Alumni in Media Communication
Class of 2020
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Sarah McRitchie
News ProducerWTVG-13ABC - Toledo, OhioSarah McRitchie is currently a News Producer for WTVG-13ABC in Toledo, Ohio. Sarah was formerly the Digital News Producer for UT:10 News. She was also a former News Editor for the UToledo Collegian. |
Isaac Petkac
Anchor/Multimedia JournalistWICU/WSEE-Erie News Now - Erie, PennsylvaniaIsaac Petkac is currently a News Anchor/MMJ for Erie News Now in Erie, PA after serving as a reporter/producer at UT:10 News for two years. His job responsibilities include reporting on the economic sector in the Erie area, highlighting the financial hardships that have been caused by the pandemic and other outside factors. In his first six months in the field, Isaac has championed several special reports and was first in the state of Pennsylvania to report on three pandemic related stories, including Governor Tom Wolf's decision to limit bars and restaurants to 25% capacity, and new state capacity guidelines for sporting events during the pandemic. This winter, Isaac is expecting to transition into a new role at Erie News Now, which will include weekend anchoring, sports reporting, and the continuation of news reporting. |
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Alyssa Plotts
Multimedia JournalistWILX - Lansing, MichiganAlyssa Plotts joined News 10 in December 2020. She is originally from Erie, MI, near the border of Michigan and Ohio. She graduated from the University of Toledo in 2020, where she studied journalism and political science. During her time at UT, Alyssa worked as a student reporter for UT:10 News and interned at 13 ABC. |
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Class of 2019
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Marla Gootee
Marketing CoordinatorBionix - Toledo, OhioMarla is currently a marketing coordinator for Bionix in Toledo, Ohio. She oversees and coordinates numerous marketing efforts including, social media/content creation, brand awareness, campaign generation and more. She hopes to further her experience and education in the digital marketing field. As a reporter for UT:10, she covered various topics including, student hunger and advocacy, revitalization of Toledo neighborhoods and major events on UT’s campus. |
Shawn Hehl
Engineering ApprenticeGame Creek Video - Hudson, NHAfter graduating from UT in December 2019, Shawn joined Game Creek Video as an engineering apprentice in early March 2020. After the COVID-19 lockdown was lifted in New Hampshire in late May, Shawn returned to the Game Creek Video shop and has played a crucial role in Game Creek’s part of the return of sports. This includes providing maintenance to production trucks that provide services to NASCAR, MotoAmerica, NBA on ESPN, College GameDay on ESPN, and Thursday Night Football on NFL Network. Shawn has also been a part of Game Creek’s first new truck build since COVID-19, which is now providing services to NFL on CBS. Due to COVID-19 Shawn’s apprenticeship with Game Creek has been extended. After the apprenticeship he hopes to remain a part of the Game Creek team as an associate engineer. |
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Kaylee Loofbourrow
Production AssistantWTOL-TV - Toledo, OhioShortly after graduation, Kaylee accepted a position in production at WTOL. There, she has contributed to the morning and weekend newscasts while also exploring other opportunities within the newsroom including writing several stories for air. In response to the pandemic, she has taken on more responsibility, especially digitally. As a student, Kaylee reported for UT:10 News covering various stories such as immigration, campus safety, and healthcare accessibility in addition to writing for "Odyssey." Kaylee hopes to continue to grow and learn within the field, while exploring all aspects of media communication. |
Daniel March
Design and Media ProducerWynHouse Software - Toledo, OhioAfter graduating from the University of Toledo in December of 2019, Daniel went on to become a founder of the Toledo-based company, WynHouse Software. Here, he has worked on media production, digital design, and decentralized agile management. Daniel has also enjoyed spending time producing and co-hosting The AfterHours Podcast. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys running, a competitive round of spike-ball with friends, and a relaxed game of League of Legends with his brother. |
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Rachel Schneider
Multimedia JournalistWTVG-13ABC - Toledo, OhioRachel Schneider currently works as a nightside Multimedia Journalist at 13abc Action News in Toledo, Ohio. Her reports range from local government issues to lifestyle and human interest stories. She is from the Southeast Michigan area and graduated from the University of Toledo with her Bachelor of Arts in Media Communication in May 2019. While at UT, she produced content for UT:10 News, the university's nationally recognized student-produced newscast. She also worked on the ESPN live sports production crew for various Rocket football and basketball games. On the legal side, Rachel became interested in criminal law due to her mother’s career as a police detective and won several awards from the American Mock Trial Association during her time in high school and collegiate competitions. Off-camera, Rachel loves performing on stage in local theatre productions and has studied acting at Jeff Daniel's Purple Rose Theatre Company. Her favorite past roles include Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and Cinderella in Into the Woods. When she gets the chance, Rachel enjoys attending concerts, watching movies, and spending time outdoors with her family. |
Jessica Zientek
Production StaffBCSN - Toledo, OhioFollowing graduation, Jessica accepted a position with the Pittsburgh Pirates as their Media and Creative Services Assistant Director and primarily worked with in-game fan entertainment. Due to the onset of COVID-19, she returned home and began working with Toledo’s local sports network, BCSN, as a production crew member. Jessica hopes to continue her career within the live sports entertainment industry and travel around the country doing so. |
Class of 2018
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Zack Harig
Sports Anchor/ReporterWXMI-FOX 17 - Grand Rapids, MichiganAfter graduating from the University of Toledo in May of 2018, Zach went on to work full-time at BCSN as a sports reporter and producer. In October of 2018, he was offered a sports anchor/reporter position at WXMI-FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has since covered the NCAA Tournament, the Michigan/Ohio State football game, the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Tigers, and much more. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he also became a news reporter. He covered stories dealing with racial injustice and unrest in downtown Grand Rapids, as well as, drownings on Lake Michigan and standoffs as well. |
Jed Schilling
Executive ProduceriHeartMedia - Toledo, Ohio |
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Courtney Stec
Photographer
Courtney Rae Photography - Toledo, Ohio |
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Class of 2017
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Aliyah Coates
PhotojournalistWTOL-TV - Toledo, OhioShortly after graduating from The University of Toledo in December of 2017, Aliyah went on to work for WTOL 11. She has become an experienced photojournalist, and has developed a strong background in editing and storytelling through images. As a photojournalist for one of the leading stations in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, Aliyah has been given opportunities to cover a variety of stories including the President of The United States visit to Toledo in 2020. There has never been a dull moment during her career journey, and she was blessed to have learned so much from her time at UT. |
Sydney Edwards
Multimedia JournalistWTVC-News Channel 9 - Chattanooga, Tennessee |
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Andrew Kersten
Internal Communications CoordinatorPromedica - Toledo, OhioAndrew is a Coordinator for Internal Communications at ProMedica. He started his career at WTVG-13abc in Toledo, Ohio immediately after he graduated from the University of Toledo in 2017. At the station, he worked as a News Producer for one year, writing scripts for the morning news show. Shortly after, Andrew furthered his career by joining not-for-profit ProMedica in December of 2018. Most recently, he secured a position at the Toledo City Paper as a freelance journalist to continue his love for writing and telling stories in the community. |
Cody Smith
Video Production CoordinatorUniversity of Toledo Athletics - Toledo, OhioCody Smith enters his second year as the video production coordinator for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at The University of Toledo, after spending two years as the video production intern from 2017-19. Smith works closely with the communication, development, and marketing departments within athletics to create content to promote the Toledo Rockets brand. His duties include recording ENG highlights of all athletic events, conducting interviews with players and coaches, scheduling and executing video shoots with teams, as well as producing content for all social media platforms and the Toledo Rockets website, UTRockets.com. In addition to his work with the Rockets, Smith has worked as a camera operator for the Toledo Mud Hens and Toledo Walleye since 2016. |
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Meagan Dietz
Athletic Video Operations CoordinatorUniversity of Toledo Athletics - Toledo, Ohio |
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Class of 2016
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James Aponte
Freelance FilmmakerCleveland, OhioAfter graduating from The University of Toledo James Aponte wrote, directed, and produced his first feature film “Dream Runner.” The film debuted at the 2018 Glass City Film Festival where it won the Best Local Film Award and the Audience Award. In March 2020 "Dream Runner" officially became available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. He now lives in Cleveland, Ohio where he writes scripts, shoots commercials, and works on narrative and experimental films. You can find a collection of his works at: www.vimeo.com/jamesaponte |
Courtney (Shaw) Majcher
Digital ProducerWEWS-News 5 - Cleveland, OhioCourtney Majcher is a Digital Producer at News 5 in Cleveland. She is in charge of researching COVID-19 numbers for the State of Ohio and breaking them down daily for her station. From the multiple sports teams to severe weather, Courtney covers a wide variety of topics. She has had multiple stories make national headlines, including being the first person to break story about a man who pretended to be a missing child, originally being from the Cleveland area. Courtney graduated from the University of Toledo in 2016 and was a reporter for UT:10 News. After graduation, Courtney traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to work as an assignment editor and digital producer for WLKY News. In Kentucky, she had the opportunity to cover the Kentucky Derby, March Madness and mass flooding. Courtney knows that her career wouldn't be what it is without the support of media communication faculty and staff at Toledo and learning the ropes during her time with UT:10 News. |
Class of 2015
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Fayth Atkins
Digital Reporter/Content ProducerWTOL-TV - Toledo, Ohio |
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Class of 2013
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McKenzie Kuehnlein
Reporter/Weekend AnchorWTVG-13ABC - Toledo, Ohio |
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Class of 2011
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Ashley Oberle
Senior Account ExecutiveGSW Advertising - Columbus, OhioUpon graduation from the University of Toledo in 2011, Ashley Oberle worked at WTVG 13abc as a General Assignment Reporter, Production Assistant, and Audio Director. Mrs. Oberle delivered breaking news live shots in the greater Toledo area on house fires, shootings, snow emergencies and other local news. From 2012 to 2016 Mrs. Oberle worked for an entertainment media company, Bluefin Media, reporting on entertainment news, fashion, and food. Mrs. Oberle now lives in Columbus, Ohio where she works for GSW Advertising, a full-service Syneos Health Communications agency that creates brand experiences for some of the top pharmaceutical companies in the nation. Mrs. Oberle frequently travels to Toledo to visit family and serve on the media advisory committee for her high school alumni, Whitmer. |
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Class of 2010
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Heather Schramm
Assignment EditorWTOL-TV - Toledo, OhioHeather Schramm was a student reporter and director for Rocket Report and UT:10 News. She is proud to have been Director during the 2010 College Emmy-winning semester. The media communication faculty and staff taught her everything she knows. After graduation, Heather started at WTOL as a part-time studio camera operator and tried to learn everything she could. That opportunity quickly lead to becoming a full-time Engineer, and eventually the 6 & 11 p.m. Director. In 2018, she was named Lead Director and gets to come up with new ways to showcase stories by creating new shots, graphics, and special effects like augmented reality. She also helps train new employees in both the production and news departments. In her spare time she loves recruiting other UT alumni to work for WTOL. |
Barry Church
Co-Host, The Player's LoungeDallasCowboys.com - Dallas, Texas |
Class of 2009
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Melissa Chi
Senior ProducerMediacorp Pte Ltd - SingaporeSince graduating from UT in 2009, Melissa started her career as a reporter in Malaysia in various online news portals, with the latest at the Malay Mail Online, as well as at a business radio station, BFM 89.9. In 2016, she moved to Singapore and was reporting on business news for CNA938 radio station. And in 2019, Chi started producing documentaries for CNA INSIGHT, a weekly documentary which provides analysis on current affairs. |
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Class of 2008
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Jenna Lento
News Reporter/Assignment EditorWTVG-13ABC - Toledo, Ohio |
Megan Matthews
News ReporterWBNS-TV - Columbus, Ohio |
Class of 2007
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Chris Gierowski
News Photojournalist/Film ProducerKTLA - Los Angeles, California |
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Class of 2006
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Jason Nguyen
Investigative News ReporterNexstar Media Group - Salt Lake City, UtahJason Nguyen started his news career in 2007 as overnight photographer and editor for WTVG in Toledo. He then traveled to Fort Myers, Florida, where he became an award-winning photojournalist at WINK News. Jason returned to his hometown, Cleveland, to report for WKYC. Nguyen then made the move to Salt Lake City to be part of the ABC4's Good Morning Utah team. After a short stint as a reporter at KATU in Portland, Oregon, he returned to Salt Lake City in 2019 to be part of Good Morning Utah once again and to continue investigative reporting for ABC4. |
Louis Tartaglia
Stage ManagerFox News Channel - Arlington, Virginia |
In Memoriam
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Justin Dunlop - Class of 2019
Manager, Creative ServicesUSAHockey - Plymouth, MichiganThe UT:10 News family mourns the loss of one of our alumni. Justin Dunlop (Media Communication ‘19) passed away June 2nd, 2020. He was the sports producer, director and graphics producer during the 2017-2019 seasons of UT:10 News. Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin’s family and friends. He is missed and will never be forgotten. |
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