WCJ Staff Spring 2025
Editor-in Chief
Mackenzie Atkinson – mlatkinson1@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editor /93.5 FM GM
Deanna Sipe – djsipe2@catamount.wcu.edu
Multimedia & Technology Editor
Anthony Fowler – awfowler1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports editor
Madison Schwarz – mhschwarz1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts & entertainment editor
Photo Editor
Elijah Lautzenheiser – eclautzenheiser1@catamount.wcu.edu
Reporters/Contributors
Callie Addikis ccaddikis1@catamount.wcu.edu
Dylan Branscome dmbranscome1@catamount.wcu.edu
Hannah Butler hcbutler1@catamount.wcu.edu
Morgan Korson makorson2@catamount.wcu.edu
Devin McDaniel domcdaniel1@catamount.wcu.edu
Max Poku-Kankam mapokukankam1@catamount.wcu.edu
Marie Spencer hmspencer1@catamount.wcu.edu
Cassidy Swanik clswanik1@catamount.wcu.edu
Faculty Advisor
Katerina Spasovska – kspasovska@wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Fall 2024
Editor-in Chief & News Editor
Mattilynn Sneed – msneed2@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports editor
Madison Schwarz – mhschwarz1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts & entertainment editor
Benton Craven – bwcraven1@catamount.wcu.edu
Photo Editor
Elijah Lautzenheiser – eclautzenheiser1@catamount.wcu.edu
Election 2024 Reporting Team
Marrah Ste. Marie – mgstemarie1@catamount.wcu.edu
Cora Haste – cphaste1@catamount.wcu.edu
Mackenzie Atkinson – mlatkinson1@catamount.wcu.edu
Stewart Butler – sgbutler1@catamount.wcu.edu
Deanna Sipe – djsipe2@catamount.wcu.edu
Benton Craven – bwcraven1@catamount.wcu.edu
Cody Cresmen – cjcresmen1@catamount.wcu.edu
Reporters/Contributors
Callie Addikis ccaddikis1@catamount.wcu.edu
Dylan Branscome dmbranscome1@catamount.wcu.edu
Taylor Bucklin tjbucklin1@catamount.wcu.edu
Hannah Butler hcbutler1@catamount.wcu.edu
Parker Jacobs pjacobs1@catamount.wcu.edu
Morgan Korson makorson2@catamount.wcu.edu
Devin McDaniel domcdaniel1@catamount.wcu.edu
Max Poku-Kankam mapokukankam1@catamount.wcu.edu
Marie Spencer hmspencer1@catamount.wcu.edu
Cassidy Swanik clswanik1@catamount.wcu.edu
Julian Vanderhoef javanderhoef1@catamount.wcu.edu
Faculty Advisor
Katerina Spasovska – kspasovska@wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Spring 2024
Editor-in-Chief(s)
Abigail Quinn (News) – aequinn2@catamount.wcu.edu
Lauren Corcoran (Arts and Entertainment) licorcoran1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editors
Marrah Ste. Marie – mgstemarie1@catamount.wcu.edu
Cora Haste – cphaste1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Bryson Jusko – bgjusko1@catamount.wcu.edu
Photo Editor
Elijah Lautzenheiser – eclautzenheiser1@catamount.wcu.edu
Community Editor
Reporters/Contributors
- Atkinson, Mackenzie – mlatkinson1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Azar, Nicole (sport) – nmazar1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Butler, Stewart (general news) – sgbutler1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Craven, Benton – bwcraven1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Cresmen, Cody – cjcresmen1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Elcock, Tyler – tdelcock1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Mullis, Ryan – rpmullis2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Petty, Qwmayne – qdpetty1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Pruitt, Sarah – sgpruitt1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Ramsey, Lauren (community)- leramsey2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Reid, Daniel – dkreid1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Schwarz, Madison – mhschwarz1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Sneed, Mattilynn – msneed2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Sadie Kennedy – skennedy2@catamount.wcu.edu
Faculty Advisor
Katerina Spasovska – kspasovska@wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Fall 2023
Editor-in-Chief
Saydie Bean – sebean2@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editor
Abigail Quinn – aequinn2@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
Marrah Ste. Marie – mgstemarie1@catamount.wcu.edu
Cora Haste – cphaste1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Jake Harkey – jsharkey1@catamount.wcu.edu
Bryson Jusko – bgjusko1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts and Entertainment
Lauren Corcoran – licorcoran1@catamount.wcu.edu
Community Editor
Sadie Kennedy – skennedy2@catamount.wcu.edu
Photo Editor
Elijah Lautzenheiser – eclautzenheiser1@catamount.wcu.edu
Reporters/Contributors
- Atkinson, Mackenzie – mlatkinson1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Azar, Nicole (sport) – nmazar1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Bucklin, Taylor – tjbucklin1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Butler, Stewart – sgbutler1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Craven, Benton – bwcraven1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Cresmen, Cody – cjcresmen1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Dover, Brandon – bldover1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Elcock, Tyler – tdelcock1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Mullis, Ryan – rpmullis2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Petty, Qwmayne – qdpetty1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Pruitt, Sarah – sgpruitt1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Ramsey, Lauren (community)- leramsey2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Reid, Daniel – dkreid1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Richardson, Thalia – tarichardson1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Schwarz, Madison – mhschwarz1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Sneed, Mattilynn – msneed2@catamount.wcu.edu
Faculty Advisor
Katerina Spasovska – kspasovska@wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Spring 2023
Editor-in-Chief
- Saydie Bean – sebean2@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
- Emma Hodes- ekhodes1@catamount.wcu.edu
Community Editor
- Madison Pait – mdpait1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
- Ruby Annas – reannas1@catamount.wcu.edu
Reporters/Contributors
- Cora Haste (general news) – cphaste1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Jada Smith (arts & entertainment) – jsmith34@catamount.wcu.edu
- Marrah Ste. Marie (campus) – mgstemarie1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Chloe Ettinger (general news) – cnettinger1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Lauren Corcoran (art & entertainment/campus) – licorcoran1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Jake Harkey (outdoor/sport/art & entertainment) – jsharkey1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Chandler Hensley (economy/religion/news) – cdhensley7@catamount.wcu.edu
- Bryson Jusko (sport/news) – bgjusko1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Sadie Kennedy (community/news/art & entertainment) – skennedy2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Eliza (Sarah) Lavway (campus/ art & entertainment) – selavway1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Stephen Pierce (campus/diversity/politics) – spierce1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Abigail Quinn (news/diversity) – aequinn2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Austin Ross (local regional news) – waross1@catamount.wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Fall 2022
Co-Editors-in-Chief
- Saydie Bean – sebean2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Chloe Ettinger – cnettinger1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
- Emma Hodes- ekhodes1@catamount.wcu.edu
Reporters/Contributors
- Rachel Lepine (general news) – rllepine1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Kaitlyn Akers (general news) – kakers1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Cora Haste (general news) – cphaste1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Jada Smith (arts & entertainment) – jsmith34@catamount.wcu.edu
- Marrah Ste. Marie (campus) – mgstemarie1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Madison Pait (campus) – mdpait1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Eliza (Sarah) Lavway (campus/ art & entertainment) – selavway1@catamount.wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Spring 2022
Editor – in- Chief
Madelyn Ricket – mnricket1@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editor/ Sports & Outdoor Editor
Scott Mitchell – dsmitchell2@catamount.wcu.edu
News Co-Editor
Liam Bridgeman – lcbridgeman1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus
Nick Child – nrchilds1@catamount.wcu.edu
Community Editor
Saydie Bean – sebean2@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts & Entertainment
Graylon Turner – gcturner1@catamount.wcu.edu
Copy Editor
Jessica Posa – japosa1@catamount.wcu.edu
Reporters/ Contributors
Samuel Dietrich (sport) – scdietrich1@catamount.wcu.edu
Chloe Ettinger (Arts & Enter.) – cnettinger1@catamount.wcu.edu
Jessica Stephens (campus) – jstephens3@catamount.wcu.edu
Rachel Lepine (general news) – rllepine1@catamount.wcu.edu
Kaitlyn Akers (general news) – kakers1@catamount.wcu.edu
Savanna Tenenoff (campus) – sntenenoff2@catamount.wcu.edu
Charles Gadie (sport) – cagadie1@catamount.wcu.edu
Faculty Advisor
Katerina Spasovska – kspasovska@wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Fall 2021
Editor- in-Chief
- Tessa Bradshaw – tabradshaw1@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editor
- Emma Hodes – ekhodes1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus
Outdoor
Community Editor
- Jessica Posa – japosa1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts & Entertainment
Sports Editor
Copy Editor
- Jessica Posa – japosa1@catamount.wcu.edu
Advisor
- Katerina Spasovska – kspasovska@wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Fall 2020/Spring 2021
WCJ editorial board COVID edition. From left to right: Sara Stanley, Jessica Posa, Nicole Ellison, Nate Hadley & Joel Velez Rodriguez.
Editor- in-Chief
- Nate Hadley – njhadley1@catamount.wcu.edu
News
- Joel Velez Rodriguez – editor jdvlezrodrguez1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus
- Sara Stanley – editor sastanley1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Jessica Posa – editor japosa1@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor
Community
- Jessica Posa – editor japosa1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts & Entertainment
- Nicole Ellison – editor nfellison1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
- Joel Velez Rodriguez – editor jdvlezrodrguez1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Kaitlyn Brown – reporter kmbrown18@catamount.wcu.edu
Copy Editor
- Jessica Posa – editor japosa1@catamount.wcu.edu
Advisor: Katerina Spasovska, kspasovska@wcu.edu
WCJ Staff Spring 2020
Editor- in-Chief
Keegan Wiggins – kmwiggins3@catamount.wcu.edu
News
- Allysion Weinright – editor amwainright1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Nate Hadley – co-editor njhadley1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Samantha Lughart – reporter lsn1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Sara Stanely – reporter sastanley1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Hannah Fink – reporter hrfink1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus
- Benny Garcia- editor bgarciagarcia1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Cameron Huffman – co-editor cbhuffman2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Chandler Keller – reporter cjkeller1@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor
- Ruth Dahl – co-editor radahl2@catamount.wcu.edu
Community
- Jessica Posa – editor japosa1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts & Entertainment
- Nicole Ellison – co-editor nfellison1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Benny Garcia – reporter bgarciagarcia1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Isaiah Hanna – reporter inhanna1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Sydni Hall – reporter shall2@catamount.wcu.edu
- Chandler Price – reporter jcprice6@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
- Joel Velez Rodriguez – editor jdvlezrodrguez1@catamount.wcu.edu
- Kaitlyn Brown – co-editor kmbrown18@catamount.wcu.edu
- Jonah Weston – reporter jcweston1@catamount.wcu.edu
Copy Editor
- Samantha Lughart lsn1@catamount.wcu.edu
Advisor: Katerina Spasovska, kspasovska@wcu.edu
Spring 2018
Editor-in-Chief
Ashley Kairis, aakairis1@catamount.wcu.edu
News
Editor Keegan Wiggins, kmwiggins1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus
Editor Gavin Stewart, gestewart1@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor
Editor Ashley Kairis, aakairis1@catamount.wcu.edu
Kristie Watkins, kewatkins1@catamount.wcu.edu
Community
Gavin Stewart, gestewart1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts and Entertainment/ Opinions
Editor Yustin Riopko, yjriopko1@catamount.wcu.edu
Gavin Stewart, gestewart1@catamount.wcu.edu
Brannon Mahaley, bnmahaley1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports
Editor Marcus Smith, mssmith10@catamount.wcu.edu
Rebecca Ross, rjross2@catamount.wcu.edu
Chris Lang, nclang1@catamount.wcu.edu
Contributors:
Jonathan Birek, jpbirek1@catamount.wcu.edu
Jeremy Giovanni, jjgiovanni1@catamount.wcu.edu
Lucy Jones, lbjones1@catamount.wcu.edu
Chelsea Komer, cakomer1@catamount.wcu.edu
Kevin McNamara, kpmcnamara1@catamount.wcu.edu
Morgan Miller, memiller9@catamount.wcu.edu
Austin Page, adpage4@catamount.wcu.edu
James Readling, jgreadling1@catamount.wcu.edu
Travon Ricketts, tericketts1@catamount.wcu.edu
Advisor: Katerina Spasovska, kspasovska@wcu.edu
Fall 2016
Editor-in-Chief/News Editor
Haley Smith, hbsmith3@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editor
Haley Smith, hbsmith3@catamount.wcu.edu
Assistants:
Zane Perkins, zrperkins1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
Meghan O’Sullivan, mdosullivan1@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor editor
Ashley Kairis, aakairis1@catamount.wcu.edu
Kayla Minion, kaminion1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts and Entertainment/ Opinions Editor
Molly Morgan (music reviews), mamorgan3@catamount.wcu.edu
Alec Simkiss ajsimkiss1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Calvin Inman, rcinman1@catamount.wcu.edu
Connor Mills, cfmills1@catamount.wcu.edu
Assistants:
Chad Grant, clgrant1@catamount.wcu.edu
Contributors:
Hannah Fink, hrfink1@catamount.wcu.edu
David Johnson, dajohnson9@catamount.wcu.edu
Marcus Smith, mssmith10@catamount.wcu.edu
Imani Stewart, imstewart1@catamount.wcu.edu
Keegan Wiggins, kmwiggins1@catamount.wcu.edu
Advisor: Katerina Spasovska, kspasovska@wcu.edu
Fall 2015 – Spring 2016
Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor
Hunter Bryn, hpbryn1@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editor
Haley Smith, hbsmith3@catamount.wcu.edu
Assistants: Michaela Neal, maneal1@catamount.wcu.edu;
Zane Perkins, zrperkins1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
Shelby Lequire, splequire1@catamount.wcu.edu
Assistants: Julia Hudgins, jmhudgins1@catamount.wcu.edu ;
Meghan O’Sullivan, mdosullivan1@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor editor
Samantha Cook, samantha.cook445@gmail.com ; slcook3@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts and Entertainment/ Opinions Editor
Kayla Brookshire, kmbrookshire1@catamount.wcu.edu
Temi Adeleye, taadeleye1@catamount.wcu.edu
Molly Morgan (music reviews), mamorgan3@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Connor Mills, cfmills1@catamount.wcu.edu
Assistants: Calvin Inman, rcinman1@catamount.wcu.edu
Chad Grant, clgrant1@catamount.wcu.edu
Multimedia Editor
Bradley Lucore, blucore@email.wcu.edu
Contributors:
Tabitha Hill, tlhill5@catamount.wcu.edu
David Johnson, dajohnson9@catamount.wcu.edu
Will Richards, wtrichards1@catamount.wcu.edu
Alec Simkiss, ajsimkiss1@catamount.wcu.edu
Advisor: Katerina Spasovska, kspasovska@wcu.edu
Spring 2015
Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor
Ceillie Simkiss: cpsimkiss1@catamount.wcu.edu
Managing Editor
Angela McCall : abmccall2@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editors
Michaela Neal: maneal1@catamount.wcu.edu
Darren Blackwell: dablackwell2@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
Rebecca Romo rtrujilloromo1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Jansen Silvers: jlsilvers1@catamount.wcu.edu
Barrett Boyles: bsboyles1@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor editor
Hunter Bryn: hpbryn1@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts and Entertainment/ Opinions Editor
Rebecca Roberts: rdroberts1@catamount.wcu.edu
Advertising/Social Media Editor
Christina Bridgeman: ccbridgeman1@catamount.wcu.edu
Fall 2014
Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor
Ceillie Simkiss: cpsimkiss1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
Alina Voronenko: avoronenko1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Outdoor editor/Social Media Editor
Michael Williams: mbwilliams4@catamount.wcu.edu
Spring 2014
Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor
Dustin George: dlgeorge2@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editor
Ceillie Simkiss: cpsimkiss1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
Tanner Hall: tjhall4@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Ryan Keys: rskeys2@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor editor/Social Media Editor
David McLaughlin: dwmclaughlin2@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Jessica Swink: jdswink2@catamount.wcu.edu
Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor
Randy Conn: rbconn1@catamount.wcu.edu
Technology/ Opinion Editor
Jake Myers: jrmyers3@catamount.wcu.edu
Fall 2013
Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor
Dustin George: dlgeorge2@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
Kayla Godfrey: kmgodfrey3@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Ryan Keys: rskeys2@gmail.com
Sports Feature Special Project Writer
Roger Cote: rccote1@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor editor
Hope Quinn: hmquinn2@catamount.wcu.edu
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Hana Haden: hlhaden1@catamount.wcu.edu
Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor
Anna Sorrentino: agsorrentino2@catamount.ecu.edu
Technology/ Opinion Editor
Jake Myers: jrmyers3@catamount.wcu.edu
Photo Editor
Jamie North : jbnorth1@catamount.wcu.edu
Social Media Editor
Tyana Johnson: trjohnson4@catamount.wcu.edu
Staff 2012-2013
Editor-in-Chief
Ben Haines – bthaines1@catamount.wcu.edu
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Bayleigh Davis – bsdavis4@catamount.wcu.edu
News Editor
Alisha Lambert – adlambert1@catamount.wcu.edu
Assistant News Editor
Marysa Burchett – maburchett1@catamount.wcu.edu
Campus Editor
Becca Ziglar – rlziglar1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Editor
Philip Jackson – prjackson2@catamount.wcu.edu
Outdoor Editor
Patrick O’Neal – proneal1@catamount.wcu.edu
Photo Editor / Technology
Jamie North – jbnorth1@catamount.wcu.edu
Sports Feature Special Project Writer
Thomas Thayer
KB Carpenter – kbcarpenter3@catamount.wcu.edu
Writers / Producers
Jessica Duncan – jmduncan4@catamount.wcu.edu
John-Luke Carter – jcarter2@catamount.wcu.edu
Roger Cote – rccote1@catamount.wcu.edu
Heather Crawford – hccrawford1@catamount.wcu.edu
Jenna Englert – jrenglert1@catamount.wcu.edu
Max Maier – mjmaier1@catamount.wcu.edu
If you are interested in becoming a contributor for the Western Carolina Journalist, please fill out the application form and email it to the editor-in-chief.
Part of the WCJ staff 2012. From left: Marysa Burchett, Jenna Englert, Heather Crawford, Roger Cote, Jamie North, Ben Haines, Philip Jackson and Max Maier.
Fall 2011/Spring 2012
Meredith Oakley, Editor-in-Chief
Shannon Christy, News and Outdoor Editor
Ben Haines, Assistant News Editor
Doug Powell, Sports Editor
Jean-Marie Jonell, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Jarrett Frazier, Photo Editor
KB Carpenter, Web Producer/general assignment contributor
Jessica Duncan, Web Producer /general assignment contributor
Liz van Metre, Contributor
Logan Sherill, Contributor
Fern Lulham, Contributor
Samantha Stedem, Contributor
Spring 2011
Lauren Johnson, Editor-in-Chief and Sports Editor, Major in Broadcasting
Brittany Hink, Managing and News Editor, Major in Journalism
Katelyn Cooper, Arts and Entertainment Editor, Major in Public Relations (not on the picture)
Shannon Christy, Outdoor Editor, Major in Broadcasting
Marcelo Maia, Assistant Outdoor Editor, international students in broadcasting
Shelby Harrell, Copy Editor and contributor covering WCU Greek life, Major in Journalism
Tucker Horne, Web Producer and Assistant Operating Manager, Major in Broadcasting
Justin Caudell, Contributor covering education, Major in
Olivia Bellamy, Contributor covering sports, Major in Broadcasting
Michael Jefferson, Contributor covering sports, Major in Broadcasting
Morgan Carver, Contributor covering Arts and Entertainment, Major in Broadcasting
Cannon Miller, Contributor general assignments, Major in Public Relations (not on the picture)
Jeffrey Hughes, Contributor general assignments, Major in Public Relations (not on the picture)
WCJ Staff, Spring 2011. From left: Lauren Johnson, Morgan Carver, Marcelo Maia, Olivia Bellamy, Brittany Hink, Tucker Horn, Mike Jefferson, Justin Caudell, Shannon Christy, and Shelby Harell.
