GRADE THE NEWS
Erin
West
Melanie Fenstermaker
Melanie Fenstermaker’s last name is not technically Fenstermaker -- it’s Christensen. Melanie got married to her wonderful husband, Cory Christensen, over six months ago, but she’s been too lazy to change her name. She’s also had a hard time parting with it -- I mean, who would want to change such a unique and fun last name? So Melanie, who is a sophomore in the Utah State University print journalism program, plans on using her maiden name as a pen name when she writes for the paper. (And between you and me, she isn’t running to the social security office to get a name change anytime soon. But don’t tell her husband that.) In addition to newswriting, Melanie obsesses over health food, yoga, Cafe Rio and long college Christmas breaks.
Erin West is a junior in the print journalism program at Utah State University. She would love to one day be a photojournalist for a major magazine. She also loves art, as her minor is in graphic design. Erin enjoys snowmobiling, hot chai lattes, and hiking. She also enjoys writing, a trait she hears is kind of important when pursuing a degree/career in journalism.
Sometimes life can be hard; especially if your name is Tiffany Berg. Odd, random, and most importantly awkward things seem to happen to you on a daily basis. Like that one time when you met someone new- and thought Yay! I might have made a new friend!- But while you were talking to this new person you realized you needed something that was on the top shelf of your bookcase and that in order to grab it you need to stand on a chair. No fear there was one already in your dorm room. The thought might have crossed your mind that it wasn’t a very good idea—but who listens to those stick-in-the-mud voices anyway; it’s like they are practically begging you to do it and are using reverse psychology to tempt you. Your obvious lack of skillful balance that has reared its ugly head throughout your life, and is known by everyone around you might have been another cautionary voice. But like I said who listens to those. So you do the smart thing and use the chair to reach to the top shelf. However this chair, like a rocking chair, has a curved bottom and when you lean forward to grab your item, you roll forward throwing off your already precarious balance. And now instead of making a new friend you have made a new pancake as you fall and flatten them to the ground. This and so many other stories like this sum up the existence of Tiffany Berg.
Kenna McMurray grew up in a small town called Logandale, Nevada. Growing up on a farm, Kenna developed a deep passion for agriculture and hopes to improve agriculture literacy among the public. She is a double major in agricultural communication and journalism. Kenna is a sophomore emphasizing in public relations. Kenna moved to Logan after completing her senior year at Moapa Valley High School. The shift from the desert to arctic northern Utah was a shock to her system. You can often see her around campus, easily distinguished by the absurd amount of layers and coats she is wearing. It’s hard to miss. However, she feels she is acclimatizing well to the environment through an addiction to hot chocolate and fuzzy socks. She hasn’t died yet so that’s a good sign. She is currently preparing to spend the next 18 months of her life in Russia serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Kenna loves stories and hopes to share her stories with the world as a journalist. She is also very excited to be finishing her last huge project in a certain class and be able to graduate this semester with her associate’s degree. Until then, she can be found under a pile of papers in the library on campus.
Tiffany
Berg
