R-JENERATION: Meet the team

Now in its 12th year, R-Jeneration (R-Jen for short) teaches high school students the ways of journalism through the mentoring of professional journalists from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Students write and publish works - created for teens, by teens - whether stories, photography or videography. There are 30 members in this year's R-Jen team. Here's an introduction:

SUMMER BROTHER, JUNIOR, CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL

Brother has "carpe diem" imprinted in her mind. She describes herself as absorbing everything she learns and grabbing every opportunity offered and dreams of becoming a photojournalist for National Geographic.

TAYLOR CHADWICK, JUNIOR, GREEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Chadwick describes herself as a "go-with-the-flow" kind of person. She joined R-Jen because she thinks it will be a great opportunity to get her photography seen by the public.

CLAUDIA CLOSE, JUNIOR, THE MEADOWS SCHOOL

Close hopes her experiences in R-Jen will help her in pursuing a career in broadcast journalism. In addition to R-Jen, she is involved in theater and band and is a cheerleader.

AUSTIN CONNELL, JUNIOR, MOUNTAIN VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Connell wants to improve his photography skills through R-Jen and aspires to be either a photographer or a veterinarian.

SEAN FLYNN, SENIOR, LAS VEGAS ACADEMY

Flynn enjoys music and hopes to be a high school music teacher. From R-Jen, he wants to learn how to effectively share information with a wide audience and convey his ideas concisely.

ETHAN GATHY, JUNIOR, SILVERADO HIGH SCHOOL

Gathy enjoys writing and wants to find out if journalism is right for him. Through R-Jen, he hopes to become a better writer as well as a better person.

JESSIE HAMILL, SENIOR, LVA

In R-Jen, Hamill hopes to learn about the photography aspect of journalism as well as writing. She is pursuing a career in rodeo and competes in the Wrangler Junior Rodeo Association.

BRICEIDA HERNANDEZ-TOLEDO, SENIOR, CANYON SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Hernandez-Toledo is thinking about becoming a journalist, anthropologist or doctor. She is fascinated by different cultures and languages and hopes to travel.

REBECKA HOLMES, SENIOR, FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL

Holmes joined R-Jen because she thinks it will give her many opportunities to improve as a journalist. She hopes to be a better writer and interviewer.

KAILIE JOHNSON, SENIOR, CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL

Johnson aspires to be an architect and is looking forward to learning about the news business, deadlines and working with a team. She enjoys photography and is on Coronado's track and field team.

LAEKYN KELLEY, SENIOR, CORONADO

Kelley likes R-Jen because she can get her stories reviewed and edited by professional journalists to see where her writing stands. In her spare time, Kelley volunteers for the Children's Heart Foundation.

JACOB LASKY, SENIOR, SILVERADO

Lasky joined R-Jen because he thinks that writing is important to any field. He aspires to be a journalist, teacher, psychologist or linguist or join a branch of the military.

BRICEYDA LOPEZ, SENIOR, LVA

Through R-Jen, Lopez wants to learn more about creating a story through photography and what it takes to have it accepted by readers. She also dances and works with Project R.E.A.L.

PAIGE MALIK, SOPHOMORE, THE MEADOWS

Malik hopes to become a photographer for a fashion magazine or a music producer. She enjoys playing the piano, guitar and ukulele and is on The Meadows' girls varsity tennis team.

COLLEENE MARRIOTT, SENIOR, CENTENNIAL

Marriott thinks about becoming a journalist in the future. In addition to writing, she enjoys dancing.

CAOLINN MEJZA, SENIOR, LVA

Mejza hopes to work in the field of public relations. She enjoys playing the violin in her school orchestra.

ZACK MURDOCK, FRESMAN, WEST CAREER & TECHNICAL ACADEMY

Murdock enjoys photography and hopes to learn more about photojournalism through R-Jen. He aspires to be a biomedical engineer.

KIERRA J. OTIS, SENIOR, LEGACY HIGH SCHOOL

Otis wants to learn if journalism is a career fit for her and hopes to be a humanitarian. She also participates in softball.

TIERRA PATMAVANU, JUNIOR, MEADOWS

Patmavanu enjoys writing about politics. Law is her passion, and she is a District 6 Youth Legislator of the Nevada Youth Legislature.

PAOLO SARDINAS, SENIOR, CORONADO

Sardinas enjoys R-Jen because he feels a great sense of accomplishment when his stories get published in the paper. He would like to become a screenwriter or a movie director.

YUJIN SEO, JUNIOR, GREEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Seo aspires to be a lawyer and hopes the skills learned from R-Jen will make her a more effective communicator, both verbally and through writing. She also is involved with forensics and the Nevada Youth Legislature.

ZARA SIDDIQUI, JUNIOR, MEADOWS

Siddiqui hopes to become a corporate lawyer and thinks that learning to be a good writer will help her in the long run. She enjoys mixing music and also runs track.

ELLIE SMITH, JUNIOR, HOME-SCHOOLED

Smith aspires to be a Broadway performer or a journalist. She enjoys singing, dancing and acting and is involved with the Miss America organization.

ALEXA SOLIS, SENIOR, CORONADO

Solis hopes to learn about the various facets of journalism and how to approach it as a professional would. She is looking forward to learning from the experience of professional journalists.

TOMMY WARD, SENIOR, LVA

Ward describes music as the most important aspect of his life. He wants to be a singer and sings jazz and pop in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

DJ WILLIAMS, JUNIOR, ARBOR VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Williams aims to be a sports journalist and work in sports radio. He enjoys playing basketball and the guitar and is involved in his school's jazz band.

COREY WOGALTER, SENIOR, CORONADO

Wogalter would love to work for Rolling Stone magazine. He enjoys R-Jen because it gives him more liberty to write about topics that readers are interested in.

ALEC WOLFSON, SENIOR, CORONADO

Wolfson wants to be a cinematographer and hopes to improve his skills in videography and photography. He is a student sports videographer with KLAS-TV, Channel 8.

DYUCE WOODSON, SENIOR, SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Woodson aspires to be a sportswriter for ESPN, NFL.com or Sports Illustrated, enjoys playing football and has been an assistant youth basketball coach.

And I'm Jennifer Jeong, a senior at Coronado.

I enjoy R-Jen because we get the freedom to write about whatever we are passionate about and share it with everybody. In addition to R-Jen, I play cello and am involved in school orchestra.