Leah Traxel ‘14

Journalism Team Leader

 

A communication major whose emphasis is journalism, Leah joined the MediaLab team in December 2011. Leah works part–time writing and performing clerical work for The News Tribune, a McClatchy Co. newspaper, and has also been published in Tacoma Weekly, the Peninsula Gateway, a McClatchy Co. newspaper in Gig Harbor, Wash. and Gig Harbor Life, a community–focused publication of the Kitsap Sun, a daily newspaper in Bremerton, Wash. Upon graduating, Leah hopes to pursue a career in print or broadcast journalism and eventually become a teacher.

Valery Jorgensen ‘15

Journalism

 

Valery, a communication major with an emphasis in journalism with a business administration minor, was admitted into MediaLab in December 2012. Her written work has been published in the Mooring Mast, where she gained experience in news writing. She is experienced in video and photography and will continue to enhance her skills through her work with MediaLab. Aside from MediaLab, Valery is a starter on PLU’s women’s varsity tennis team. Valery hopes to combine these two passions and work as a sports writer upon her graduation from PLU.

Heather Perry ‘13

Journalism

 

Heather, a communication major with an emphasis in journalism and a business minor, joined MediaLab fall 2012. She served as co–director and senior producer on MediaLab’s 2013 “Beyond Bombers and Burkas” documentary and as team leader of the MediaLab partnership with The News Tribune. Heather has interned in the photo department at The News Tribune; as a reporter and photographer for The Peninsula Gateway and The Puyallup Herald after earning a 2012 Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Scholarship Award; as the communication intern at Rainier View Christian Church; and with Women of Vision, a ministry of World Vision. On campus, Heather was a three–year member of the Mooring Mast, serving as editor–in–chief from 2011–2012; president of the PLU Society of Professional Journalists chapter when it won regional campus chapter of the year from 2011-2012; president of photography club from 2012-2013; and worked for the athletic department as a photographer.