Professional Experience

July 2018 to present: Reporter, WINK News. Previously worked as a resident reporter at WVVA in Bluefield, W.Va.; at ABC 7 Chicago as a news planning intern; at Dateline NBC as a story development intern; and at the Northwestern University's Medill Justice Project as a multimedia investigative reporter.

Awards & Recognition

Hearst Foundation Journalism Award for Enterprise Reporting.

Assistant produced 2-hour, Dateline episode hosted by Keith Morrison, “At the Bottom of the Pool,” aired Oct. 13, 2017.

Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society - lifelong membership exclusively for students in top 10 percent of their graduating class in journalism programs across the country.

National QuestBridge Scholar - awarded to the country's most talented, determined, and self-motivated students from low-income populations who demonstrate outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges.

News Philosophy

We consume news when we are gripped by the emotions making us all human — these are the stories that knock us off our feet. Tell the stories not easily seen that must be experienced through the emotions we all feel.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

Running and cycling! I love all of the fitness-inspired events South West Florida holds to benefit others.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, Magna Cum Laude.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

I am so grateful for the hundreds of days you can spend outdoors with friends and family.

Hometown 

Keystone Heights, Florida.

Parents want answers after Lehigh Acres school dance incident

On Friday, 10 kids and three adults were sent to the hospital because of an irritant released in the school cafeteria during a dance for students and parents/guardians. Parents still want to know who sprayed something in the air at the dance and what the school district is going to do about it. Students returned […]

Lee County deputies investigating shooting, armed robbery at North Fort Myers plaza

The Lee County Sheriff’s office is investigating a shooting at a North Fort Myers shopping plaza Saturday. According to LCSO, the shooting happened during an armed robbery around 2:30 a.m. at 560 Pine Island Road. Multiple LCSO crime scene vans are in the plaza surrounded with crime tape across from Walmart. LCSO said this is not […]

A drone moments before flight. (WINK News photo)

Drone school gives high school students future aviation options

An innovative program at a Lee County high school teaches students how to operate drones and chances to step into a flight simulator. A group of Bonita High School students is getting a flying start to their careers in a four-year aerospace technology program that starts in the classroom. The students can earn up to […]

Fort Myers Beach Library. Photo via WINK News.

Murder of a library director leaves his friends, police searching for answers

A homeless man stabbed another man outside a Fort Myers Beach library Sunday. He will face a judge Tuesday. In the meantime, those close to the man are searching for a reason for the tragedy. Keri Weeg is among the friends who are only beginning to grapple with the brutal death of the Fort Myers […]

New marine lab expands capabilities to research devastating impacts of algae

Setting sail to tackle one of the biggest issues for our state, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is launching a marine lab to get answers in hopes to end the water quality crisis. A research boat, a new lab, and a high-tech look at our water quality crisis, all launched despite the partial government […]

Gas station installs chip readers to protect customers from skimmers

A Bonita Springs Chevron gas station has technology gas stations across America are rushing to get. When a customer slides a credit or debit card in to fuel up, the pumps will now read the chip, not just the magnetic stripe. “The new chip readers coming out,” said Naples resident Lee Wayne. “Nothing better than […]

The site where a man sneaked into the victim's vehicle. Photo via WINK News.

Lehigh Acres robbery, sexual assault suspect still on the run

It is a constant nightmare for one man – starting on Dec. 17 – as his terror is growing each day as his attacker isn’t caught. “That he’s still out there is really scary because if he did it here, he’s going to continue to do it,” Heatherann Koch said, a Lehigh Acres resident. About 5 a.m. […]

The former, Unity Charter School in Cape Coral. It now has a new name. (Credit: WINK News)

Cape charter school sold, leaving parents, students wondering what happens next

After much speculation on the future of Unity Charter School of Cape Coral, the school was auctioned off to the highest bidder Wednesday, leaving many families scratching their heads about what happens next. In a nearly $2 million deal, an Illinois-based real-estate investment company bought the location of Unity Charter School of Cape Coral. MORE: Cape […]

Baby with her father in the NICU. Photo via John Waltrick.

Premature baby spends Christmas in the NICU as he fights to live

John Walterick and the mother, Kayla McPhail, wait with their premature son in the hospital on Christmas, with hope he will survive. “Until we get those test back, it’s just a big waiting game,” Walterick said. “It’s kind of scary,” McPhail said. “I was hoping he would have to go through this, but we will make […]