Grace Dille

My name is Grace Dille and I'm a recent graduate of the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. I graduated with a degree in multi-platform journalism and I'm passionate about investigative journalism. In 2020, I was an investigative intern at NBC News and currently work in politics as an opposition research intern for Nesbitt & Parinello, Inc.

Spotify •

The Election Show Episode 5: Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Featured guest on The Election Show: A Podcast for the New Voter on Spotify. Have you ever wanted to be a journalist? Do you watch the news? This episode is for you. This week, Jay and the panel discuss the Freedom of the Press: what the media is, what news is and the issues regarding fake news. With 25 days towards Election Day, the news is focused to informing the public on what is going on in the U.S. realm of news. And it's our job at The Election Show to educate you on the news. S
NBC News •

New York City plans to move 1,000 homeless people out of shelters into hotels each week

New York City plans to move 1,000 homeless people out of shelters into hotels each week New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 14, 2020. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that 1,000 homeless individuals will move out of shelters into hotels this week, with an additional 1,000 individuals each week as needed. “The priority will be on folks in those larger congregate shelters that are having more trouble with this social distancing,” de Blasio said during a
NBC News •

The government had 20 years to prep for a pandemic and still failed

Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. In April 1998, President Bill Clinton read a Richard Preston novel, "The Cobra Event," about a biological attack on the U.S. using a lethal virus that spreads like the common cold. "It scared the bejesus out of him," recalls Kenneth Bernard, a now retired U.S. Public Health Service official who was then representing the U.S. in Geneva at the World Health Organization. Clinton set the wh
NBC News •

Government watchdog: Hospitals say staff at risk because of gear shortages

WASHINGTON — Hospitals across the country face dire shortages of vital medical equipment amid the coronavirus outbreak — including testing kits and thermometers — and fear they can't ensure the safety of health care workers needed to treat patients with COVID-19, according to an internal government watchdog report released Monday. The alarming findings, based on interviews conducted from March 23 to March 27, represent the first government assessment of how the country's hospitals are coping wi
Sendoso •

Direct Mail Effectiveness: What a Recent Forrester Report Found

Many marketers may question the effectiveness of direct mail marketing, but studies show that it’s able to capture buyers’ attention in a way that digital marketing simply cannot. Recently, Forrester put together an in-depth report looking at the effectiveness of direct mail and how it amplifies and complements digital touchpoints along your buyer’s journey. They looked to Sendoso as experts in the direct mail industry for data and insights to help compile their report. They also interviewed o
Sendoso •

Start Sending Personalized Corporate Gifts Now

What’s better: giving corporate gifts or receiving them? Believe it or not, research actually shows that the joy of giving lasts longer. When we receive a personalized gift, we’re more likely to compare it to other gifts. But when we give a gift, we focus less on comparison and we experience more happiness from the act of giving. “Repeated giving, even in identical ways to identical others, may continue to feel relatively fresh and relatively pleasurable the more that we do it,” Ed O’Brien, on
Sendoso •

Improve Your Direct Mail Campaign With Handwritten Notes

In the digital age of computers and smartphones, how often do you hand write anything anymore? When was the last time you received a note in your mailbox instead of your email inbox? Nowadays, direct mail is rare. But people everywhere are feeling such a sense of digital overwhelm right now that we actually value physical mail more than an email. A handwritten note is valued by your recipients 24 percent more highly than something they can only see on their screen, like an email. It’s not hard
Stories Beneath the Shell •

Altar in honor of Lt. Richard Collins III is vandalized during restorative justice summit

The Prison Resistance Project hosted a Summit on Restorative Justice and Alternatives to Prisons in the Stamp Student Union on April 7 and 8, in which they invited students, activist groups, professors, staff and experts on the prison system to share their vision of a world with freedom. Amidst lectures, panels and discussions, the two-day event — which took place April 7 and 8 — included a performance and workshop from Truthworker Theatre Company, a hip-hop group with a twist. The company is
Stories Beneath the Shell •

The Sikh Student Association Ties Turbans to Educate Students on Sikhism

The Sikh Student Association gathered in Hornbake Plaza on March 28 to eradicate the stigma behind turbans and educate students about Sikhism. At the annual Turbans For Terps event, the Sikh Student Association offered students free turban tying, Indian food and information about Sikhism, which is the fifth largest religion in the world, and originates from Punjab, India. “There’s this huge stigma when people see someone wearing a turban. They’re scared, they feel threatened, and it’s just so
Stories Beneath the Shell •

College Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty face off in debate led by Maryland Discourse

UMD College Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty tackled issues including immigration and foreign aid during a debate March 15 in Jimenez Hall. Gideon Epstein, events director for non-partisan group Maryland Discourse, moderated the debate, and the opposing teams were represented by three students each. “While the GOP is primarily a conservative party, we do have several strong libertarian voices that help contribute to our party and make it stronger,” College Republicans President Stev
Stories Beneath the Shell •

VOICES of Social Change holds panel to discuss recent athlete activism for social and racial issues

VOICES of Social Change held a panel conversation March 8 in the Stamp Grand Ballroom on athlete activism, examining the surge of social and racial activism over the last several years. Professor Kevin Blackistone (University of Maryland) moderated the panel, which included Diane Roberts (WUSA9 Sports), Dave Zirin (The Nation), Ben Carrington (University of Southern California), Grant Farred (Cornell University), and Damion Thomas (Smithsonian Institution). Panelists discussed why social and r
Stories Beneath the Shell •

Halal Mexican cuisine, Krazi Burrito, brings variety to Route 1

Krazi Burrito, a restaurant that blends Mexican food with halal cooking, opened along Route 1 on Feb. 12, offering one more late-night option to students. The fast-casual restaurant shares the same building as Krazi Kebob on Route 1, both of which are owned by College Park business owner Nomie Hamid. Krazi Burrito took the place of Bread N Greens, a restaurant Hamid also owned. “One thing we’re realizing is high-end stuff cannot go in College Park,” Hamid said. “Kids just want something that’s
Stories Beneath the Shell •

Throwback Testudo Buttonmaking Party celebrates the evolution of everybody’s favorite Terrapin

To celebrate the history of the ever-evolving Testudo mascot, as well as to encourage funding for University of Maryland Archives to fully digitize The Diamondback, the UMD community gathered at McKeldin Library Nov. 29 for the ultimate Throwback Testudo Buttonmaking Party. “We wanted to connect The Diamondback history with the history of Testudo, and target undergrads so they can learn about the new database,” said Aaron Ginoza, McKeldin Library’s social media coordinator. The University Arch
Stories Beneath the Shell •

What to expect for Maryland Minza, Maryland’s first fusion dance competition

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center will host Maryland Minza, a first-year national intercollegiate South-Asian fusion dance competition Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. The word ‘Minza’ means ‘star’ in Urdu, a language spoken primarily in Pakistan. Meghana Annadata, Sonia Arya, and Neha Gupta — all founders of Maryland Minza — chose the name in 2016 to embody the essence of performing. “Because this is Maryland’s first fusion competition, we are super excited to show the DMV area what Minza is all about
Stories Beneath the Shell •

Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin inspire students at the annual First Year Book Lecture

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and congressional staffer Andrew Aydin spoke at the annual First Year Book Lecture on Oct.12 in the Memorial Chapel, where they encouraged students to advocate for change in politics. Their book, titled “March: Book Three,” takes place during the civil rights movement and follows Lewis’s involvement as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This is their third book in their award-winning graphic novel trilogy, “March,” which features comic art
Stories Beneath the Shell •

COIN and Phoebe Ryan draw students to Terpstock 2017

Students gathered in the Nyumburu Amphitheatre on Sunday for the eighth annual outdoor musical arts festival, Terpstock 2017, featuring COIN and Phoebe Ryan. Hosted by Student Entertainment Events (SEE), the festival featured student performers Hunter Smith, Elie Rizk and Rent Party throughout the sunny afternoon. Indie pop performances came from Phoebe Ryan and COIN later in the evening. Sophomore Information Science major Alyssa Winters came to Terpstock last year. “Both years have been rea