The Washington Journalism and Media Conference
Giovanishka Gonzalez is a WJMC 2019 alumni from Puerto Rico. Giovanishka was born on July 17, 2002 and is currently attending her Senior year at Ramey Unit School in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Giovanishka has worked for local news papers such as El Nuevo Dia and Primera Hora. In her free time she takes to writing poetry and doing sports such as Softball and Martial Arts. Her intended career of study is Investigative Journalism.
Sam is a rising senior at Cherry Creek High School in Denver Colorado. He attended WJMC’s 2019 conference and was part of the pink group. He runs his own photography and videography business and came to WJMC wanting to learn more about the journalism field. Sam is very excited to come back to WJMC as an intern this summer.
Anabel Diaz is a current senior at Grant Community High School in Fox Lake, Illinois. She attended WJMC during the summer of 2019 and was a part of the Green group. Diaz is a center defender for her schools soccer team and also plays the flute in the marching band. She is an active FBLA member and participates in the student council. Anabel has a love for media and developed a liking to journalism which eventually qualified her to attend State. First generation American, Diaz plans to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or University of Michigan Ann Arbor in the fall 2020 in Digital Marketing.
Manuela Bushamani is a senior at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She
attended WJMC in the summer of 2019 and was a part of the team “Quicksilver.” Bushamani
enjoys writing and telling stories. She had an amazing time at WJMC and realized her new
passion for journalism.
Kierra Mykel Mullins is a Senior at Gahanna Lincoln High School in Gahanna Ohio. She is a news correspondent for her high school TV station “Lincoln Live”. Kierra also represents her school as a Student Ambassador and Commissioner for “Link Crew”, which is their freshman connect program. In her free time, she participates in several community service programs such as “Pancakes For Purpose”, which is a K-2nd grade reading program and “Delta Gems”. Kierra plans on studying Media Production and Political Science after graduating high school.
Kelsey Watson is a senior at South Forsyth High School in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves to do gymnastics, write, and most importantly read. She is a part of her school’s journalism team and has proudly attended WJMC in 2019. She is eager to start her role on the WJMC youth advisory board and happy to be a part of the WJMC experience again.
Madeline King is a senior from Los Gatos, California. She is Editor-in-Chief of her school newspaper and captain of her water polo team. She is so proud to be a part of the WJMC family after an amazing summer in the blue group and can’t wait to be a part of the YAB!
Dafne Estrella is a senior at Southern High School in Harwood, MD. She is a part of the National Honor Society and her school’s literary magazine. Dafne spends her time volunteering through school organizations, running on the cross country and track team, reading and writing. Her WJMC experience in 2019 inspired Dafne to pursue her passion for writing and hopes to attend college to major in journalism next fall. Dafne can’t wait to be a part of the Youth Advisory board and help make WJMC a memorable experience for future correspondents!
Laura Walker is a National Youth Correspondent from Paducah, Kentucky who attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference in 2019 as an upcoming junior. She is a member of her high school’s National Honors Society, National English Honors Society, Dance Team, and theatre department. Laura is also an active member in her city’s Chamber of Commerce as a Youth LEAD participant. In her spare time, she enjoys performing in musicals at local community theaters and is active in her church’s praise and worship department. Laura is excited to use the skills she learned at WJMC to better communicate with peers and leadership alike.
Gabrielle Tornow is a junior at Shelby County High School in Shelbyville, Kentucky. She is a member of National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the SCHS Choir Department. She dances at Diane Moore Dance Academy and is an assistant with the Miracle Dancers, a group of special needs children and adults. She is currently dual enrolled at Jefferson Community and Technical College and plans to graduate high school with an Associates of Art. In her free time, she enjoys reading and acting in school productions.