Scholastic Journalism Week Recap: Highlighting Alumni Who Got Their Start in High School Journalism

During Scholastic Journalism Week (Feb. 19-23, 2024), we asked college programs to feature on their social media alumni who had been high school journalists.

High school journalism and media programs prepare students for a wide range of college majors and communication careers.

The showcased alumni represent a diverse spectrum of careers influenced by their high school journalism experiences, ranging from publishers, TV news anchors, and videographers to writers, professors, journalists, podcasters, music publicists, and creative directors, among others.

The campaign featured 30 alumni from 13 colleges, generating 45,000 impressions on Instagram and Facebook. Additionally, it fostered engagement, amassing 1,800 interactions and sparking 65 comments.

Below is a summary of the featured alumni and their respective universities:

Appalachian State University

• Emily Broyles, Audience Producer, McLatchy Media Network

• Maggie Watts, Content Creator, SIM USA

• Gerald Witt, Lecturer, University of Tennessee

East Tennessee State University

• Chris Dortch, Editor and Publisher, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook

• Karen Lim, Freelance Writer

Keene State College

• Tyler Desjardins, journalism student

• Alana Perry, photo editor, The KSC Equinox

• Elyse Picard, sports writer, The KSC Equinox

• Casey Schmidl-Gagne, Freelance Writer

• Kerrin Shea, Journalism Student

Kent State University

• Portia Booker, Podcaster, e360tv

• Meghan Caprez, Communication Manager, Walt Disney World

• Audrey Fletcher, Music Publicist, Crossroads Label Group

Northwestern University

• Cherise Lopez, English Teacher, Hinsdale Central High School

• Tyler Pager, White House Reporter, The Washington Post

Saint Louis University

• Adam Tamburin, Reporter, Axios

South Dakota State University

• Vernon Brown, VP for External Affairs, South Dakota State University

• Carter Schmidt, Photo/Video Specialist, C & B Equipment

University of Kansas

• Caroline Fiss, Fashion and Commercial Photographer, Caroline Fiss, LLC

• Haylee Hedge, Administrative Associate, University of Kansas

• Jim McCrossen, Journalism Teacher, Blue Valley Northwest High School

• Lauren Rosenthal, Creative Director, Studio Humankind

University of Kentucky

• ​​Jen Smith, Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky, former sports reporter

University of Texas

• Maya Wray, Writer, The Daily Dot

• Tommy Yarrish, journalism student

West Virginia University

• John McPherson, Editor and Publisher, Vernissage Magazine

• Teran Mohan, West Virginia MetroNews

• Michael Rinker, Anchor/Multimedia Journalist, WDHN

• Olivia Sneed, Assistant Director, Athletics Communication, West Virginia University