Category: Youth Advisory Board

Ivorie Short is from Jamestown, TN where she attends the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute. She is kind and helpful to those closest to her, and she loves to get lost in books and music. Ivorie loves meeting new people and is excited to be a part of the YAB!

Isabella is a junior and is currently enrolled with Memoria Academy, as well as dual-enrollment with Lindsey Wilson University. An aspiring musician, she sings with the Lindsey Wilson Singers, a renowned professional group, and is a pianist for her church’s youth band. Bella is a member of both the Honors Society and National Society of High School Scholars. She is an alumna of WJMC and is thrilled to be working with the program once again.

Heather Chen is a high school senior at BASIS Independent McLean. She worked as a columnist and reporter in her high school journalism class and also joined the Quill and Scroll Society later on in that year. After attending the 2025 Washington Journalism and Media Conference, she still continues to contribute to school media by working as a staff/caption writer in her school’s Yearbook Club. By being a part of the Youth Advisory Board, she hopes to inspire more current and potential high school journalists to continue pursuing media and communications, even if it’s as small and simple as an article pitch to their peers. Outside of journalism, Heather loves to ride horses, spend time with her cats, play violin, hang out with friends, and journal regularly.

Hannah Malinowski is from Stafford, VA and is a student from Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Dumfries, VA. She has been an active member of her high school’s drama department, leading both the theatre honors society and Cappies theatre critic team. Outside of school her main passion includes seeing regional theatre and reviewing it on her blog. Some of her favorite things include Dr. Pepper, Olivia Rodrigo, and watching cheesy movies. Hannah plans to pursue Media Studies in college as well as becoming a lawyer.

Hailey Dougherty is a dedicated student leader and passionate communicator who attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference as a National Youth Correspondent. She is excited to serve on the Youth Advisory Board to help inspire future participants and strengthen the WJMC community. Hailey is actively involved in student leadership, music, and diversity initiatives at her school, and hopes to pursue studies in psychology or political science with a minor in writing.

Gilberto Escobedo is an aspiring political activist, journalist, and author who strives to one day serve as a beacon of hope for oppressed voices. He sees journalism not just as informative, but representative of human condition and emotion (things both so essential to him). Gilberto is an avid lover of the urban landscape and culture and dreams of one day pursuing his life in the city-scape. Gilberto loves and is loved by his friends, family, mentors, and peers for the smiles he induces and the care he brings into the world. 

Genaya Silver is a senior at Southern Nash High School in Bailey, North Carolina. She is an color guard and filmmaking fanatic, reads in her free time, and is accolated for founding her high school’s first school news broadcast; Southern Nash Documented. She dreams of owning her own production company where she can reemerge the dystopian genre. As a 2025 Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) alumni, Genaya hopes to ignite the passion of journalism and storytelling amongst the future generation.”