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Author: Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake is editor-in-chief of the Southern Accent. She is a senior journalism major who has been published in the student newspaper over 60 times, a record she began as a reporter her freshman year. She has also served as news editor and managing editor. Passionate about storytelling and in-depth reporting, Amanda strives to use her writing talents to help others. Writing and publishing a book is a pinned ambition on her bucket list.

Written by: Amanda Blake The Accent is hiring, and you should apply,” my sister told me. She sent an Instagram story posted by the student newspaper to prove her claim.  I asked why I should join. I didn’t know what the “Southern Accent” was. “If you’re majoring in journalism,” she said, “working for the Accent …

Written by: Amanda Blake In two weeks, Southern Adventist University students will pack their bags and begin leaving Collegedale for summer break. Although the university campus might grow quieter as spring winds down, the city will not.  Since the Accent is not regularly active during the summer, the student newspaper researched and contacted local event …

Written by: Amanda Blake Hamilton County commissioners recently approved the development of a 447-unit senior-living community in Ooltewah. Despite dissent from neighbors, the legislative panel voted 7-3 to rezone the area surrounding the development and voted 10-0 to approve a conceptual design. Thrive Senior Living, an Atlanta company, will build the community on the former …

A motor vehicle crash has occurred at the University Drive and White Oak Drive intersection. Several police vehicles and a fire engine arrived at the scene, but the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department confirmed no injuries occurred, according to Nathan Lewis, public information officer for the department.  The fire department was dispatched to the scene at …

Written by: Amanda Blake Edvan Benitez won Student Association (SA) president last Thursday in the closest presidential election since 2013, when Southern Adventist University began using SurveyMonkey to conduct voting. Benitez, senior theology major, beat his opponent, Bryson Baird, sophomore engineering major, by 40 votes. One thousand and eighty-six students voted in this year’s general …

Edvan Benitez won Student Association (SA) president in the closest presidential election since Southern Adventist University began using SurveyMonkey to conduct voting in 2013. Benitez, senior theology major, beat his opponent, Bryson Baird, sophomore engineering major, by 40 votes. One thousand and eighty-six students voted in this year’s general election for the 2024-2025 SA. Benitez …

Written by: Amanda Blake The Collegedale Board of Commissioners denied a zoning change to Bell Farms property in a split decision earlier this month, voiding a subsequent request for a subdivision of 111 homes to be built on the land.  Vice Mayor Tim Johnson, Commissioner Katie Lamb and Commissioner Tonya Sadler voted against rezoning the …

Social vice president candidates Charlynneth Dizon, junior psychology major, and Priscille Mikala, sophomore music major, will advance to next week’s Student Association (SA) general election. Dizon and Mikala received the most votes in yesterday’s primary election, which allowed students to vote between three social vice president candidates and garnered a total of 776 votes.  Three …

Written by: Amanda Blake The Collegedale Police Department (CPD) recently welcomed another furry addition to its K-9 program: a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois from Hungary named Maxim.  Since joining the agency in November, Maxim has assisted with at least 13 major drug arrests, according to his partner, Officer Shawn Lewis. In fact, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, …

Written by: Amanda Blake After 22 consecutive years of working at Southern Adventist University, Doug Frood, former associate vice president for Financial Administration, recently began a new chapter of his career as chief financial officer of Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga.  Frood spent his tenure at Southern serving in various financial positions, but some faculty …

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County commissioner candidates Tonya Sadler and Jeff Eversole

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Hayden Kobza

Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Hayden Kobza reflects on the importance of student journalism, the challenges of covering a “news vacuum,” and the legacy of The Accent at Southern Adventist University as he passes the torch to a new editor.