Born on November 12th, 2004, 18-year-old Elizabeth Johanna Studer, or as everyone knows her, Ellie, has not lived in Madison, SD all of her life. She moved here from Huron, SD in March of 2014, near the end of third grade. She is the daughter of Chris and Carrie Studer and the oldest of six children: her 15-year-old twin brothers, Alex and Maguire; her 11-year-old sister, Lucy; her 8-year-old sister, Penelope, and her 7-year-old sister, Vivienne. Ellie was on the news about 10 hours after birth because her dad worked at KSFY as a news anchor.
When asked about her favorite food, she says, “Pasta, in all shapes and sizes. I do have a special place in my heart for ravioli.” Her favorite TV show is Gilmore Girls, despite not watching the show religiously and she most definitely cannot live without books. “Even though I have less time to read lately, being able to immerse myself in another world for a little while will always be one of my favorite things.” If Ellie could play any character in a movie, she chooses Elizabeth Bennet from the 2005 movie, Pride and Prejudice. “It’s a beautiful story about love and happiness (and Mr. Darcy is definitely a bonus),” she says.
Music comes easily to Ellie as it just makes sense to her; she says, “When finishing a show or a concert, the moment of silence in between the music and the applause is truly amazing.” Ellie is a little undecided about her future. She will most likely attend Minnesota State University, Mankato, and pursue a degree in either Music Performance or History Education. In 10 years, Ellie sees herself in a career that she loves and living outside of the Midwest.