, Carli spent countless hours surveying bottlenose dolphins along the Halifax River and Indian River Lagoon, building photo identification catalogs, and learning dolphin physiology through post-mortem necropsies. She recalls two highlights: helping disentangle and release a dolphin calf caught in fishing line, and successfully relocating a stranded mom and calf during low tide. “These core experiences have deepened my dedication to pursuing a career where I can make an impact on the populations of marine mammals in our oceans,” she said.
At Flagler, Carli found the right mix of academic rigor and community. “I chose Flagler because I was looking for a school that offers small class sizes with the ability to form networks with my professors,” she said. “Being so close to the ocean means greater opportunities for hands-on learning experiences and diversifying my professional portfolio.”
Looking ahead, Carli hopes to pursue veterinary school after Flagler, with dreams of dedicating her career to marine mammal rescue and conservation.
Though she was nervous about returning to the classroom after six years, her first few weeks at Flagler have been filled with excitement and support. “My professors have been gracious, accommodating, and helpful when I have questions or concerns about class material,” she said. “The most exciting part has been realizing how many opportunities there are to get involved, whether that’s clubs, volunteering, or just making new friends.”
With her passion, experience, and determination, Carli is already charting a course toward a career that combines her love for animals with her commitment to conservation, proving that the ocean is not just her classroom, but her future.
Austin Hadd | Future Screenwriter and Storyteller
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Academic Interests: Cinematic Arts and Theatre Arts
For Austin Hadd, choosing to major in Cinematic Arts with a minor in Theatre Arts at Flagler College is more than a creative pursuit; it’s the next step toward turning his lifelong love of storytelling into a career in film and television.
“For me, I’ve always been waiting for this moment,” said Hadd. “I always felt that I needed to explore more of the world and more about myself, and it really does feel like college is the right time to get to experience that.”
A graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Hadd discovered his passion for screenwriting almost by accident. Originally focused on musical theatre, he began writing scripts after not being cast in a production — an experience that opened a new creative path. “I started writing a musical, and when I developed the characters’ backstories, that’s when my love for screenwriting really started to blossom,” said Hadd.
Hadd enjoys creating stories across genres, including comedy, fantasy, adventure, and LGBTQ+ narratives—genres that have inspired him since childhood. “What draws me to storytelling is the freedom and the right to get to share your brain with audiences and go about it your way,” he said. “You never know what someone is going through, so what keeps me going is the fact that maybe someday my work will resonate with someone, and it’ll just coincide with what they’re going through.”
In addition to screenwriting, Hadd developed a strong interest in stage management, a role that taught him organization, leadership, and communication. “To be a successful stage manager, you must have excellent communication, organization, scheduling, and leadership skills,” he said. “That’s something positive that I can take away and carry with me here at Flagler and in the cinematic arts program.”
Outside the classroom, Hadd finds inspiration in his peers and professors, who have made his transition to college both welcoming and motivating. Although he’s only 45 minutes from home, Hadd said that Flagler already feels like a place where he can thrive. “Almost everything that I’ve encountered here—and the people—have made it feel like home,” said Hadd. “My classes and professors have been amazing, and I couldn’t be happier with where I ended up.”
Looking ahead, Hadd hopes to write and produce his own sitcom and film trilogy in his 20s, a goal he’s already laying the groundwork for through his coursework and creative projects at Flagler. “I know that sounds like a long shot, but I know that I can do it,” said Hadd. “I don’t let other people’s doubts stop me from getting to where I want to be.”
