Carolyn Saban

Senior at Indiana University studying Apparel Merchandising and Fashion Media. Strong interest in creative design and collaborative work.



Projects by Carolyn Saban

Journalism Story

A Journey of Perseverance: IU Club Volleyball Aims for the National Championship

 

Media Contacts
Carolyn Saban
Madi Graves
Melanie Lesniakowski

BLOOMINGTON, IND (Apr. 3, 2025)

The Indiana University Women’s Club Volleyball team is gearing up for the event of the season- the National Club Volleyball Federation tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. The team, marked by their hard work and dedication for the season, is preparing to represent Indiana nationally, and the excitement is palpable. In an exclusive interview, we sat down with several team members to get a closer look at their preparation process, the challenges they’ve faced, and what they’re most looking forward to at nationals. 

The IU Women’s Club Volleyball team has been building momentum all season, and their performance has earned them a spot at this year’s national competition. Having been ranked second in their division in a recent National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Poll, the expectations are high and the excitement is electrifying. The team, made up of students from various backgrounds, studies, and grade levels, balances academics and their social lives to pursue their shared passion for volleyball.

“We’re really excited to go to nationals for the tournament, especially since we didn’t get to go last year,” said senior Katie Kirkendol. “We’re excited to show out and we’ve had a really good season so far so it’s going to be exciting to continue that and just, of course, working hard and trying to come together at practice.”

Katie posing for the camera
Sixth-year senior and team captain Katie Kirkendol brings invaluable experience to the court as the only player with prior Nationals experience. Returning this semester to compete in Phoenix, she provides leadership and insight to help guide her team on the national stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkendol, who has been playing club volleyball for four years, spoke about how special this particular tournament is for her as a graduating senior. “This one will be a lot more bittersweet and probably really sad compared to my other nationals trips,” Kirkendol shared. “I’ve been playing club volleyball now for four years, and also just volleyball in general. I’ll never be done with volleyball, but I’ll be done being a player so I think it’ll be really bittersweet and sad, but I’m excited to go out with this group of girls.”

To make it to nationals, the IU Women’s Club Volleyball team had to earn their spot through competing in regional tournaments and maintaining a high level of focus throughout the season. Their training regimen is intense and requires commitment, discipline, and perseverance from all team members. 

Amelia posing for picture
Sophomore Indiana Club Volleyball Captain Amelia Weier leads by example, balancing the demands of managing her team while refining her skills. She emphasizes the importance of communication, teamwork, and perseverance in fostering a strong and cohesive team.

“While just this team from this semester is going to nationals, I feel like we’ve been preparing all year, using the previous tournaments and practices from the entire year.” said sophomore Amelia Weier. “I’d say that a time where our team’s resilience was tested was in our first tournament this semester at Purdue University, where we faced some teams that we had played in previous semesters. [We] really had to rise to the challenge to beat them and increase our rank for nationals.”

The pressures surrounding a national tournament can be overwhelming, and while winning the tournament would be the goal, we spoke to Weier about what success would mean for her. “I think that as a team we really like to be successful by winning and going far in the tournament, but success for myself would just include knowing that I played really well and feeling good about the performance that we put out.”

Much of the team’s success can be attributed to their close relationships and camaraderie with one another. “I’d say I work really hard to collaborate with the other members of the team.” Weier continued. “We work together often times to decide drills and kind of alter them as we go throughout practice. I’m able to still improve my own skills while also collaborating with the other members of the team and helping to improve all of us.”

As the IU Women’s Club Volleyball team prepares to head to nationals, the excitement is building, and so is their confidence. With hard work, dedication, and a deep sense of team camaraderie, the team is prepared to leave it all on the court. For these athletes, the national tournament is not just a chance to compete- it’s an opportunity to showcase their growth and resilience, and most importantly, their shared love for the game of volleyball. 

The Indiana University Women’s Club Volleyball team competes at the national tournament on the weekend of April 17th-19th in Phoenix, Arizona. We look forward to seeing them represent IU and show off their hard work. 

Indiana University’s Womens Club Volleyball members Amelia Weier and Katie Kirkendol discuss how their team is getting ready for Nationals.

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Public Relations Story, Uncategorized

Apple CEO Tim Cook Unveils Company’s New Product: The Apple Watch

For Immediate Release 

Media Contacts

Chiara Brewer

Jordyn Cicero

Carolyn Saban

Apple CEO Tim Cook Unveils Company’s New Product: The Apple Watch

CUPERTINO, California. (September 9, 2014) – Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, revealed Apple’s new product the Apple Watch to a large crowd in Cupertino, CA on Tuesday, Sept 9, 2014. 

On the morning of the launch event for the iPhone 6, there was one more exciting product to share with the audience. Cook proudly described the Apple Watch as the most personal device Apple has ever created. The watch is synched with the universal time standard, customizable to personal style and taste, a new way to connect with others from your wrist, works seamlessly with the iPhone, and acts as a health and fitness device. Before moving into a detailed description of the Apple Watch and its many uses, a short video was shown, highlighting its various components up close and showcasing the different band colors. The crowd cheered with excitement at the innovation.

An important part of the design process for the company was ensuring the smooth transition to a breakthrough user interface. Cook emphasized that the watch is not just a smaller scale version of the iPhone, as the display would be too small to be used effectively. One of its key innovations is the Digital Crown, a navigation tool that allows users to zoom in, scroll, and return to the home screen without obstructing the display. The watch also includes technology that senses both touch and force, enabling different commands based on the app being used. 

As for aesthetic and style choices, there are three distinct collections and six different watch band choices. Apple designer Jony Ive narrated the watch’s design story, highlighting the thoughtful craftsmanship and smooth transition to a wearable interface. The watch is available in three distinct collections: Apple Watch, crafted from a custom alloy of stainless steel; Apple Watch Sport, featuring a lightweight aluminum case and strengthened ion-exchange cover glass; and Apple Watch Edition, made from luxurious 18-karat gold that is twice as hard as standard gold. The first of the six interchangeable bands for the watch is the Sport Band which is durable, sweat-resistant elastomer offered in a range of bold colors. Second is the Leather Loop which is soft quilted leather with concealed magnets for a comfortable fit. Next is the Handcrafted Leather Modern Buckle band which closes with a solid metal clasp and wraps symmetrically around the wrist. Fourth is the Simple Leather Classic Buckle band which is inspired by traditional watches. Next is the Stainless Steel Link Bracelet which is a sleek, adjustable bracelet with a secure clasp. Finally is the Milanese Loop which is made of a flexible stainless steel mesh, has a magnetic closure, and is infinitely adjustable.

New Digital Touch feature allows users to communicate through sketches, gentle taps, or even the sensation of a heartbeat sent directly to their wrist. Smart replies, dictation, and emoji responses make messaging quicker. The device also introduces Glances, a feature that allows users to swipe through essential information such as upcoming calendar events, weather updates, etc. Notifications are felt as a gentle tap on the wrist.

A major new aspect with the watch is the Fitness App. It encourages users to sit less, move more, and get exercise through three activity rings. The Move Ring tracks calories burned and motivates users to stay active. This ring closes when you’ve hit your personal goal. The Exercise Ring measures physical activity and tracks progress toward the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise. Finally, the Stand Ring reminds users to stand and move throughout the day to reduce sedentary time. The default goal is to stand for at least one minute in 12 different hours during the day. The Workout App provides real-time stats for activities like cycling, running, and walking. Users can set specific goals based on duration, calories burned, or distance traveled, with detailed summaries available post-workout. The Apple Watch syncs with the Health App on the iPhone, delivering personalized insights and fitness reminders to keep users on track.

When looking to the future, Kevin Lynch, Apple Vice President, described the opportunity for usage of third-party apps on the watch. He talked about the application “Watchkit” which is a way for these apps to become user friendly. Third-party apps would be able to send notifications, provide travel updates, and even offer unique functionalities like airline check-ins with a simple tap. This capability will open the door for endless possibilities in wearable technology. The watch will retail starting at $349 and become available for pre-sale purchase on April 10, 2015.

“New innovative intimate way to communicate directly from your wrist,” Cook said in closing. “And it’s a comprehensive health and fitness device, and it is so much more that we don’t have time to cover this morning.”

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Abby, manager of station 11, checks her apple watch hoping for 5 o’clock. Using notification reminders on her apple watch helps her ensure she gets all her tasks done during the day! 

College student Marissa checks her apple watch while she prepares dinner. Her apple watch helps her stay organized during her busy day so she can focus on her self care at night.