The Fall 2019 Semester TV Journalism class:
Bailey Lustic
News Producer Bailey Lustic is a senior studying media communication and English. This is his third semester as part of UT:10 News. He graduated from Toledo Early College High School in 2016, where he earned 61 college credits from the University of Toledo. He joined Zeta Phi Eta in fall 2018 and is currently Vice President of Operations. He would love to see himself as a videographer, whether in news, entertainment, or even for weddings. Outside the newsroom, Bailey enjoys gaming and sarcastically roasting his friends. His favorite color is neon green and his favorite food is birthday cake. To contact Bailey, you can email him at Bailey.Lustic@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Isaac Petkac
News/Sports Producer Isaac Petkac is a Junior from Edinboro, PA who takes over the role of Producer after spending last semester as a student reporter. He has been involved with numerous broadcasting jobs on campus, including calling games for ESPN3 productions at UT. In addition, he is currently employed with BCSN and is the public address announcer for Toledo Rocket sporting events. Isaac also will be interning with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL this coming winter after spending last summer as the play by play broadcaster for the Pierre Trappers in the Expedition League. In his free time, you can find him involved with choir groups on campus and singing at his local church. Isaac is very excited for the upcoming semester and is looking forward to seeing what the show can be. To contact Isaac, email him at Isaac.Petkac@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Jake Plagens
Graphics Coodinator Jake Plagens is a Junior from North Royalton, OH majoring in Media Communication, and is in his second semester as the Graphics Coordinator. Jake has enjoyed sports since he was a kid and decided to turn his passion in a career. He has been on the Production Crew for ESPN for Toledo Rockets Athletics since August 2017, as well as the Akron RubberDucks (Double-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) since March 2019. He is also involved with Broadcasting and has been on the call for many Rockets Athletics events on ESPN and WXUT Toledo 88.3 FM, where he also has his own talk show. He also joined Zeta Phi Eta in Fall 2019, and likes to spend his free time playing and watching sports, or listening to music. Jake is hoping to be a Professional Production Worker or Broadcaster after he graduates in May 2021. To contact Jake, your can email him at jacob.plagens@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Justyn Wilson
Director Biography Coming Soon
To contact Justyn, you can email him at justyn.wilson@rockets.utoledo.edu |
Destiny Caddell
Student Reporter Destiny Caddell is a senior Media Communication Major hailing from the historical city of Ypsilanti, Michigan. During her short time at the University of Toledo she has served as Pledge Master for Zeta Phi Eta Communication Fraternity and now serves as the 2019-2020 Senior VP for the academic school year. Upon graduation in May of 2020 she plans to work in the Entertainment Business field. Follow her instagram @destinycaddelltv. To contact Destiny, you can email her at destiny.caddellprince@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Taylor Dively
Student Reporter Taylor Dively is a senior Media Communications student. She is from Monroe, Michigan. Upon graduation she is hoping to serve her country as a Public Affairs Officer in the United States Air Force. She is a sports fanatic and spends most of her free time watching and playing hockey. To contact Taylor, you can email her at taylor.dively@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Shanae Hughes
Student Reporter UT Alumna Shanae Hughes is a senior Media Communication major from Toledo. She is a graduate of The University of Toledo, class of 2016. In the fall of 2018, Shanae returned in pursuit of a second degree in Media Communication. Shanae is one of the founding members to establish the MU Delta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, region 7, at the University of Toledo in 2011. She is also a new member of WXUT. She will graduate in the fall of 2019. In her spare time, she enjoys group fitness, cooking, and traveling.
To contact Shanae, you can email her at shanae.hughes@rockets.utoledo.edu |
NIck Kozak
Student Reporter Nick Kozak is a senior at the University of Toledo. He will be graduating in December 2019. He has an interest in broadcasting, more specifically sports broadcasting. He interned with the Toledo Mud Hens during the 2019 season. In his spare time, Nick enjoys playing golf and watching sports. To contact Nick, you can reach him at nick.kozak@rockets.utoledo.edu
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Daniel March
Student Reporter Daniel March is obsessed with the University of Toledo and defines himself as an "avid rocket fanatic." Daniel enjoys playing percussion, producing digital media, watching and playing sports, embracing new challenges, and long walks on the beach. Throughout Daniel's four years on campus, He's been a member of Blue Crew, Kappa Delta Rho, Toledo Savage Ultimate Frisbee team, the Toledo Rockets Marching Band, and The Bridge. Daniel initially was a Mechanical Engineering major, but switched to Media Communication after his first engineering co-op, realizing he wasn't on the right path to embrace his passions. Daniel will be graduating this December! To contact Daniel, you can email him at daniel.march@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Jedah Mcgee
Student Reporter Jedah McGee is a Junior Planning to graduate December of 2020. She is a Media Communication Major who transferred to UT Spring 2018 from Columbia College Chicago. There she studied Television Production/Directing. She hopes to continue with her career in television working behind the scenes in all aspects of production including pre-production, production, and post production. Jedah is a photographer continuing to learn and build a portfolio, and her work can be seen on Instagram @_jmmedia. She is also a social media coordinator for Company 9 in downtown Toledo.
To contact Jedah, you can email her at jedah.mcgee@rockets.utoledo.edu. |
Ben Morris
Student Reporter Ben is a Senior Media Communication major from Kingston, NH who will be graduating in the Spring of 2020. He is the son of Mike and Linda and has three siblings, Ryan, John and Ellie. In his free time, Ben loves to play basketball, throw around the football and go to the gym. Ben absolutely loves playing, watching and researching sports, especially football, basketball and baseball. One day, he hopes to combine his experience in and around sports with his major to find a career in sports broadcasting.
To contact Ben, you can email him at benjamin.morris2@rockets.utoledo.edu. |
Kyeisha Muhammad
Student Reporter Biography Coming Soon
To contact Kyeisha, you can email her at kyeisha.muhammad@rockets.utoledo.edu. |
Zain Omair
Student Reporter Zain is a junior studying Media Communication. Her broadcasting career started at the age of 15 when she joined her high school’s radio station in Plymouth, Michigan. This is her first semester as a student reporter for UT:10. She also serves as the Station Manager for 88.3 WXUT, works on the UT ESPN crew, and is a member of the executive board for Zeta Phi Eta. In the future, Zain would love to work either as a news producer or in media law. When she’s not in the newsroom or at school - Zain enjoys going to concerts, fencing for UT’s Fencing Club, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with family and friends.
To contact Zain, you can email her at zainmariam.omair@rockets.utoledo.edu |
Kayla Polornik
Student Reporter Kayla Pokornik is in the process of finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications while taking her medical prerequisites. She works full time as a Security Force’s Policeman at the 180th Air National Guard base. She is also very involved in her sorority, Chi Omega, and serves as the President of Liftoff UT. She is a member of Mortar Board, a National Honor’s Society organization on campus. Her favorite things to do on a Saturday night is to serve as a preschool leader at her church, Cedar Creek. She plans to attend medical school through the Air Force upon graduation, specializing in Pediatrics. She may do something in medical journalism in the future too. Her dream is to save lives and build hope for others through the gifts God gave her in her everyday life, whether that be while serving her community or simply greeting a stranger with a smile. To contact Kayla, you can email her at kayla.pokornik@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Pier Thompson
Student Reporter Pier Thompson is a Media Communications major at the University of Toledo and will be graduating in May 2020. With her degree, she wants to pursue her career in directing and producing sports and news broadcast. Pier also has an entrepreneurial desire to expand her photography skills. To contact Pier, you can email her at pier.thompson@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Keshia Weems
Student Reporter Keshia Weems is a senior at the University of Toledo majoring in media communications. She is expected to graduate in May of 2020. After graduation, she hopes to find a job as a reporter for a local or national television station. In her spare time, she loves to attend concerts, also she loves to dance and enjoys listening to music, traveling, swimming, writing songs and poetry and watching basketball games. She is originally from Charleston, West Virginia but relocated with her family to Toledo, Ohio and has lived in the local area for many years. She attended Woodward high school and was a member of the marching band, student council, dance team, and was in various plays and productions. She is actively involved in her community and has hosted a food drive for the northwest Ohio food bank as well as participated in the Susan G. Komen race for the cure. To contact Keshia, you can email her at keshia.weems@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Katie Zieber
Student Reporter Katie Zieber is a Senior at the University of Toledo studying Media Communications and will be graduating in December. Katie discovered her love for TV news the first time she watched a live broadcast in studio. She found the energy of a live broadcast exhilarating and quickly found her passion for producing. When she isn’t at school she’s writing and producing evening newscasts for WTOL 11. She’s a self-proclaimed news junkie who works daily to make local and national news relevant and impactful to people living in the Toledo area. Katie is a Toledo local, and Maumee High School alumna. In the limited time between these responsibilities she enjoys exploring local coffee shops with her boyfriend, and spoiling her cat Dakota, and her dog Banks. To contact Katie, you can email her at katherine.zieber@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Jessica Zientek
Student Reporter Jessica is a senior and will be graduating this fall with a degree in Media Communication. She is the only returning reporter for UT:10, and looks forward to challenging herself and gaining more responsibility in the newsroom. As for her future, Jessica is striving to work in sports media, broadcasting, or producing video content. She currently works with ESPN and loves every minute of it. Jessica is an advocate for the autism community, and loves to educate others about autism spectrum disorder. In her free time, you can catch her at the baseball field cheering on the Tigers, spending time with friends or family, or taking weekend roadtrips.
Got a story idea? Shoot her an email at jessica.zientek@rockets.utoledo.edu. |
Click the links below for past semester UT:10 News reporter bios:
Fall 2018 Semester Student Reporters
