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.

It has been a deadly December on the road. Photo via WINK News.

Lethal month for SWFL drivers with nine lives lost on the roadways

Nine crashes have claimed the lives of Southwest Florida drivers this month. “That’s super scary for me,” Tonya Laster said. December turned downright dangerous and we still have several days left. “There’s a couple people that I have known that have been in accidents,” Tonya said. “They’ve been fatal.” That is why Tonya and her dad, […]

Pilot optimistic after surviving crash landing in Charlotte County

A pilot is alive to tell the tale after his small plane crashed in the middle of a Charlotte County neighborhood Thursday afternoon. MORE: Small plane makes crash landing in Charlotte County neighborhood While he says he certainly felt the impact, he made it out with only a few scratches. “If you got hit by a […]

Fort Myers police identify Bassie Court fatal shooting victim

Officers in the Fort Myers Police Department responded to a report of gunfire on Bassie Court, early Thursday morning. When officers arrived at the 3000 block of Bassie Court, which is nearby Franklin Park Elementary School, they found the body of Sam Wigfals, 57, with a gunshot wound. The area was blocked off with crime scene […]

New House bill could make texting while driving a primary offense

Right now, Florida is one of only a handful of states that does not consider texting while driving a primary offense, but a new bill in the works hopes to change that. Shannon Grant and her sister were hit by a distracted driver eleven years ago in Fort Myers. “Her life was ruined in six […]

Blue-green algae build up in a SWFL canal. Photo via WINK News.

FGCU air quality results are in, suggests toxins are airborne

After months of collecting and processing data from algae-plagued canals, we may know more about how the water quality crisis affects our air. In September, Florida Gulf Coast University researchers took matters into their own hands and created an air quality pump to test how blue-green algae affects our air. The air filter test was […]

Family escapes Camp Fire, spends Thanksgiving in Cape Coral

One Cape Coral grandmother is counting her blessings this Thanksgiving after making a cross-country trek with her adult son to pick up their loved ones who were fleeing from the Camp Fire in California. MORE: Camp Fire death toll rises as hundreds spend Thanksgiving in Walmart parking lot “So I walk outside and right across the […]

Lee County manual recount to vet overvotes and undervotes

Election staffers in Florida are starting to go through the re-sorted ballots yet again, reconciling any discrepancies between overvotes and undervotes. “The canvassing board would have to meet on this one for voter intent — that’s a little iffy, not real definite,” said Tommy Doyle, the Lee County Supervisor of Elections. A little “iffy” is exactly what […]

Red tide season approaching again as beaches finally see relief

Although parts of Southwest Florida have reported less or no red tide in the water in the past weeks, we are approaching the time of year when red tide resurfaces. Those brief weeks weren’t much of a break. “After Hurricane Michael, a lot of the area cleaned up as far as red tide went, all […]

Growing Bokeelia junk pile sparks legal drama

Several Bokeelia homeowners are growing more concerned about a pile of debris at their neighbor’s property. The pile along Thigpen Road and Stringfellow Road spans three lots and is sparking a legal battle. The county says that after being evicted from his home, a man moved onto his property in Bokeelia. But some of his […]

Bands and bikers hold fundraiser in Cape Coral for Michael victims

Crossroads Grill & Lounge in Cape Coral held a special poker run fundraiser Sunday to help victims of Hurricane Michael and Florence. Cheryl Naberhaus is rallying the Southwest Florida biker and music community to help those recovering from the two Category 4 storms. WINK News reporter Anika Henanger was live at the event. Watch the […]