ROCKBRIDGE REPORT biographies

Brett Holton is a producer for the fall 2009 Rockbridge Report. Holton will graduate this year with degrees in journalism and Russian area studies. This summer, the Florida native flew to Moscowfor an internship with the Associated Press. After graduation this June, Holton hopes to find a job as an assistant producer in New York.

Cameron Dewing is the police and courts reporter for the fall 2009 Rockbridge Reporter. Dewing, a junior journalism and politics major, helps to covel the legal beat, too. Dewing hails from Mantoloking, N.J. and hopes to land a journalism internship in Washington D.C. this summer. She will graduate in June 2011.

Victoria Taylor covers the city of Lexington for the fall 2009 Rockbridge Report. Taylor is a junior who double majors in journalism and Spanish. This summer, Taylor worked for a small weekly paper in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. Her favorite story featured a man who circumnavigated Manhattan in a kayak.

Melissa Szumlic covers Rockbridge County news for the fall 2009 Rockbridge Report. Szumlic, a senior journalism and theater major, is also working on her thesis project for the theater department. This summer, Szumlic scored a multimedia journalism internship in Tampa , Fla. for News Channel Eight. Szumlic seeks a career in print journalism.

Stephanie Hardiman edits the print stories for the Rockbridge Report Web site this fall. Last year, Hardiman covered the Rockbridge County area. Her reporting landed her a job at the Nashville Business Journal this summer. After graduation, this senior journalism and environmental studies major hopes to work at a newspaper.

Jasan Bacaj edits the print stories for the Rockbridge Report Web site this fall. Last year, Bacaj covered police and courts and went on to a business journalism internship at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, Va. this summer. Bacaj, a senior journalism major, hopes to find a job in print journalism in Colorado or Wyoming after he graduates.

Catherine Carlock is the director for the fall 2009 Rockbridge Report. Carlock, a senior journalism and English major, worked for Mad Money in the spring and at the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. this summer. The Virginia native seeks a print journalism job in New York after she graduates in June.

Cameron Steele anchors the fall 2009 Rockbridge Report. Steele, a senior journalism major and creative writing minor, covered the business beat and anchored last year. This year, she covers the legal beat and plans to produce in the winter. Steele hopes to find a job at a Southern daily newspaper or television station after she graduates in June.

Farrell Ulrich anchors the fall 2009 Rockbridge Report. Ulrich is a senior journalism major who has covered non-profit groups. This summer, Ulrich commuted to Roanoke, Va. from Lexington to intern at the WDBJ-TV Channel 7. Ulrich will produce The Rockbridge Report in the winter with Steele. She wants to work at a network after college.

Katie Geddes anchors the fall 2009 Rockbridge Report. She is a junior mass communications major from Dallas, Tex. She hopes to land an internship this summer in broadcasting. In July, Geddes studied abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Geddes hopes to anchor and report for a local network after graduation in June 2011.

Tim Watson is a junior business journalism major from Washington, D.C. He is also a captain for the Washington and Lee varsity men’s tennis team. This summer, Watson interned for the Office of External Affairs for Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Watson eventually wants to work in print or for an online news website.

Rosie Purdy is a junior journalism and philosophy double major from Westchester, N.Y. Purdy studied abroad in Shanghai, China last spring, and hopes to intern there this summer. She is also a tutor and volunteer at the Rockbridge Occupational Center. Purdy hopes to work for a magazine someday.

Caroline Helms is a junior journalism major and a poverty studies minor from Charlotte, N.C. Last summer Helms interned at Camp Interactive in New York, helping kids with their computer and leadership skills. She is also an active member of other Washington and Lee publications.

Michael Freeman is a sophomore journalism and politics double major. He is a member of the Washington and Lee varsity men’s tennis team, and works for the Week in General. This summer, Freeman interned from KOIN Local 6, a CBS News affiliate, in Portland, Oregon.

Katie Shelor is a sophomore journalism and geology double major from Roanoke, Va. She is a member of University Chorus and writes for other Washington and Lee publications . She hopes to land a broadcast internship in the area this summer. Eventually, Shelor wants to be a broadcast reporter.

Holly Suthers is a junior journalism and Spanish double major from Savannah, GA. She interned for Coastal Living magazine in Birmingham, Ala. This summer Suthers is interning for Haute Public Relations in New York, N.Y. She hopes to write for a magazine or work at a television station after graduation.