Category: Youth Advisory Board

Abigail (Abby) Haffke is a current senior at Shaker Heights High School who attended session one of WJMC 2024 (#bustalime). She is planning on attending university and majoring in government or legal studies, with a minor in journalism or communications. When Abby is not spending all her time doing her rigorous IB work, she enjoys listening to K-Pop and playing her violin. She had the best time of her life at WJMC 2024 and can not wait to serve on this advisory board.

Abigale Paterniti is a junior at River Hill High School in Columbia, Maryland. She previously attended WJMC in the summer of 2024. She is the news editor for the River Hill Current, her school’s student-run newspaper, and Junior President of the National English Honor Society. After school, she enjoys dancing, reading, traveling, interviewing community members, and creating podcast episodes. Abi is excited to have the opportunity to shape the experience of next summer’s youth correspondents through her knowledge of her time at WJMC.

Cia Allen is a Baltimore, Maryland student passionate about fighting for justice and making a positive impact. Actively involved in her school’s volleyball and softball teams and various clubs, she has a keen interest in photojournalism and law, focusing on themes of racial discrimination and justice. Cia’s transformative experience at the Washington Journalism & Media Conference (WJMC) highlighted the importance of visual journalism and it helped her connect with many new friends. She looks forward to continuing her journey at WJMC as she aspires to become a Youth Adviser and support others. Beyond her studies, Cia enjoys reading coming-of-age novels, baking, and spending time with her family.

Keira Klein is a junior, attending high school in Northern California. She competes in FFA Floral competitions, plays tennis and basketball, and writes in her spare time. She LOVED her WJMC experience because of all of the different careers it exposed her to, and can’t wait to contribute to this year’s Youth Advisory Board.

Wandi Hadebe is a senior at Harrison High School and is in her third year of the journalism program. She serves as the writing editor of the Legacy Yearbook Staff as well as Vice President and Writing Center Coordinator of the James Joyce chapter of the National English Honors Society. She was also county finalist of the 2022 Cobb County Writing Fair and named English Student of the Year her sophomore and junior years. Wandi aspires to be a novelist and bookstore owner, and is currently working towards that goal through a literary agency internship. 

Ben Maya is a senior at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San José, California. He’s an alumni of WJMC 2023 and besides journalism has an interest in foreign service, sports, spending time in the outdoors, and radio and broadcasting. His favorite classes his Senior year are Literature of the Counter Culture and Spanish AP. Ben strives to be a source of fun and positivity for those around him.

Vegas Dodds is a senior at Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute in Jamestown, TN. They plan to pursue an English or Communications major at a university in Pennsylvania. They joined their school journalism program, the Dragon J.Staff, in their sophomore year, and they accepted the position of General News Editor for the school newspaper – The Pine Needles – in their junior year. Currently, they are the Copy Editor for all school publications. Outside of academics, Dodds enjoys the performing arts and playing with their cats. They are thrilled to be a member of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB), as the 2023 Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) was a truly monumental experience for them.

Thomas is a senior at Trinity School at Meadow View in Falls Church, VA. Thomas is part of his school’s debate club, yearbook club, and founded the school’s journalism program. He aspires to major in journalism, and to specifically focus on sports journalism. Outside of school, Thomas actively participates in Ninja Warrior, having made it to nationals this past year, and owns his own small business, which sells T-shirts for ninja competitors.

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! 

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!