Who we are

Emma Bayens

Emma Bayens

Co Creative Director

Where are my fellow swifties? Emma is a country music lover, including Taylor Swift! She enjoys being in nature and spends her time watching the sun rise and set and hanging out with her friends. Emma is a senior from Louisville with a photojournalism major and a certificate in digital advertising.

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Bailey Brush

Bailey Brush

Co Creative Director

Flip a coin to decide Bailey’s music taste: She enjoys both metal and girly pop music! She is a lover of animals and has three cats and one dog. She also spends her spare time collecting new memes to show off to everyone! Bailey is a senior graphic design major from Evansville.

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JT Steele

JT Steele

Advertising Manager

Who dey! JT is a big fan of football, specifically repping the Cincinnati Bengals. His favorite activities include hunting and going to the gym. JT is a senior from Taylorsville.

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Sam Oldenburg

Sam Oldenburg

Cherry Creative Adviser

A former balloon artist, coming to an area near you! Sam is a two-time WKU graduate who enjoys all things outdoors. Hiking, biking and kayaking are just some of the activities he has ventured into. Sam is from Owatonna, Minnesota.

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Wes Orange

Wes Orange

Advertising Adviser

Once a Hilltopper, always a Hilltopper. Wes is not only a men’s basketball season ticket holder but also a lifelong Tops fan. When he isn’t supporting the basketball team, he loves to play golf with his daughter. He also plays the drums and shares music with his wife, who is both a guitarist and a Herald alum. Wes is from Bowling Green.

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Pandora Booth

Pandora Booth

Writing Editor

Anyone in need of a new hobby? Pandora spends her spare time crocheting and will teach anyone who asks her about it! She is currently trying to collect all of the Studio Ghibli movies on DVD, her favorite being “Howl’s Moving Castle.” She also has a cat named Kitty B. Pandora is a senior journalism major and music minor from Taylorsville.

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Nicole Johnson

Nicole Johnson

Design Editor

Get ready to rock and roll with Nicole, who enjoys listening to metal music! She has two beagles she spends her time with named Genji and Kairi. She is also in the Omega Phi Alpha sorority. Nicole is a junior marketing major from Lexington.

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Rhiannon Johnston

Rhiannon Johnston

Multimedia Editor

Hello! …oh…oh…oh. Rhiannon has traveled west and declared her favorite national park is Canyonlands National Park in Utah. She also enjoys painting with oil pastels and was a former synchronized swimmer! Rhiannon is a junior photojournalism and advertising double major from Louisville.

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Wyatt Richardson

Wyatt Richardson

Photo Editor

What’s tall and yellow and covered in spots? Wyatt’s favorite animal – a giraffe! He also loves meeting new people and enjoys traveling. Wyatt is a junior photojournalism major and athletic coaching minor from Convoy, Ohio.

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Emma Dock

Emma Dock

Writing Staff

There is nothing better than that first sip of ice-cold soda. Emma is obsessed with Cherry Coke! She has amassed a large book collection that technically qualifies her bedroom to be a library. And don’t forget about her purr-fect companion — her cat, Hoss. Emma is a sophomore English major from Providence.

Izzabella Glinn

Izzabella Glinn

Writing Staff

Hello? Writing called and Izzabella answered. Not only is she working on writing her own book, but she also wants to go into book publishing after she graduates! Izzabella is a military brat who resided in Japan for three years. Izzabella is a freshman journalism major and creative writing minor from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Carson Muscutt

Carson Muscutt

Writing Staff

From the young age of 6, Carson has been playing the drums as if he was born with sticks in his hands. But if there is one thing that makes him stick out it’s that he still has a baby tooth that’s holding on for dear life! His birthday is also 02/02/02. Carson is a junior journalism major from Louisville.

Abby Nash

Abby Nash

Design Staff

BIO

Sarah Thompson

Sarah Thompson

Design Staff

When she’s not immersed in the pixelated paradise of “Minecraft”, Sarah is locked and loaded in the virtual battlegrounds of “Call of Duty”. When her controller is on pause, you can bet she’s lost in the soulful melodies of her favorite artist, Lana Del Ray. Sarah is a sophomore from Elizabethtown majoring in UX design with a pre-med concentration.

Brittany Wiseman

Brittany Wiseman

Design Staff

Watch out for spikes from this volleyball star! Brittany enjoys playing recreational volleyball in her spare time. When she’s not on the court you can find her curled up on the couch obsessing over romantic comedies. She is also the proud owner of her cat, Marmalade. Brittany is a senior graphic design major from Taylorsville.

Kira Coleman

Kira Coleman

Photo Staff

Do you need a hype woman? Kira is cheering for you in your corner, after years of experience cheering in high school! She is a lover of music and reading, and will use either to escape into another world. Kira is a freshman photojournalism major from Franklin.

Emily Cross

Emily Cross

Photo Staff

If there’s one thing Emily knows for sure, it’s that life is always better with a furry friend by her side, specifically her two boxers, Queen and Lola. Her love for literature is just as boundless. She is an avid reader, and her favorite book is “Hook.” In five years she wants to turn the concrete jungle known as New York City into her home! Emily is a freshman majoring in fashion merchandising from Dry Ridge.

Maddie Hall

Maddie Hall

Photo Staff

All of the best cat parents have posted their cats on social media, and Madison’s has made it onto @catsofwku on Instagram! Her favorite color is green, and she can perform some crazy ear acrobatics by moving them back and forth. Madison is a sophomore from Louisville with public relations and creative writing majors and a Spanish minor.

Shannon Moritz

Shannon Moritz

Photo Staff

Out of this world — Shannon has been to space camp ten times! In high school she was the coxswain for her school’s men’s crew team for three years, and she is currently writing a book. Shannon is a freshman journalism and photojournalism double major from Washington D.C.

Savannah Philpot

Savannah Philpot

Photo Staff

BIO

Kenya Barcus

Kenya Barcus

Video Staff

BIO

Hydia Jackson

Hydia Jackson

Video Staff

Anyone want to start a band? What about a book club? Hydia has both an electric and acoustic guitar and isn’t afraid to use them and is a fan of reading. In her free time, she enjoys being around her friends and family. Hydia is a junior from Lexington, Kentucky.

Madeline Powell

Madeline Powell

Video Staff

Need a shopping buddy? Lucky for you Madeline loves thrifting and all things fashion! She enjoys creating art, even simple projects such as making playlists for anyone who asks. She is also on the track/cross country team. Madeline is a junior photojournalism major and digital advertising minor from Louisville.

Alex Cissell

Alex Cissell

Advertising Staff

Where are my fellow Swifties? Alex’s favorite music artists are Taylor Swift, SZA and The Weeknd. She has studied abroad in both Argentina and Ecuador and loves thrifting and working out. Alex is a senior from Louisville.

Keelin Davis

Keelin Davis

Advertising Staff

Talk about a tried and true, Keelin only wears Adidas shoes. He has seen Jack Harlow in concert a whopping four times, and has a love for Australian shepherd dogs. Keelin is a junior marketing major and entrepreneurship minor from Mount Washington.

Kayla Heath

Kayla Heath

Advertising Staff

Grab a pillow and a blanket and it’s game over. Kayla would sleep 24/7 if she could! She just so happens to be on the clumsy side, but when she isn’t sleeping or falling over her own feet, you can catch her grubbing out to her favorite pasta dishes. Kayla is a senior from Hodgenville.

Abby Loftus

Abby Loftus

Advertising Staff

Talk about a world traveler… Abby has performed in seven different European countries and Carnegie Hall! When she isn’t spending time with her 3-legged dog, Bandit, she enjoys collecting vinyl records, books and plants. Abby is a senior from Edwardsville, Illinois.

Nick Fowler

Nick Fowler

Advertising Staff

Goal! Nick is an avid European soccer fan, especially Borussia Dortmund, but also enjoys watching basketball. He is double majoring in advertising and public relations. Nick is a junior from Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Julia Steinmetz

Julia Steinmetz

Advertising Staff

Push two CC’s of Epi! Julia’s favorite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy – all 18 seasons. Her favorite pastimes also include going to concerts and going to the gym! Julia is a senior from Louisville.