PBS NewsHour names 20 fellows for summer student reporting academy
Video produced by Jordan Vesey
This summer, 20 talented young storytellers from 11 states will gather in the nation’s capital to help build the future of public media.
The middle and high school fellows are participants in the annual Student Reporting Labs Academy in Washington, D.C. They’ll work alongside public media mentors to produce original digital content and sharpen their journalism and production skills. They will also help program leaders develop strategies to engage young people with the news and current affairs and ensure that diverse youth voices are active in the conversations about critical issues facing the nation.
During the 2015-2016 school year, these young journalists have reported on how their peers view racial tensions in their own communities and how young people are breaking down gender stereotypes, contributing to the NewsHour’s broadcast and digital platforms.
Here is the list of this year’s fellows:
Christine Alonzo, Maui Waena Intermediate School
Kendra Amick, Richwood High School
Evan Aquinde, Maui Waena Intermediate School
Nicole Barradas, Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High School
Colten Birkland, Turtle Mountain Community High School
Alexis Davis, Turtle Mountain Community High School
Allicia Dean, Etiwanda High School
Sydney Dempsey, Maui High School
Christopher Ediger, Vista PEAK Preparatory
Mercedes Ezeji, Pflugerville High School
Christian Guzman, South Mountain High School
Cesar Haros, Cedar Ridge High School
Nick Hinojosa, Etiwanda High School
Pamela Kapolka, Cedar Crest High School
Ty Koslowski, Etiwanda High School
Jailen Leavell, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
Sydney Miller, Fort Mill High School
Keenan Penn II, Fraser High School
Ty Smith, Etiwanda High School
Hannah West, Etiwanda High School
The fellows are connected to local PBS stations Arizona PBS, Detroit Public Television, KET, KLRU in Austin, PBS Hawaii, PBS SoCal, Prairie Public Broadcasting, Rocky Mountain PBS, South Carolina ETV, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, WITF in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and WLRN in Miami, Florida.
To learn more about the students and to watch their submission videos, please visit the official 2016 SRL Academy Tumblr.
Student Reporting Labs is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as part of the public media initiative, “American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen,” which is helping communities improve education opportunities for all students and build the next generation of skilled graduates. Student Reporting Labs is also funded by the National Science Foundation.