I’m a journalist, student and an avid searcher for the truth. I was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. I’m currently a senior at Lamar University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications, with an emphasis in journalism. I’ve been a journalist since my freshman year of high school and have competed in state and nationwide journalism competitions.
I feel very lucky to know so early in my college career what path I’m going to take. Even when I thought that I might pursue something else as a career, I still figured I’d be a journalist on the side. I am forever curious and always trying to figure out what everyone’s story is.
In addition to being a journalism student, I am also the editor for the University Press at Lamar. I have contributed to stories for the Beaumont Enterprise and am a contributing writer for the ISSUE magazine of the Art Studio, Inc.
Welcome to my portfolio and blog.
Journalism experience
- May 2019 — present: Editor of the University Press at Lamar University
- August 2018 — May 2019: Managing editor of the University Press at Lamar University
- August 2017 — August 2018: Staff writer for the University Press at Lamar University
- August 2016 — May 2017: Editor-in-Chief of The West Brook Times at West Brook High School
- August 2015 — May 2016: Staff writer for the West Brook Times at West Brook High School
- August 2013 — May 2015: Journalism student at West Brook High School and Atascocita High School
Education
- Bachelor’s of Science, Communication, Lamar University — in progress, projected graduation date of December 2021
- High school diploma, West Brook High School — June 2017
Associations
- Board Member, Press Club of Southeast Texas, 2019 — present
- President, The Lamar University Student Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, August 2019 — 2020
- President, The Student Advisory Council of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, May 2019 — 2020
- Member, Society of Professional Journalists, 2018 — present
- Member, Secular Student Alliance, 2018 — present
- Member, Press Club of Southeast Texas, 2017 — present
- Member, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, 2017 — present
- Captain, University Interscholastic League Journalism Team, 2016 — 2017
- Member, UIL Journalism Team, 2013 — 2016
Awards & Recognition
Individual merits
- 2020, Inspirational Woman Award, Lamar University
- 2020, SETX Press Club, First Place — Personal Profile/Interview, “Finding Polloman“
- 2020, SETX Press Club, First Place — Graphic/Cartoon/Illustration, “Economic impacts of domestic violence”
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Second Place — General Column, “Public speaking, Canceled, The New Normal”
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Second Place — Fine Arts Reviews/Critiques, “Review: ‘Wrinkles’ leaves much to be desired“
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Third Place — Feature Page Design/Layout, “A thankful history”
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Third Place — Editorial/Commentary, “Put self-love above all else”
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Third Place — Graphic/Cartoon/Illustration, “History of Measles in America”
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Honorable Mention — Writing Portfolio, Olivia Malick
- 2020, TIPA, Second Place — General Column (Division 2), “Overcoming fear of public speaking crucial to career“
- 2020, TIPA, Third Place — In-Depth Reporting (Division 2), “Impacts of domestic violence on its survivors“
- 2020, TIPA, Honorable Mention — In-Depth Reporting (Division 2), “Women’s History Month“
- 2019, SPJ Mark of Excellence Award Finalist — General Column Writing
- 2019, SPJ Mark of Excellence Award Finalist — Non-Fiction Magazine Article, “Finding Polloman“
- 2019, SPJ Mark of Excellence Award Finalist — Data Visualization, “Measles makes a comeback”
- 2019, SETX Press Club, First Place — Magazines, News Story, “Silent Killers: From HIV to HPV, STDs are at all-time high“
- 2019, SETX Press Club, First Place — Graphic/Cartoon/Illustration, “Procrastination”
- 2019, SETX Press Club, First Place — News Page Design/Layout (Non-Daily), “Election 2018 Breakdown”
- 2019, SETX Press Club, Third Place — News Story (Non-Daily), “Dems win House, GOP holds Senate“
- 2019, SETX Press Club, Third Place — Graphic/Cartoon/Illustration, “No more silence”
- 2018, SPJ Mark of Excellence Award Finalist — Sports Column Writing, “Standing room only?” with Cassandra Jenkins, 2018-19 UP editor
- 2018, TIPA Overall Excellence Division 2 — Illustration, “BITCH”
- 2018, SETX Press Club, First Place, Overall Excellence Page Design for Nov. 9, Feb. 22 and March 1 editions with Shelby Strickland, spring 2018 UP editor
- 2018, SETX Press Club, Second Place, Sports Column, “Standing room only?”
- 2018, SETX Press Club, Second Place, Hurricane Harvey Opinion Story, “Getting used to it”
- 2017, UIL State Finalist in News Writing
- 2017, AP Scholar with Honors
- 2016, AP Scholar
Staff merits
- 2020, SETX Press Club, First Place — Newspapers, Overall Excellence (Div 2/Non-Daily), “Sept. 26, 2019 issue”
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Second Place — Newspapers, Overall Excellence (Div 2/Non-Daily), “Nov. 21, 2019 issue”
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Third Place — Newspapers, Overall Excellence (Div 2/Non-Daily), “Feb. 28, 2019 issue”
- 2020, SETX Press Club, Honorable Mention — Magazines, Overall Excellence, “November 2019”
- 2020, TIPA, Honorable Mention, Cover Design-General Magazine, “UPbeat, November 2019”
- 2019, SPJ Mark of Excellence Finalist — Best Student Magazine “UPbeat Magazine”
- 2019, SETX Press Club, First Place — Newspapers, Overall Excellence (Non-Daily), “Nov. 8, 2018 issue”
- 2019, SETX Press Club, First Place — Feature Page Design/Layout, “Jostle for Oscar”
- 2018, TIPA, Overall Excellence Division 2 — Newspaper
- 2018, TIPA Overall Excellence Division 2 — General Magazine
- 2018, TIPA Overall Excellence Division 2 — Special Edition Design Print, Fall
- 2018, SETX Press Club, Second Place, Photo Essay or Picture, “Hurricane Harvey Issue”
- 2018, SETX Press Club, Second Place, Overall Excellence for Sept. 14, Nov. 2 and Jan. 26 issues
- 2018, SETX Press Club, Third Place, Overall Excellence for UPbeat Fall 2017
Scholarships Received
- January 2021, Howard Perkins Memorial Scholarship
- June 2020, The Press Club of Southeast Texas Scholarship (sole winner)
- June 2020, Fred Hartman & John Blair Memorial Scholarship
- June 2020, Sierra Leigh-Anne Phillips Scholarship
- June 2019, The Press Club of Southeast Texas Scholarship (co-winner)
- June 2019, Fred Hartman & John Blair Memorial Scholarship
- June 2019, Howard Perkins Memorial Scholarship
- March 2019, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Frank W. Buckley Scholarship
