This is the first of our Staff Spotlight Series! We are excited to introduce our amazing staff to you and we are grateful to them for sharing tidbits about themselves.

1) Give us the basics!My name is Elaina and I have worked at ASCEND for a year and a half. At ASCEND I am a part of Front Desk Staff, and Youth Department. I live in Oakmont, and have a dog named Buttercup!

2) So what do you do when you're not at ASCEND?Outside of ASCEND, I love playing instruments, and also singing. I play the saxophone, and am (trying) to teach myself how to play the guitar. I also really enjoy working with children, especially helping children in underserved communities, and empowering them to be the best version of themselves.

3) Where have you been and where do you want to go?My favorite climbing trip that I have taken is to Seneca Rocks, WV. I would love to be able to climb out west sometime in the future. My favorite non-climbing trip would probably have to be when I went to Florence, Italy that was pretty cool.4) Let's get personal, what are you grateful for, right now?I am grateful for my health right now, especially in this time. Grateful doesn't even begin to describe the amount of gratitude I have for my family, friends, and community at ASCEND.

Say, "Hey" to Elaina when we are back in the gym!