Reporter: Anemone Benally
by Allisone Doerner
On August 17, 1998, Anemone Benally was born. She is the oldest of six siblings. Benally‘s father is a welder, and her mother is currently studying chemistry in order to become a scientist.
Benally lives in Tuba City, Arizona, and is a senior at Tuba City high school. There are about 1,000 students at her school, and Benally feels that the students and teachers are very nice. Benally is thinking about running for senior class president. She wants to help the students in her high school get more involved with the community by encouraging them to reach out and connect through service work. After high school, Benally is considering attending the University of Arizona, the University of Texas or the University of Utah. She plans to study anthropology. If anthropology doesn’t work out, Benally hopes to study child development, with the goal of helping children all over the world. After college, Benally wants to go to third world countries to help reduce poverty. She plans to write about her experiences. Benally’s favorite color is purple, she likes Asian movies and some of her favorite shows as a kid were Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Naruto. |
Web Editor: Jane Bendickson
by Kei Ann Mandanas
Jane Sophia Reid Bendickson, also known as Jane, is a Tucson native and a fan of the television show Doctor Who.
Bendickson describes herself as a rule follower, a sarcastic person and a teachers’ pet. She’s 15 years old, and currently attends City High School in downtown Tucson. Bendickson is very involved with school activities; she’s a part of her school’s Fandom Club and a member of Student Voice Committee (student council) to name a few. Bendickson’s dream school is Harvard. She hopes to build a school, become a lawyer, and become a judge one day. Bendickson is, without a doubt, a very ambitious woman. She sees herself as a future president of the United States of America. She also hopes to travel to France and Spain someday, and to take part in the Spanish pilgrimage known as “Camino De Santiago”. |
Designer: Allisone Doerner
by Anemone Benally
Allisone Doerner, a high school student from Sedona, Arizona, isn’t sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but she does know that she wants to major in journalism at the University of Arizona, the University of Washington or a college or university in California.
Doerner thinks her hometown of Sedona, which she describes as “mainly a tourist town,” is nice, even though you have to drive about 50 miles to get to a mall. Doerner travelled to the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona when she was in a photography club during her freshman year of high school. She enjoyed the sense of spirituality in the area and thought her experience on the reservation was “really cool.” She has also visited Window Rock, Arizona. Doerner comes to the workshop with quite a bit of journalism experience, and readily took on the job of design chief for the workshop newspaper. |
Reporter: Erica Garcia
by Milton Gashweseoma
Erica Garcia was born on July 13, 2000 in Tucson, Arizona, and is part of the Tohono O’odham tribe. She goes to Tohono O’odham High School, and has six siblings -- two boys and four girls.
Erica, 14, said she enjoys Emo or alternative music, and her favorite band is Pierce the Veil. She likes basketball and softball, and she is not in any clubs in high school. Erica’s hobbies are writing and listening to music. When she grows up Erica wants to be a lawyer. She hopes to attend Northern Arizona University to study pre-law. The reason Erica came to the journalism high school workshop is to get more writing experience. |
Reporter: Milton Gashweseoma
by Erica Garcia
Milton Gashweseoma, 17 years old and a rising senior at Tuba City High School in Tuba City, Arizona, wanted to participate in the University of Arizona Journalism Diversity Workshop to learn more about journalism and to learn how to put his writing to use.
Gashweseoma’s hobbies include listening to music and drawing. He loves pets, especially dogs, and likes the colors black and white. |
Reporter: Adrienne Graham
by Destinee Hardy
Adrienne Graham, a 14-year-old high school student, cares about her family, her future and her writing.
Graham aspires to be a registered nurse or a writer. She has already written five books, and plans to write more. Graham’s favorite genre, both to write and to read, is mystery fiction. Growing up, Graham would take care of other people, especially her younger siblings, but would never step up and defend herself. For example before encountering a new situation, she would make sure it was safe for her younger sister and two younger brothers. These experiences made Graham realize that she loved and had a passion for taking care of people. When asked what animal would best represent her, Graham picked a lion, because she wants to defend others with the spirit of a lion. Graham also loves sports -- anything from volleyball and softball, to basketball. When asked to choose three words to describe herself Graham said that she is sporty and lazy, but determined when necessary. A young colleague describes Graham as “smart, beautiful inside and out and a great participant in the journalism workshop. |
Photo Editor: Destinee Hardy
by Adrienne Graham
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Birthday: December 24, 1997 (17) Destinee Hardy, a 17-year-old student at Arizona College Prep Academy in Tucson, Arizona, is undecided about what she wants to study in college. She is thinking about majoring in business then transferring to an art and design school to major in fashion. Hardy describes herself as a hardworking, ambitious, and determined student. One semester (sophomore year) she needed help in a math class so she arranged to meet with a teacher from 7-8 am before class and 3-4:45 pm after school everyday. She eventually became one of the top students in her class. Hardy has one brother. She plays volleyball and soccer, and in her spare time she does photography and likes to plan events. Hardy listens to rap, and her favorite rapper is Fetty Wap. Hardy sees herself eventually living in California with a family and a successful business. |
Photographer: Kei Ann Fleurs Dela Cruz Mandanas
by Jane Bendickson
Kei Ann Fleurs Dela Cruz Mandanas, 17, was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States in October of 2010. Mandanas attends high school at Arizona College Prep Academy in Tucson, Arizona, where she has participated in everything from volleyball to student council. In her free time, Mandanas writes stories, reads books, and teaches herself Korean and math. Mandanas definitely plans to attend college. She originally had her mind set on Oxford, but with time and further consideration has opened her mind to other college choices. Oxford is still her dream school, but because of an informative college tour, is now also considering the University of Arizona. Mandanas would like to run her own restaurant in the future, using her grandmothers as inspiration. This week Mandanas is attending the UA Journalism Diversity Workshop because she has enjoyed writing since her childhood. |
Reporter: Eshed Ozeri
by Brianna Sanchez
Eshed Ozeri, also known as Eshedy, was born Febuary 20, 1999 in Israel. Eshed left Israel when she was 3 ½ along with her parents, younger brother and older sister. When asked the reason behind the move Ozeri said, “we moved because family was here (Tucson) and because the economy was better at the time.”
Ozeri enjoys relaxing, being out with friends and listening to music. She is also interested in psychology, and wants to take up softball.
Ozeri isn’t set on a career yet, but is exploring journalism by participating in the Dow Jones News Fund Journalism Diversity Workshop at the University of Arizona. When asked why she chose journalism, Ozeri said that she lets her thoughts flow onto paper, and is entertained by hearing about world events.
When asked how she would like to contribute to the world, Ozeri said, “I would like to contribute by distributing information that is understandable to readers.”
Ozeri is also considering psychology or counseling as possible career choices, but is not sure exactly she wants to do. In the future, Ozeri hopes to travel in Europe and Africa to see first hand the differences in community and culture in other places. Instead of worrying throughout her lifetime, Ozeri wants to be healthy and have fun. Whatever career Ozeri eventually chooses, she plans on it being something she likes, and for which she can wake up excited.
Ozeri enjoys relaxing, being out with friends and listening to music. She is also interested in psychology, and wants to take up softball.
Ozeri isn’t set on a career yet, but is exploring journalism by participating in the Dow Jones News Fund Journalism Diversity Workshop at the University of Arizona. When asked why she chose journalism, Ozeri said that she lets her thoughts flow onto paper, and is entertained by hearing about world events.
When asked how she would like to contribute to the world, Ozeri said, “I would like to contribute by distributing information that is understandable to readers.”
Ozeri is also considering psychology or counseling as possible career choices, but is not sure exactly she wants to do. In the future, Ozeri hopes to travel in Europe and Africa to see first hand the differences in community and culture in other places. Instead of worrying throughout her lifetime, Ozeri wants to be healthy and have fun. Whatever career Ozeri eventually chooses, she plans on it being something she likes, and for which she can wake up excited.
Reporter: Briana Sanchez
by Eshed Ozeri
Briana Sanchez, also known as Bri is a 16 year old Tucsonan girl. She is a part of the University of Arizona’s one week journalism workshop. When asked why she chose journalism and this program she answered that she wants to be an author when she grows up and this will help her learn how to be a better writer.
Sanchez’ hobbies include riding the penny board which she has only started doing recently, hanging out with friends, reading, writing, listening to music, dancing as well as learning choreography to Korean pop music.
Just a fun way to end the interview off, she was asked the question, if you could choose any country to represent you, what would it be and why? “ I like how it may be small, but I have heard that the people are friendly” Sanchez says about South Korea and it represents her because she is friendly as well.
Sanchez’ hobbies include riding the penny board which she has only started doing recently, hanging out with friends, reading, writing, listening to music, dancing as well as learning choreography to Korean pop music.
Just a fun way to end the interview off, she was asked the question, if you could choose any country to represent you, what would it be and why? “ I like how it may be small, but I have heard that the people are friendly” Sanchez says about South Korea and it represents her because she is friendly as well.
Copy Editor: Gretchen Smith
by Kayla Yazzie
Gretchen Smith is a 15-year-old girl who goes to Arizona Prep Academy in Tucson. Smith is a dedicated student who loves learning and enjoys art and writing – from essays to short stories. Her dedication, reliance, passion and strong will drives her to succeed in school.
Smith lives in Tucson with her mother Belinda, her dog Bailey and her bearded dragon lizard named Smaug. Smith’s older sister, Ashley Rhoades, lives in Grand Junction, Colorado. Smith isn’t sure what she wants to study in college, but since she can speak a bit of Russian and some German, she thinks she might want to study international relations. Her dream school is Yale University. |
Reporter: Kayla Yazzie
by Gretchen Smith
Kayla Yazzie is a 15-year-old young woman born December 10, 1999. She was born and raised in Tuba City, Arizona, and has only travelled outside of her hometown to attend this program or when she would go on construction work trips with her father. Yazzie has never left the country, but looks forward to traveling after pursuing a law degree at Arizona State University or Northern Arizona University. She hopes to be a lawyer, because she wants to help young people who are in unfortunate situations and to promote justice for all. Outside of law she is interested in riding and working with horses and shopping.
Kayla’s ambitious and resilient character has helped her through the death of her mother Desra Maloney (2007), oldest sister Sherilynn Neztsusie (2011), and father Tom Yazzie (2014). Drawing inspiration from music and films, she tries her best to enjoy and love everything life has to offer |