The Spring 2019 Semester TV Journalism class:
Alexis Wheatley
News Producer Alexis Wheatley is a senior who will graduate this May. She has been a New Student Orientation Leader and a Summer Scholars Peer Mentor for the past 2 years, a part of Toledo’s Live Truck Crew for the past 5 semesters and Alumna of Chi Omega. She has a love for animals, her family, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. She would love to see herself either working in news, sports broadcasting or even as an event planner specializing in weddings. Alexis is excited to see where her final semester takes her and the rest of the UT:10 News cast and crew. To contact Alexis, you can email her at
Alexis.Wheatley@.utoledo.edu. |
Justin Dunlop
Sports Producer/Show Director Justin is a Senior majoring in Media Communications. Since coming to Toledo his biggest passion has been television production and sports. Justin originally wanted to do radio broadcasting but fell in love with television production once he stepped in a news studio. His biggest goal for this semester is to perfect his directing skills and help other reporters find joy in covering and shooting sports, even if it's not their strength. To contact Justin, you can email him at
Justin.Dunlop@rockets.utoledo.edu. |
Samantha Gerlach
Student Reporter Sam is a senior, and she will graduate in May 2019 with her degree in Media Communication. She hopes to write for a newspaper after graduation. She’s a mother to a little boy, and when she’s not at school or with him, she loves to run, write, and read. To contact Sam, you can email her at
samantha.gerlach@rockets.utoledo.edu. |
Marla Gootee
Student Reporter Marla Gootee is a senior at the University of Toledo majoring in Media Communications and minoring in Marketing. Her hometown is Temperance, Michigan and she is a graduate of Bedford Senior High School. She is very involved on and off-campus with leadership roles in both Zeta Phi Eta and Lambda Pi Eta as well as an internship with UT News and a part-time job. After graduation, Marla either hopes to further her education and pursue a graduate degree or explore different job opportunities within the media industry. To contact Marla, you can email her at Marla.Gootee@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Dasja'na Hardin
Student Reporter Biography Coming Soon
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Shawn Hehl
Student Reporter Shawn is a 2013 graduate of E.L Bowsher High School on the south end of Toledo. He is a media communications major with aspirations of becoming a mobile production engineer. While working in the newsroom, Shawn also works for local sports network BCSN. He is a production technician for the University’s Department of Media Services and is an associate engineer at Cumulus Media’s Toledo location. When he isn’t working, Shawn is continuing to learn more about production engineering, as well as playing basketball, and likes watching movies. To contact Shawn, you can email him at shawn.hehl@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Kaylee Loofbourrow
Student Reporter Kaylee is a graduating senior majoring in Media Communication with a minor in Criminal Justice. Along with being a student reporter, she is a facilitator for Levis Leadership UToledo and a production technician with UT's Media Services. The ability to write and share others’ stories and provide a platform for their voices that affects and impacts communities has always been an interest of hers, which continues to grow. Throughout her studies, Kaylee learned that her love of the pen also became a love of the camera. Interested in multiple disciplines, she has found herself becoming versatile in her skills and experience. Having written for the Odyssey Online for two years, Kaylee also worked with UT’s ESPN truck crew on numerous productions for the past three semesters. After graduation, Kaylee wants to pursue a career as a multimedia journalist. When not in the newsroom, you can find her reading and enjoying life with her family, friends, and fur babies. To contact Kaylee, you can email her at kaylee.loofbourrow@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Bailey Lustic
Student Reporter Bailey Lustic is a junior at The University of Toledo, majoring in both media communication and minoring in English. He graduated from Toledo Early College High School in 2016, where he earned 61 college credits from UT. He recently joined UT’s Beta Theta chapter of Zeta Phi Eta, the professional fraternity for communication and the arts. He was elected Fundraising Chair of the organization not long after.
Outside the newsroom, Bailey enjoys hanging out with friends and gaming. His favorite games are Overwatch and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. His favorite color is neon green and his favorite food is birthday cake with buttercream icing. To contact Bailey, you can email him at Bailey.Lustic@rockets.utoledo.edu. |
Alyssa Norden
Student Reporter Alyssa is a senior Media Communications Major with a Marketing Minor and will graduate in May. She is a 2015 graduate of Napoleon High School and a 2017 graduate of Northwest State Community College where she earned her Associate of Arts degree. This is her first semester as a student reporter for UT:10, and her second semester as a member of the ESPN3 production crew at the university. Outside of class, Alyssa is also the Co-President of the UT Swim Club and a marketing intern for the Athletics Department. Her career goal is to work as a social media consultant for a company, but she has also grown to love working behind the camera in production. After graduation, Alyssa will return to her home town of Napoleon, Ohio to work for the Campbell’s Soup Company. In her spare time, she enjoys crocheting, playing guitar, watching sports, and spending time with her family and their dogs, Snickers, Ryder, Brutus, and Meeko. To contact Alyssa, you can email her at Alyssa.Norden@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Isaac Petkac
Student Reporter Isaac is a sophomore at UT, majoring in Media Communications with a focus in Sports Broadcasting. Currently, Isaac works with ESPN and Buckeye Cable Sports Network in the Toledo area, calling games as a play by play announcer. He also works as a public address announcer for Rocket Basketball on campus and is the sports director at 88.3 FM-WXUT. In addition to broadcasting, Isaac enjoys theater and singing, and is part of UT's Chamber Singers. In his free time, Isaac loves to visit family and friends in his hometown of Edinboro, PA, as well as attend various sporting events around the area. This summer, Isaac will be traveling to South Dakota to serve as the play play by broadcaster for the Pierre Trappers minor league baseball team. Have an idea for a great story? Contact Isaac at Isaac.Petkac@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Alyssa Plotts
Student Reporter Alyssa is a junior at the University of Toledo majoring in Media Communications and minoring in Political Science. Outside of class, Alyssa enjoys going to concerts and spending time with her family. After college, she hopes to work in the news industry. To contact Alyssa, email her at alyssa.plotts@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Rachel Schneider
Student Reporter Rachel is a graduating senior pursuing a career in broadcast news as a crime reporter and investigative journalist. Her major is Media Communication, with a minor in Legal Specialties. She is currently a reporting intern at WTVG 13abc Action News in Toledo, Ohio. On campus, she has been involved with the award-winning Mock Trial team and women's fitness group CHAARG. Rachel also works on the ESPN live sports production crew for Toledo Rockets Athletics. Outside of school, Rachel loves performing in local theatre productions and has studied acting at Jeff Daniel's Purple Rose Theatre Company. When she gets the chance, Rachel enjoys spending time outdoors with her family in Michigan. Story idea? Contact Rachel at Rachel.Schneider3@rockets.utoledo.edu
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Reid Teatsorth
Student Reporter Reid is a Media Communication major and men's tennis player at the University of Toledo, who will graduate in the spring of 2019. Reid is in his second semester working with UT:10 News and is also part of the team for WXUT Sports Radio. He is a member of the ESPN+ Crew at the university, along with being an athletic communications intern. Reid is also a Video Production Assistant for the Toledo Mud Hens and Toledo Walleye. Reid aspires to one day be a nationally recognized sports anchor and reporter, covering any and all sports. In his spare time, Reid enjoys playing golf, piano, and guitar. To contact Reid, you can email him at Reid.Teatsorth@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Juan Wise II
Student Reporter Juan is a Senior, from Detroit Michigan majoring in Media Communications who will be graduating this upcoming May. He hopes to go into sports broadcasting working in front or behind the camera. As well, he would like to follow his passion to work with the youth around the world that grew up in rough neighborhoods like his, showing them there is more to life than the negative aspects of the neighborhood. Juan loves his two dogs, Detroit Lions, and the Detroit Pistons. To contact Juan, you can email him at Juan.Wise@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Jessica Zientek
Student Reporter Jessica is a senior at the University of Toledo. She is a Media Communication major that will be graduating in December. Jessica works with the Live Truck Crew that produces content for ESPN3, and is a videographer for the Independent Collegian. Outside of school, she enjoys watching baseball and cheering on the Tigers, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. After college, she hopes to work somewhere in the sports industry. To contact Jessica, you can email her at: Jessica.Zientek@rockets.utoledo.edu
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Production Monkey
UT:10 News Mascot Little is known about Production Monkey. He magically appeared one day several years ago and has been part of the UT:10 News Team ever since. When asked about his upbringing he told UT:10 reporters, "Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo. Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo. Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo. Baby shark! We're not sure what he meant by that, but now we can't get that song out of our heads (You're Welcome). Production Monkey lives somewhere in a magical cave in the Rocket Hall Studio and makes his appearance every Tuesday to bring smiles to the faces of the cast and crew. To contact Production Monkey, you can email him at Production.Monkey@rockets.utoledo.edu.
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Click the links below for past semester UT:10 News reporter bios:
Fall 2018 Semester Student Reporters
