About
About Ascendio
Ascendio is a symposium for fans and academics interested in the Harry Potter books. It will take place July 12-15 at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando® – just moments away from Universal’s Islands of Adventure®, and its latest attraction, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is HP Education Fanon, Inc.’s eighth symposium in nine years.
Ascendio’s formal programming encompasses both academic and fannish presentations, and is centered around the theme of flight: owls in flight, the flight of the Prince, flights of fancy, flight in a Quidditch match. (Don’t worry – there’s also plenty of opportunity to analyze the symbolism of the books, to debate shipping, and to teach and learn wizarding crafts!)
We’ll also have chances for you to meet up with people who share your fannish interests, explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and dance the night away to both Muggle and magical tunes.
Our goal is to hold a con where all kinds of Harry Potter enthusiasts can come together – no matter where their interests lie.
As we formalize the schedule of events, we’ll keep you updated – sign up for the mailing list to stay informed!
About HPEF
HP Education Fanon, Inc. (HPEF) is a U.S.-based educational non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to producing academic symposia on the Harry Potter books and cultural phenomenon. We strive to distinguish our symposia by the premiere quality of the programming we offer, particularly the caliber of our featured speakers and guests. Our volunteer planners aim to bring fans and scholars professional-quality, creative, premium experiences for affordable prices.
HPEF also promotes the benefits of reading for both children and adults by offering Library Science and Education tracks in our symposium programs. We have also donated portions of our proceeds to Book Aid International, Books Behind Bars, Kids Need to Read and other literacy projects; we continue to identify other charities whose missions focus on providing audiences with books to read and love. Conferences to our credit include Nimbus – 2003, The Witching Hour (2005), Lumos (2006), Prophecy (2007), Portus (2008), Azkatraz (2009), and Infinitus (2010).
About the Ministry of Magic
Flourish Klink is the Minister of Magic for Ascendio 2012. She has been a fixture in the Harry Potter fandom since 2001. Her most recent fannish project has been writing a text adventure set in the Harry Potter universe, entitled Muggle Studies. Flourish lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her partner Nick. [personal website | e-mail]
Anastasia Salter is co-chair of Formal Programming. She’s an academic studying digital narrative, virtual worlds, fandom and children’s literature–though she also writes the occasional Harry Potter fanfic. Anastasia is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Baltimore. [personal website | e-mail]
Courtney Voorhees is chair of Security. She served on the Informal Programming team at Prophecy 2007 and Portus 2008, and co-chaired Security for Infinitus 2010. Courtney is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma and wears her Sooner (and Gryffindor!) red with pride.
Alexa D. is chair of Editing & Publishing. By day, she works in TV Marketing in Los Angeles. The rest of the time, she blogs and is working on a novel (or three). Alexa has been in HP fandom since 2003, and attending cons since 2005′s The Witching Hour. Previously, she created the program for Azkatraz 2009, and is excited to be back for Ascendio! When she’s not working on the program, Alexa is Heidi’s PR House Elf, as well as the organizer for Ascendio’s Quill Track. [personal website | e-mail]
Unspeakable Amy is co-chair of Registration. Amy first discovered that she might be Unspeakable at the early age of six, when she realized that none of the other kids would play with her… and she didn’t even care. Since her adolescence, she embraced her Unspeakability by remaining an unaffiliated, non-joining, anonymous, and generally quiet but thoughtful force for chaotic good. A natural Gryffindor, she has an allergy to Austenian mannerism and a low tolerance for chicanery, which may be why she tends to be the unknown eyes, ears, and clear head for many a Minister of Magic. She has worked on all the HPEF events, mostly unwillingly, but has fun anyway and somehow manages to keep saying “Yes” despite multiple opportunities to run screaming into the unknown. She has fiddled around with fanfic, dabbled in decorations, and gone crazy for quilting. Amy lives in an undisclosed location working on projects that she could tell you about… but then she’d have to kill you. Which she could do. With a book.
Gwendolyn Grace is co-chair of Registration. Gwendolyn Grace died at the age of thirteen months. Since her death, and some would say suspicious return to life, she has been busy conquering worlds too numerous to mention. She has also extended her presence to the webways, lending her voice to podcasts and musical recordings. With more hobbies than free time, Gwen still manages to rule with benevolence that belies her true nature; she has been described by friends and enemies alike as “friendly, but not nice” or in the words of one twelve-year-old, “That’s Gwen. She’s evil.” She reminds one and all not to get on the bad side of a bard, for you too can have your flaws immortalized in song and poem.
Mallory Vance is chair of Informal Programming. She lives in Orlando, FL.[ e-mail]
Ailene Everts is chair of Volunteers. Ascendio marks Ailene’s fourth HPEF symposiusm. She previously attended Lumos, Prophecy, and Portus where she was the Security Chair and holds the memory of falling flat on her face (literally) in front of Jim Dale close to her heart. Through the HPEF events in the past years she’s met more, longer lasting friends and has made better memories than all of her schooling years combined. When not slaving away at her full-time, customer service job, she can be found on the internet, in front of the TV, behind a good book, or entertaining her two kids (dogs), Riley and Gus.
Heidi Tandy is chair of Public Relations. She has, over the years, been involved with the Help_Haiti auction community, FictionAlley, HPEF, the Organization for Transformative Works, the 2008 and 2009 Comic-Con Harry Potter panels and The Leaky Cauldron. In real life, she is an intellectual property attorney in South Florida, the mother of three Harry Potter fans and a firm believer in the maxim “Fandom is my fandom.” e-mail]
Mazel Janette is Senior Undersecretary. Mazy first stepped inside the world of Harry Potter in 2004 during her sophomore year in college, and she hasn’t looked back since. Mazy’s first experience with cons was at Portus, where she served as the Assistant Chair of Registration. She continued as Assistant to the Minister for Azkatraz, and was where ever she was needed most (which happened to be registration) during Infinitus. She also serves as a member of the HPEF board. She is an avid reader, semi professional choral singer, and loves event planning. Mazy represents our nation’s capital, as she was born and raised in Washington, DC.
Bekki Olivieri is chair of Vendors. She is a high school alternative education teacher from Southern California, working with students in all subject areas. She has been a volunteer at each and every HPEF event, serving as a gofer, Minister of Magic, and everything in between. She also serves as HPEF President. When not driving her two teenage daughters around her community, she enjoys training hard, teaching kids’ karate and reading every single book she can get her hands on.
Gia Bufalino is chair of Food & Beverage. While this will be Gia’s third Harry Potter con, she acquired an extensive background in conventions/event planning while living in Las Vegas. A “California Girl” for the better part of her life, Gia’s story began in Europe, where she spent her first years of life. She is currently residing in Massachusetts pursuing a B.A. in a specially designed major that combines her love of words and passion for food. Emulative of her loving Ma, Gia is the proud Mommy of an amazingly beautiful & gifted daughter, Lorenna. A varsity Cheerleader & JV Soccer player, “LoLo” is now taller than Gia, and the light of her life!
Stephanie Falcos is chair of Graphic Design. This will be her third HP convention, having worked on artwork for Azkatraz, as well as all main logos and art work for Infinitus 2010 last summer. Although she’s disappointed that there is no HPEF convention this summer, she can’t wait for Ascendio 2012. Stephanie is the head graphic designer and photographer of Clockwork Shadow Creations, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and her HP-related work includes previous convention graphics, as well as shirt designs for MuggleCast and Hogwarts Radio. www.clockworkshadowcreations.com
Mary Markovinovic, Co-Chair of Public Relations. This is Mary’s second HPEF event. She was the web chair for Infinitus 2010. She currently works as the Chief of Public Affairs and an adjunct professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, HI.
Femme Quixotic is co-chair of Formal Programming…
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Enelya Oronar & Tara are co-chairs of Decorations…
Heim Grewal is chair of A/V…
Libbie Bement is chair of Logistics…
Leslie Combemale is chair of the Art Gallery…
Stina is Special Guests Coordinator…
Ravenna C. Tan is the Fanfic Reading Coordinator…
Noeon is the Meet-Up Coordinator…
Perseus LePage is the Fashion Show Coordinator…
Heather Hanson is Assistant Chair of A/V…
Katie Pettit is an Unspeakable…
Mijan is Accessibility Coordinator…
Claudia & Carin provided the wonderful art for the website & banners…
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