ABOUT
We are The Beacon Today.
We are the staff and reporters for the news site of Palm Beach Atlantic University's School of Communication and Media. In addition to reporting on college-related news, we focus on localizing current issues, bringing attention to community events and highlighting stories from people who need to be heard.
Isaiah 52:7
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,
'Your God reigns!'”
Staff
Sofia Smith
Co Editor-in-Chief
Sofia is a Senior majoring in journalism. Born in raised in Bradenton, Florida, she has the passion for writing and reporting, and is an avid reader. She aspires to work in fashion journalism and has a strong interest in the fashion industry.
Kyla Ann Faircloth
Co Editor-in-Chief
Kyla Ann is a Junior studying journalism and intercultural studies. She grew up as a missionary in Thailand and Malaysia where her passion for cultural diversity began. She enjoys covering travel and culture and hopes to become an international correspondent.
Emily Rodriguez
Broadcast Editor
Emily is a Senior studying journalism. She has a passion for global missions and covering stories from the field! She hopes to someday work in the Non-Profit sector serving vulnerable women around the world.
Change the text and make it your own. Click here to begin editing.
Reporters
Reporters
Ava D'Andrea
Reporter
Ava is a Junior at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is from Florida and loves traveling both mountainside and beach side! She has a passion for storytelling and a curiosity about people. Ava believes journalism has the power to inform and give people a voice, and she aspires to do just that through feature-writing, profile stories, and anything that may seem unheard of; it allows her to give people a voice that they were once rid of.
Eden Yacovetti
Reporter
Eden is a Senior majoring in journalism with a minor in social media management. Born and raised in Arcadia, Florida, she is passionate about cold cases and criminal justice, as well as content creation. She hopes to work in either investigative reporting or social media management in the future.
Aliya Navarro
Reporter
Aliya is from Saint Augustine, Florida and is a Sophomore majoring in journalism. She has always had a love for writing and has a strong passion for writing about sports. She is hoping to join the sports journalism industry.
Erika Tavarez
Reporter
Erika is a Sophomore with a growing focus on sports. She is interested in the stories behind the stats and the impact athletics have on individuals and communities. Grounded in her faith, she strives to tell stories with honesty, thoughtfulness and meaning.
_edited.jpg){kind=tracking}
Eugene Wimbish
Reporter
Eugene is a Freshman from Troy, New York with an unwavering passion for Journalism, wishing to grant and provide a newly discovered authenticity and rawness into News Anchoring! He enjoys writing and finding new things to learn about. To him, Journalism is a free-bound realm of exploring and seeking who you are through story sharing and writing.
Hannah Tichenor
Reporter - Abroad
Hannah is a Senior and she lives in San Diego, California but grew up in Dallas, Texas. She loves photography, fitness/sports, and animals, especially those found in the ocean, particularly pique her interest. She's always had a deep love for writing and journalism; it allows her to freely express her thoughts and feelings, and once she puts them on paper, they always make more sense.
Maran Nicholson
Reporter
Maran is a Freshman studying journalism. She was born and raised in Indiana from the small town of Bloomfield and some of her hobbies include shopping, singing, and spending time at the beach. Maran has a special interest in writing about stories that raise awareness for real-world issues, and her mission is to make sure the voices of the oppressed are heard.
Sarah Gale
Reporter
Sarah is a graduating journalism major with a minor in pre-law. She has a focus on news involving politics and culture. She is trained in public relations writing and also studied international relations and diplomacy at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Briley Reisman
Reporter
Briley is Sophomore from Lake County, FL and majoring in journalism. Her favorite things to do are write and spread the gospel. She is passionate about spreading the word through her writing and sharing knowledge that will inspire and transform others.
Landry Fortson
Reporter
Landry was born and raised in Altamonte Springs, Florida and is a Freshman. Landry is majoring in journalism, hoping to pursue a career in Investigative journalism by becoming a Watchdog Journalist. She decided on Journalism because she has a deep love for writing and for finding out the truth in what is happening in the political world. Outside of journalism, Landry loves spending her time in nature: taking walks, paddle boarding on the freshwater springs, surfing, hiking, and traveling. She is an avid reader, writer, music listener, movie lover, and above all she loves her friends, family, and Jesus.
Kailynn Cartwright
Reporter
Kailynn is a Freshman majoring in Journalism and minoring in Communications.
She was born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL. Her hobbies include shopping, writing, and playing her pet. She dreams of becoming a household name sharing news across the nations TV-screen
Alizabeth Cross
Reporter - Abroad
Alizabeth is a Senior majoring in journalism. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she is passionate about writing for the media. She is interested in covering ahtletics, fashion, and gaining hands on experience in reporting and interviewing. She aspires to get involved in the sports journalism industry.
Laci Othmer
Reporter
Laci is a Junior journalism major with a passion for travel, the thrill of life and God’s mission field. Her desire is to challenge the world to look at creation through the creator’s lens and come to know the beauty of living in a world filled with opportunity and the chance to seek the truth!
.jpeg)
Kaylee Pickford
Reporter
Kaylee is a Freshman majoring in journalism with a minor in public relations. Born and raised in Kissimmee, Florida, she is passionate about writing, reading, and media. She aspires to become a news anchor and use her voice to highlight underrepresented stories and voices in her community.
Sydnee Sweeney
Reporter
Sydnee is a freshman majoring in Journalism. She has spent all of her life in Wisconsin. She enjoys writing, traveling, music, fitness and is very passionate about her faith. She hopes to one day use her voice and her writing to share with the world who Jesus is and bring more light and truth to news media.
Faculty Advisor
Jiehua Zhang
Dr. Jiehua Zhang is an assistant professor of journalism and communication at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She worked in the news industry for more than 15 years, including 11 years with the Wall Street Journal Chinese site.