Austin McDowell is from a rural area in Alabama known as Titus and is a Junior at Wetumpka High School. Austin is currently the Creative Director of the school news and the President of SkillsUSA. He is an active member in Beta club and a part of Bridge of Alabama (a volunteer organization). He is also am a flag runner for the Wetumpka High School football team. Austin’s hobbies include reading, playing with his two adorable dogs, and hanging out with his friends. He is excited for this upcoming WJMC!
Category: Youth Advisory Board
Angelica Edwards is a senior who enjoys marching band, softball, mock trial, and volunteering the Food Ark, a student run and lead non-profit dedicated to serving those with food insecurities. She aspires to be a journalist, and writes for her school paper in the meantime. Angelica is excited for what WJMC 2018 has to offer and can’t wait to share a lifetime of memories with future correspondents.
Alyssa Blair is a junior at West Springfield High School in West Springfield, Massachusetts. She discovered journalism through creative writing and enjoys journalism because of the fact that it is storytelling of real people and events. WJMC helped Alyssa to realize her true passion for written journalism, educated her in the field, and surrounded her with a community of people who she felt understood by. In school, she is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and the Superintendent Advisory Board, is an editor for her school’s newspaper and news station, and is an outstanding member of her school’s swimming program. She hopes to pursue a degree in mass communications following her graduation in 2019 and is looking forward to helping a whole new group of WJMC members on their journeys in the field of journalism.
Alex Varada is currently a junior at Rock Ridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia. In her free time, she likes to volunteer at her local hospice center and tutor elementary and middle school students in various subjects including public speaking and math. She is tri-lingual and aspires to become a pediatric psychiatrist. Alex is also a photography editor for her school’s yearbook. WJMC was a one-of-a-kind experience for Alex, because she was not only fortunate enough to meet speakers such as Sonya Gavankar and April Ryan, but she also interviewed Arthur Bryant about the current state of affairs.