Abby Comprelli ’26

Graduating senior Abby Comprelli ’26 is no stranger to taking leaps of faith or doing leaps in general. Captain of the UNCW Dance Team and an aspiring teacher, Comprelli has grown as both an athlete and a future educator during her time at the university. 

From Denville, New Jersey, she first fell in love with UNCW on a Valentine’s Day visit where she witnessed the welcoming, vibrant community.  

“It was the most beautiful day outside, and it seemed like everyone was just so happy. I was able to go see a UNCW basketball game versus James Madison University, and it was such a great game,” Comprelli said. “I could tell that this atmosphere was exactly where I belonged.” 

When Comprelli witnessed the electric dance team during her visit, she knew it was something she wanted to be a part of. Trying out for the team took courage — but it paid off tenfold. Now a senior captain, Comprelli reflects on the experience.  

“Being on the dance team has completely changed who I am because it truly pushed me to grow in ways that I never knew I could,” Comprelli said. “Seeing all of the little girls in the crowd who looked at us with awe in their eyes made it worth it every single time. Words can't even describe how incredible this experience has been.” 

Beyond the dance floor, Comprelli is preparing for her future as a teacher. The dancer majors in education with double concentrations in behavioral studies and physical education, wellness and nutrition.  

Her passion for educating began by witnessing the impact her mom had as a sixth-grade science teacher. “My whole life I grew up watching her and just admiring the teaching profession,” Comprelli said.  

Her love for the discipline only grew in an internship her senior year of high school at her dance studio, Gateway to the Arts, where she taught classes for kids aged kindergarten through second grade. “I absolutely fell in love with working with kids and helping them grow,” Comprelli said.  

That adoration continued to grow at UNCW. “In my intro to education class during my freshman year of college, I was able to go to an elementary school once a week in a kindergarten classroom and knew this is exactly what I wanted to do,” she said. 

She also had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy during her sophomore year through the Watson College of Education. She visited different elementary schools around the country to study various styles of teaching through Reggio Emilia and Montessori schools.  

The foundation she built at UNCW, paired with these global experiences, has shaped her into a thoughtful and adaptable educator who values both academic and personal growth in her future students.  

With graduation just around the corner, Comprelli is preparing to move back to New Jersey and step into her very own classroom. She enters this next chapter with excitement and a growing confidence in her ability to make a real difference. 

“Thinking about being a teacher is so exciting but so scary at the same time. Knowing that all of those students are relying on you not only for academics but for love and support as well is a scary feeling,” Comprelli said. “But my goal is to never let them down, to trust myself and be confident in my abilities.”