Exercise Science student selected to be College of Education graduation marshal

Ella Uebelacker, an exercise science major in the School of Kinesiology, has been selected to represent the College of Education as its student marshal for Auburn University’s spring 2026 commencement ceremony.

Uebelacker, a native of Sandy Springs, Georgia, has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her college career and is an active member of the Honors College, where she continually challenges herself through advanced coursework and experiential learning opportunities. Some of those opportunities have been fueled by her plans to attend physical therapy school at Samford University after graduation.   

“I joined a research lab after seeing an advertisement for a study combining two of my biggest interests: exercise and special populations,” Uebelacker said. “I have been able to learn so much as a research assistant and felt truly valued and welcome in this community I previously had no experience with.”

In the School of Kinesiology, Uebelacker has worked in Associate Professor Kristina Neely’s Brain and Behavior Lab since April 2025, serving as a lead research assistant supporting a doctoral dissertation examining exercise and health outcomes in adults with autism spectrum disorder. In this role, she interacted with research participants with sensitivity and professionalism and demonstrated reliability, responsiveness to constructive feedback and a collaborative spirit. She is well regarded by her lab peers and consistently contributes positively within a team-based research environment. 

“I believe the biggest impact Auburn specifically has had on my personal and professional journey is the attitude and spirit of those around me and those who have come before me and how they take great joy in helping the next person succeed. The people at Auburn have really inspired me and continue to drive me towards being a better person.”

That Auburn spirit is something Uebelacker has been familiar with for most of her life – she grew up considering the university her “family school” with the majority of her mother’s side of the family attending Auburn at some point.

“From a young age, I held Auburn in very high regard and envisioned myself attending the university so that I could follow in my family’s footsteps,” she said. “I toured Auburn with my sister who is a year older and by the end of the tour, I just knew this is where I wanted to be. I watched my sister head off to Auburn for her freshman year and dreamed of the day when I could join the Auburn Family, too. I recall being one of the first students in my high school class to decide on their college plans after hearing back among Auburn’s early acceptances – it was not a hard choice. I had full confidence that I would find my place at Auburn.”

She certainly found her place, becoming involved in numerous extracurricular and academic opportunities that she said she never imagined being a part of.

“As a freshman, I joined a sorority where I was surrounded by other women who boldly pursued their passions all while upholding great morals and fostering genuine friendships,” she said. “During that first semester, I attended my first group fitness class at the Campus Rec and Wellness Center with some of my new sorority friends and that unlocked a new hobby that I was able to eventually turn into a job. I often tell people that I have one of the best jobs in the world – I get paid to exercise with my fellow students and teachers. Additionally, I randomly received an email freshman year inquiring about applying to be a WINGS peer mentor for the EAGLES students, and as someone who had always been interested in interacting with people with special needs but never had much exposure to it, I decided to apply. Within both the Group Fitness program at the Rec and the WINGS program, I have been constantly encouraged to try new things, increasing my involvement in those organizations, and forming me into a leader.” 

Uebelacker will graduate with her bachelor’s degree during Auburn University’s ceremony Sunday, May 3, at 6 p.m. for the College of Education; College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment; and College of Sciences and Mathematics.