Eli Martiska ’26 found his love of film at an early age. Growing up, movies were more than entertainment—they were a place of inspiration and creativity. "If I wasn't at a theater, I wasn't in my happy place," he says. That lifelong love of cinema eventually expanded into an interest in media, sparked by watching anime as a teenager. Realizing that storytelling extended beyond the big screen, Eli decided to major in both cinema and digital media and journalism, broadening his creative perspective and preparing for a range of career opportunities.
His dedication to his craft was reflected in the classroom, where he earned multiple Dean's List and President's List honors. For Eli, those academic achievements represent not only hard work but also a commitment to continually expanding his understanding of storytelling and communication.
One of the most influential parts of Eli's UHart experience was working with Assistant Professor Dakota Nanton, whose mentorship helped shape the way he approaches filmmaking. "Professor Nanton guided me to understand what media and film mean to a person," Eli says. "He taught me more than film—he gave me a perspective that shaped what I should be creating."
Outside the classroom, Eli gained valuable real-world experience through internships that introduced him to the fast-paced and often challenging nature of media production. While the work could be demanding, he learned an important lesson: every project, even the difficult ones, provides an opportunity to grow. His coursework reinforced that mindset by preparing him to collaborate with clients, adapt to feedback, and understand that success often comes through persistence and continuous improvement.
Before graduating, Eli had already begun building his professional career. He now works at his family’s business, Mercury Scientific Inc., where he manages marketing initiatives and creates engaging social media content. The communication, marketing, and audience engagement skills he developed at UHart have translated directly into his professional role.
Beyond academics, Eli treasures the community he found at UHart. One of his favorite traditions is Hawktober, where he enjoyed spending time with friends each fall. He looks forward to returning as an alumnus to celebrate the event in the future.
For incoming students, Eli offers simple but meaningful advice: "Be scared. Be open to failure. You're going to mess up, but that's part of the journey. When you walk across that stage after four years, you'll see that reaching the top of the mountain is an amazing feeling."
Eli Martiska ’26, Eli Martiska ’26Be scared. Be open to failure. You're going to mess up, but that's part of the journey. When you walk across that stage after four years, you'll see that reaching the top of the mountain is an amazing feeling.