Comments (0) | |

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009

Meet the Telegraph Teen Board

Tarver Bechtel

I’m Tarver Bechtel, and I am a senior at Central High School. This is my first year on The Telegraph’s Teen Board. I participate in Key Club, Art Club, Student Council and the swim team at school. I’m also assistant editor of my school’s yearbook. I’m active in the First Presbyterian youth group as well as the Macon Little Theatre. My parents are Gary and Laura, and I have a 14-year-old brother, Sam, who goes to Howard Middle School. I’ve lived in Macon all my life, so I’m definitely ready to go to college next fall. I’m always finding something new to obsess about — whether it’s a new television show, a band or even a decade. I have an extreme dislike for ice in drinks, the word “random” and movies in which animals die. I also have a lot of knowledge of the TV show “Friends,” but I promise, I still have real friends, too.

Joshua Eferighe

Joshua Eferighe, born on the south side of Chicago on Nov. 11, 1991, is no stranger to change. He moved to Milledgeville in 2001 and to Macon two years later. Culture has been a big part of his life. His father was born and raised in Nigeria, and his mom was raised in the Deep South of Mississippi, resulting in a diverse set of cultures that shaped him into who he is today. Joshua knew he wanted to be a journalist in the fifth grade when he was selected to be a junior journalist. Ever since, he has tried to do as much as he could in the field. Joshua is a senior at Central High School, where he is a proud half-naked cheerleader, soccer player and active member in many clubs.

Courtney Hartman

Courtney Hartman is a junior in high school, but her high school is also her home. She has been home-schooled all of her life, and she enjoys many benefits from it. Courtney has taken dance classes for nine years and has found hip-hop to be her favorite form of dance, as well as a stress reliever. She is a member of Future Business Leaders of America and Mock Trial. Some of Courtney’s interests include playing guitar, listening to several different kinds of music, shopping, high heels, dancing in the rain and going to Starbucks. She also enjoys writing and is looking forward to the experience of being a part of Teen Board.

Shreeya Khurana

Shreeya Khurana is a senior at Stratford Academy with a horrible case of senioritis. Although her stress level is high from filling out countless college applications, she still manages to write for the Teen Board as an associate editor. She also has to balance her time being editor-in-chief for her school paper, The Gazebo. Writing is fun for Shreeya, and if becoming a doctor fails, then publishing a novel is at the top of her list. Cake decorating might be second. Outside of her busy life, Shreeya loves watching movies, eating Lemon Heads, talking with her sister, sleeping in and taking long walks on the beach. Her family is very important to her, but she still cannot wait to leave for college. Shreeya would like to give a shout-out to “The Sun,” her English teacher, because he was left out of her biography on this page last year. She is excited to write for The Telegraph again and hopes this school year will be awesome.

Allyssa Klingberg

Allyssa Klingberg is a home-schooled junior and is parliamentarian for Veritas Future Business Leaders of America. She has interests in international relations and political affairs, and hopes to attend Harvard College in the fall of 2011 to pursue her interests. She enjoys reading old books and knitting in her spare time. Allyssa plans on learning many languages throughout her life, one being Mandarin Chinese. She has a passion for traveling and is hoping to travel to Asia sometime in the future.

Lauren Loudermilk

Sixteen-year-old Lauren Elizabeth Loudermilk is a junior at Tattnall Square Academy. She is co-editor of Tattnall’s yearbook, The Horizons, and contributes to the school’s newspaper, The Blue and Gold. She is also a member of the varsity cheerleading squad. Lauren received Honors with Distinction — all A’s and B’s — this past school year and is now taking Advanced Placement and honors courses. When she isn’t working through her never-ending supply of schoolwork, perfecting stunts in cheerleading or attending sporting events, she can be found either in front of the computer or the television. On holidays, she likes to spend time in Chicago with her father and stepfamily. Otherwise, she spends time with her friends and younger brother in Georgia.

Lucy Ma

Embarking on her senior year, Lucy Ma is ecstatic about her third year on Teen Board. Along with writing for Teen Board, she enjoys a variety of other activities. Lucy is an ardent fan of all water sports, especially swimming. She hopes to add synchronized swimming to her list of hobbies. Even though she still hasn’t successfully mastered water-skiing or even tried synchronized swimming, she is not deterred. Lucy also absolutely loves traveling. She has been to cities across the continental United States, Paris, Beijing and Tokyo (in a flight transfer), and she hopes to add more in the near future. As for now, Lucy is savoring her last year both on Teen Board and at Houston County High School before she begins a new adventure next fall.

Jayne McGaughey

Jayne McGaughey is a senior at Veritas Classical School. Jayne is involved in Mock Trial and Future Business Leaders of America. She is entering her second year on the Teen Board. Jayne enjoys being ridiculous, pretending to be tall and learning how to be a better person. On a day-to-day basis, Jayne likes to support the Diet Coke industry, find excitement and take extremely long walks with her friends whom she adores. While writing has always been Jayne’s passion, reading has recently become her preference. Jayne also loves going on long car rides, blaring every British musician in her iPod and singing along obnoxiously at stoplights. Jayne is trying to figure out her collegiate future and would like the saying, “Life will figure itself out,” to become literal. Jayne loves Chuck Bass. Jayne thinks 2009 has promise and believes only the best will come from the remaining months. So, good night and good luck.

Katy Newcomer

Hey, I’m Katy Newcomer, and I’m a spirited senior from Central High School. My preferred dress code is sweat pants and a fedora, and mine is the one of the last childhoods to understand life without a computer. My ideal morning would consist of coffee, the newspaper and something inherently bad for me and probably topped with some kind of cinnamon sugar. I love the movie “When Harry Met Sally,” but have plenty of male friends. I’m surprisingly active in clubs at Central, and I’m doubling up on my newspaper intake. I’m co-editor-in-chief of the Central Post and your chief here in the teen portion of The Telegraph. I’m currently craving a burger from Jeff’s, my favorite San Diego burger joint, and I’m always craving a frosty from Wendy’s. Teen Board is my favorite Wednesday night activity, and I hope we have a good year together.

Hayley Ricks

Hayley Ricks is a home-schooled junior. She has been home-schooled all of her life and has always found it quite enjoyable. She is vice president of Future Business Leaders of America and plans to be a part of Mock Trial for her third year this fall. She loves reading fashion magazines — Teen Vogue, preferably — and also enjoys cutting them up and making them into collages when she and her sisters are through with them. Even though she is quite tall, Hayley loves wearing heels and is currently training for a 100-yard stiletto race in the spring. She has always been fond of writing and is excited about being a part of Teen Board. Hayley is a rare gem of a person.

Molly Ricks

Molly Ricks is a home-schooled freshman. In her spare time, Molly enjoys reading good books, shopping, making stuffed animals and spending time with interesting people. She hopes to one day be rich enough to buy nice clothes for people with no fashion sense. Molly swims for Swim Macon and enjoys it very much. She also participates in Future Business Leaders of America and Mock Trial. Molly digs writing and is happy to contribute to Teen Board. Molly appreciates the finer things in life, such as Converse, Vanilla Coke and microwavable chicken wings.

Alissa Smith

Alissa Smith was born on a hot summer day in Macon to Sgt. Johnny and Myldred Smith. She is the eldest sibling of Alexis and Avery Smith. Alissa, who is now 16 and a junior at Northeast High School, is actively involved in the Northeast magnet program, Distributive Education Clubs of America, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Northeast Diplomats, Student Council, Honor Society, the yearbook and the Raider Morning News team. In 2008, she was chosen for the Who’s Who Among American High School Students program. Even though she has a passion for reading and writing, this is her first year on Teen Board. Alissa enjoys attending her high school football and basketball games, reading, writing, listening to music, taking pictures and socializing with her friends. She also likes to visit new places and meet new people.