1. Student Org Spotlight: wluLEX

Student Org Spotlight: wluLEX W&L's student-run social media team arrived this fall ready to explore multiple social media platforms and showcase the vibrance of the Fall Term.

By Kelsey Goodwin
September 24, 2024

The wluLex social media team manages Washington and Lee University's student-run social media presence, which showcases the student experience at W&L. Members of wluLex represent the university in a public role on a variety of social networks. With guidance and oversight from the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, the students on the team manage Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook and Spotify accounts. WluLex members collaborate weekly with teammates to create social media strategies, produce content and foster engagement from the student body as well as prospective students, alumni, faculty and staff. The group meets weekly with Leslie Bretz, W&L's social media marketing manager, to discuss ongoing projects and pitch content ideas.

"We look for applicants with creative ideas and excellent judgment," said Bretz, adding that a high degree of trust is placed in each team member.

"Being on the wluLex team provides hands-on experience that hones students' skills in digital marketing and content creation. Students also get to enhance their technical skills, such as video editing. Beyond the technical skills, students gain invaluable insights into teamwork, project management and how to effectively connect with a social media audience."

Trian Kechagias '27, an accounting and finance double major and music minor from Athens, Greece, will manage the team's Spotify account this year. This involves gathering student input to create monthly music playlists that center around campus events or provide crowd-sourced studying tunes. He will also serve as one of the hosts of the "Lex on the Nade" video series, which involves interviewing students on the Colonnade about various aspects of their campus experience. Kechagias said his interest in joining the team was sparked by a conversation with his roommate, who mentioned that wluLex had helped him envision life as a potential student at W&L during his application process. After following the team's social media accounts, Kechagias knew he wanted to participate in the wluLex planning process.

"I was so intrigued: the arts, the mesmerizing nature, athletics and many more facets of campus life represented on the team's channels created a feeling that I wanted to fulfill by giving more back to a loving community," Kechagias said, adding that he looks forward to bonding with the team this fall and expanding the organization's outreach.

One of the team's strengths is that its members are engaged in a wide variety of campus activities, majors and interests. Kechagias plays soccer for the men's varsity team and is also an analyst for Diversified Capital Group, a student-run investment fund. In his spare time, he also works at the front desk of the fitness center.

"I believe that wluLex allows me to hear every student's perspective over the W&L campus, which is really what Washington and Lee's liberal arts education offers," Kechagias said.

This year's student team lead, Veronika Kolosova '25, joined wluLex last year in addition to her many extracurricular commitments. However, she said the team's strengths lie in the variety of places on campus that its members interact with throughout the week.

"I'm excited that we're going to get to even more variety in our content," Kolosova said. Kolosova hopes to elicit student feedback on the timing of content to make it more relevant to what students want to see throughout the year, such as information about major declaration or updates on study break activities on campus during exams.

Virginia Shelton '26, a strategic communications and cognitive and behavioral science double major from Darien, Connecticut, will help oversee the wluLex Instagram account this year. She foresees wluLex enhancing the rest of her experience at W&L by connecting her to more people on campus.

"I think this organization serves as an opportunity to bring many groups together," said Shelton, who also serves on the Reformed University Fellowship communications team and holds similar marketing and communications responsibilities for GAB, Fancy Dress, the Promise Committee, the Outing Club and her sorority.

Bretz said that mentoring the students is one of the most rewarding aspects of her job.

"It's incredibly rewarding to watch them grow and take ownership of their roles," Bretz said. "They are all so creative and talented; they bring such unique and different ideas to the table. The collaborative spirit within our team adds excitement to each project. I enjoy observing the team's journey, from brainstorming to content creation and, ultimately, the actual posting. It's remarkable when you become a part of something much bigger. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such a fantastic group of students, and I look forward to the many creative adventures that lie ahead."

Contact [email protected] with questions about wluLex or content suggestions for the team, and follow wluLex on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook and Spotify.