Author: Allison Dodson

Temi Samuel

TEMI SAMUEL

Temi Samuel is currently a senior at Lawrence E. Elkins High School in Houston, Texas. She is one of 3 students who represent her school on a district level and also second in command of her AFJROTC unit. Temi enjoys baking, reading fantasy and dark academia books, public speaking and engaging in conversations with her peers about pressing issues in her community and the world. Temi has also always had a strong passion for writing and is planning on publishing her book before she graduates High School. With the writing skills she has acquired overtime Temi plans on ensuring that WJMC 2024 is more than a success!

Sarah Kelly

SARAH KELLY

Junior Faculty Advisor, Alum 2022

Sarah is an avid reader and writer from Purcellville, Virginia. At home, she loves to spend time with her family and dogs out in nature. During the school year, she’s further north studying journalism at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. When not reading fantasy or typing up stories, she can be found spinning a flag with the UMass colorguard team.

SARAH KELLY

Junior Faculty Advisor, Alum 2022

Tariq Johnson

TARIQ JOHNSON

Tariq Johnson is a class of 2024 Senior from Concord, North Carolina; who has had a long-time passion for journalism and the realm of media. Fashion, music, politics, culture, reality TV, working, and community involvement also consume his passion. Johnson had the experience of a lifetime during first session of the 2023 WJMC! Listening to the stories of successful journalists, meeting students from all across the country who also love journalism, and the fabulous locations that the conference visited within the week was life-changing. Johnson hopes to continue the lovely experience he had this summer while serving on the YAB!

Samantha Pach

SAMANTHA PACH

Junior Faculty Advisor, Alum 2023

Samantha is from central Connecticut and is a rising sophomore at Penn State University! She intends to major in broadcast journalism and minor in digital trends and analytics and theater. At Penn State she is a comedy host on a late night talk show, Nittany Talk, and helps run the social media for the schools longest running newspaper, The Daily Collegian. She attended WJMC in 2023, and is so excited to be back this summer as a JFA!

SAMANTHA PACH

Junior Faculty Advisor, Alum 2023

Regan Weese

REGAN WEESE

Regan Weese is a senior at Mercy High School in Baltimore, Maryland, and a 2023 WJMC alum. She took her school’s Design, Writing, and Publishing course in her junior year and was previously her school’s copy editor for the newspaper, The Shield. In her free time, Regan spends time with her family, listens to a variety of different music, and volunteers at her church. Regan is excited to be a part of planning WJMC 2024 and hopes to return next summer as an intern!

Mina Mitcheltree

MINA MITCHELTREE

Mina Mitcheltree is a Junior at Concordia Preparatory School in Towson, Maryland. She is a part of her school’s varsity softball team and worked as the stage manager, assistant to the director, and tech assistant for each performance at her school since she began attending. She loves to read a wide range of genres and enjoys listening to music and creative writing in her spare time. She works as an office assistant for North Hill Tree Experts in Pennsylvania and interns in the Marketing and Communications department at Berman McAleer in Timonium. She loves science and aspires to work in forensic science one day. She attended WJMC in 2023 and hopes to make WJMC 2024 an even better experience.

Maxwell Nickel

MAXWELL NICKEL

Maxwell Nickel is a 16-year-old high school Junior from Forsyth, Georgia. He’s been involved in writing and journalism from a very young age. He has written for his county newspaper, for online publications, and has worked for local sports shows. Max was born in New Jersey and moved to Georgia after a few years. He loves writing and had a great time at the 2023 Washington Journalism & Media Conference.

Mark Lussier

MARK LUSSIER

Junior Faculty Advisor, Alum 2023

Mark is a rising sophomore at Hofstra University, studying journalism and minoring
in political science. He attended WJMC in the summer of 2023 as a rising high school
senior and as an intern in 2024. He loved every minute of both experiences. His love
for journalism was sparked when he was interviewed by a local reporter while he was
volunteering for Jahana Hayes’ campaign for Congress in 2018. The unmatched
energy and spirit from his WJMC 2023 color group only made him more excited
about possibly joining the profession. Mark is incredibly excited to return to
WJMC for the third year in a row as a Junior Faculty Advisor. He will strive to
make WJMC even more enjoyable while giving the same amazing experience to other aspiring journalists.

MARK LUSSIER

Junior Faculty Advisor, Alum 2023

Mark is a rising sophomore at Hofstra University, studying journalism and minoring in political science. He attended WJMC in the summer of 2023 as a rising high school senior and as an intern in 2024. He loved every minute of both experiences. His love for journalism was sparked when he was interviewed by a local reporter while he was
volunteering for Jahana Hayes’ campaign for Congress in 2018. The unmatched energy and spirit from his WJMC 2023 color group only made him more excited about possibly joining the profession. Mark is incredibly excited to return to WJMC for the third year in a row as a Junior Faculty Advisor. He will strive to make WJMC even more enjoyable while giving the same amazing experience to other aspiring journalists.

Maeve Sterling

MAEVE STERLING

Maeve Sterling is a Junior at Midlothian High School. She has been involved in Student Government for the past two years, and will be President of the Council her Senior year. She enjoys the arts, music analysis, and spending time with friends! She is thankful to be on the Board this year.

Leah Garofalo

LEAH GAROFALO

Junior Faculty Advisor

Leah Garofalo is a Political Science student at Boston University. She was a National Youth Correspondent in 2023 and an Intern in 2024. She is excited to come back to the program for a third time this summer! WJMC has taught her so many lessons that she carries with her each day. In her free time, Leah is a part of the BU Mock Trial Organization, which is currently ranked 8th in the nation. She loves music, playing guitar, writing, and reading!