Staff - The Southern Accent

Southern Accent Staff

Our Mission Statement

The Southern Accent would be nothing without the wonderful minds of Southern Adventist University students. We are devoted to representing and informing our fellow students and the members of our community by reporting accurately, fairly and to the best of our ability.

Current Staff

Hayden Kobza

Editor-in-Chief

Hayden Kobza is a Senior Journalism major whose love of journalism stems from a childhood curiosity about discovering the unknown and forgotten. Outside of writing for the Accent, Hayden’s work is primarily photography. His style has been influenced by street culture and the old masters of painting. He believes in telling stories that matter and prefers to write investigative pieces. In the future, he would love to work as a photojournalist, being a voice for the voiceless.

Eliana Morales

Managing Editor

Eliana Morales is a senior mass communication writing and editing major. She is excited to continue her work at the Accent this year. Her favorite part of working at the Accent is copy editing articles and getting to work alongside such a great team. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading and playing piano.

Chloe Smith

News Editor

Chloe Smith is the news editor for the Southern Accent. She is a junior public relations major with a minor in marketing. With a passion for writing and experience in leadership, she plans to utilize her skills to bring a new perspective to the Accent and help student voices be heard. As news editor, Chloe hopes to make campus news more engaging and meaningful to students and the community. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys playing worship music, thrift shopping and photography. Chloe is excited to grow as a communicator and leader while serving Southern through journalism.

Katie McConnell

Photo Editor

Katie McConnell is the photo editor for The Southern Accent and a sophomore majoring in Communication with an emphasis in photography. Whether she’s covering major events, documenting everyday campus life, or creating portraits, Katie strives to capture images that connect with viewers just like her father did. Beyond the Accent, Katie contributes to SAU NEWS as the Production Manager and is actively involved in the Marketing and University Relations department as a photographer. Her background in photography fuels her passion for visual storytelling and detail-driven work. Known for her love of the color pink, she’s usually easy to spot at events while weaving through crowds, getting the perfect shot. When she’s not editing photos, she’s probably thinking about editing photos, or headed to her next assignment

Eri Jorge

Website Manager

Eri Jorge is the Website Manager for Southern Accent and the architect of its website redesign.

Kyla Wetmore

Enterprise Reporter and Copy Editor

Kyla Wetmore is a senior double-majoring in business-public relations and psychology. Kyla was literally born on the news. Her father, formerly a news anchor, created a weekly feature documenting the preparation for her birth. She discovered her personal passion for journalism at the age of 10 when she started a very unsuccessful fifth-grade classroom newspaper. After returning from serving as a student missionary in Guam last year, she is thrilled to join the Southern Accent for her first year.

Norelia Cabrera

Circulation Manager

Norelie Cabrera is the circulation manager for the Southern Accent.

Emma Boughman

Social Media Manager

Emma Boughman is the social media manager of the Southern Accent, and she was a reporter for the paper her sophomore year. She is a senior Character Animation major, but her creativity also ventures into music and design. Outside of her studies, she writes, produces, and distributes original music. She also enjoys writing stories and creating illustrations. She hopes that one day she can influence others in a creative way, whether that be through social media, her music, or her artwork.

Rhett Seitz

Life Style Editor

Hello! My name is Rhett Seitz, and I’m a senior at Southern Adventist University serving as this year’s Lifestyle Editor for the Southern Accent. Originally from Georgia, I’ve always been passionate about growth: spiritually, mentally, and personally. Whether I’m reading a self-help book, asking mentors tough questions, or diving into scripture, I’m always looking for ways to grow into the person God is shaping me to be.

For me, life is about the journey of continuous improvement. I believe that each day brings opportunities to learn, reflect, and move closer to the purpose God has planned for us. That mindset inspires not only my own life but also how I approach lifestyle writing; sharing ideas, stories, and perspectives that help others grow too.

A little fun fact: I’m a big reader. If it’s a book, podcast, news article, or conversation that challenges me to think differently and better myself, I’m all in.

Previous Staff

2024-2025

Matthew Orquia

Editor-in-Chief

morquia @southern.edu

Matthew Orquia is the editor-in-chief for the Southern Accent. He is a senior English major and previously worked as news editor and managing editor for the paper. Matthew wants to write stories that have an impact on the world around him. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, ultimate frisbee, and playing the violin.

Hayden Kobza

Managing Editor

Hayden Kobza is the managing editor of the Southern Accent. He is a junior Journalism major whose love of journalism stems from a childhood curiosity about discovering the unknown and forgotten. Outside of writing for the Accent, Hayden’s work is primarily photography. His style has been influenced by street culture and the old masters of painting. He believes in telling stories that matter and prefers to write investigative pieces. In the future, he would love to work as a photojournalist, being a voice for the voiceless.

Alexis Dewey

News Editor

Alexis is a mass communication major with a concentration in editing and writing, graduating in December 2024. She is excited to take on the role of News Editor this semester and challenge herself as a writer, editor and communicator. Alexis loves seeing stories come to life on paper in fun, unique ways while always seeking the other side of the story.

Emma Rodriguez

Collegedale News Editor

Emma Rodriguez is a Junior majoring in Political Science and minoring in Sociology with a passion for vintage clothing, cooking, freelance writing, and solo nature runs. She aspires to become an immigration lawyer, driven by a desire to help those seeking a better future outside their country of origin. This school year, she’s excited to return to the Southern Accent as the Collegedale News Editor, eager to continue her journey and expand her expertise in news writing.

Preston Waters

Photo Editor

Preston Waters is photo editor for the Accent. He is a marketing major with a double minor in film production and photography. You will often see him taking pictures at events or even on the promenade, as he works as a photographer for Southern’s marketing department as well. If he doesn’t have a camera in his hands, he is having withdrawals.

Allison Grundy

Opinion Editor

Allison Grundy is majoring in Business Administration at Southern Adventist University. In her free time she enjoys writing and reading. Her long term plans include running a coffee shop and continuing to write. Formerly the lifestyle editor, she is excited to take on the role as opinion editor of the Accent this year.

Lucas Bueno

Religion Editor

Lucas Bueno is the Accent’s Religion Editor for this fall semester. He is a senior Religious Studies major and in the future he plans to serve as a hospital chaplain. Besides writing, Lucas also enjoys hiking with friends and playing the accordion.

Jacob Nevis

Sports Editor

Jacob Nevis is a junior journalism major who is the sports editor for the Southern Accent. This is his fourth year working for the newspaper. He loves sports, with football, baseball and basketball being his favorites. In the future, he would like to work as a sportswriter.

Emily White

Lifestyle Editor

Emily White is the lifestyle editor for the Accent. She is a senior music theory and literature major with a writing minor and enjoys performing with Southern’s Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony and Steel Band. Writing is one of her escapes from practicing music; now that she works for the Accent, she has a legitimate excuse to occasionally venture out of her practice room. A goal of hers this year is to coerce as many people as possible to contribute to the paper.

Lesieli Savelio

Copy Editor

Lesieli Savelio is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and international studies – Spanish. Formerly the news editor, she looks forward to putting the skills she learned last year into copy editing this semester. Lesieli loves to travel, spend time with friends and family and connect with others through stories. One of her dreams is to move to Spain and to work in journalism or communications there.

Eliana Morales

Copy Editor

Eliana Morales is a junior Mass Communication major with a concentration in writing and editing. She is joining the Accent team as a copy editor. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, cooking, and spending time with friends. She is excited to gain experience and see how the Accent will make an impact this year.

Ana Zelidon

Copy Editor

Ana Zelidon is a senior English major with a minor in marketing. This is her second year as a copyeditor for the Accent, and she is looking forward to helping the student body access clear and relevant news stories. Ana enjoys going on road trips to visit old friends and cooking new recipes to share with her family.

Anaya Parker

Reporter

Anaya Parker is a junior majoring in journalism with an emphasis on digital broadcast. She is working as a reporter for the Southern Accent this year. Her hobbies include cooking, puzzles, acting, and spending time with friends. Her dream is to become a news anchor someday and adopt many cats. She is excited to gain experience and friends this year with the Accent.

Alissa Flores

Reporter

Alissa Flores is a reporter for the Southern Accent. She is a junior majoring in journalism, with a minor in public relations. Alissa started out writing for the Accent as a student reporter for a news reporting class. There, she discovered how enjoyable it was and how it helped her fine-tune her writing. Shortly after, she received the opportunity to write for intramurals/sports as a hired worker for the Accent. Alissa’s goal is to one day be a sports journalist, combining both her passion for sports and writing. She hopes to grow in her skills by working with the talented team surrounding her at the Accent.

Marian Polanco

Reporter

Marian Polanco is a sophomore pre-med psychology major with a passion for journalism. She has been working for the accent as a reporter for a year now. Her goals for the future are to graduate medical school, finish a residency in psychiatry, and eventually work as a psychiatrist for the FBI. She enjoys to read, write, and kayak in Florida waters.

Ron Cabagungan

Photographer

Shengzhe Zhao

Photographer

Shengzhe Zhao, known as Daniel or Chino, is a photographer for The Southern Accent. An international nursing student in his second year, Daniel has dedicated over four years to honing his craft. His passion for photography shines through his work, with a particular focus on portraiture and wildlife. Daniel’s unique ability to capture the essence of his subjects, whether human or nature, reflects both his technical skill and artistic vision.

Meg Ermer

Web Manager

Meg Ermer is a senior pursuing a double major in computer science and Spanish. She is excited to exercise her passions for both the sciences and humanities by serving as web manager for the Southern Accent. Meg loves urban backpacking and visiting independent bookstores, and she considers herself a bit of a boba connoisseur. One of her life goals is to visit all seven Wonders of the World.

Norelia Cabrera

Circulation Manager

Norelie Cabrera is the circulation manager for the Southern Accent. She is a seniormajoring in nursing and hopes to soon graduate with a bachelor’s degree and become an RN. She loves to eat and spend time with her friends in her free time.

Nyah Jackson

Layout Designer

Nyah Jackson is a layout designer for the Southern Accent. She is a sophomore Journalism major with a Spanish minor. Nyah enjoys organizing and planning, which is obvious from her in-depth Google Calendar. She enjoys writing because it allows her to absorb all of the world’s information and share her findings with others.

Jorge Pontarelli

Layout Designer

2023-2024

Amanda Blake

Editor-in-Chief

ablake@southern.edu

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.

Matthew Orquia

Managing Editor

Matthew Orquia is managing editor of the Southern Accent. He is a junior English major with a journalism minor who discovered his excitement for journalism while previously working as news editor for the paper. One day, he hopes to write stories that have a national impact or work as a reporter for a professional sports team.

Lesieli Savelio

News Editor

Lesieli Savelio is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and international studies – Spanish. She is news editor for the Southern Accent. One of her dreams is to work at an international nonprofit or an organization like the United Nations. Lesieli loves to travel, spend time with friends and family and connect with others through stories. She would consider her life complete if she were able to interview the great fútbol player, Lionel Messi.

Hayden Kobza

Collegedale News Editor

Preston Waters

Photo Editor

Alexis Dewey

Opinion Editor

Alexis Dewey is a mass communication major with a concentration in editing and writing. She is excited to be the opinion editor this year, as she has always enjoyed writing and made her debut in the Accent last semester. Alexis loves seeing stories come to life on paper in fun, unique ways. She looks forward to learning and growing in this new position this year.

Madison Wilcox

Religion Editor

Madison Wilcox is a junior English major with a minor in religion. She is delighted to serve as religion editor for the Accent this year as she continues seeking the point where Scripture and life meet. When not studying, Madison enjoys exploring the outdoors and dreaming of the day when she finally runs a marathon.

Jacob Nevis

Sports Editor

Jacob Nevis is a junior journalism major who is the sports editor for the Southern Accent. This is his third year working for the newspaper. He loves sports, with football, baseball and basketball being his favorites. In the future, he would like to work as a sportswriter.

Emily White

Lifestyle Editor

Emily White is the lifestyle editor for the Accent. She is a senior music theory and literature major and enjoys performing with Southern’s Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony and Steel Band. Writing is one of her escapes from practicing music; now that she works for the Accent, she has a legitimate excuse to occasionally venture out of her practice room.

Kathy Zelidon

Copy Editor

Emma Boughman

Reporter

Emma Boughman is a reporter for the Accent. She is a sophomore character animation major, but she enjoys doing pretty much anything creative. She won first place in the fiction section of the Legacy writing contest and has been writing published articles for a few years now. You can find her either doing her RA duties, creating something, playing with her dog or scrolling through Pinterest for more inspiration.

Alissa Flores

Reporter

Alissa Flores is a junior journalism major working as a sports reporter for the Accent. She began writing for the newspaper while taking a news reporting class, when she quickly discovered how enjoyable news writing was (and how well it helped her fine-tune her journalism skills). Soon after, she pursued and attained a sports reporting position with the Accent, allowing her to cover Southern’s intramural program and other sports stories in the community. Alissa strives to be a sports journalist one day, combining her passion for sports and love of writing, to accomplish God’s mission for her life.

Amy Mejias

Reporter

Mila Bales

Photographer

Mila Bales is a junior mass communication-photography student and has been a photographer for the Accent since 2022. She loves to incorporate creativity into every photo she takes, whether it be a portrait for a local fashion magazine or students walking to class on the promenade for the student newspaper.

Andrew Boggess

Photographer

Andrew Boggess is a photographer for the Accent. A junior majoring in photojournalism, Andrew is working to expand his creative pursuits by minoring in both film production and entrepreneurship. His passion for photography extends beyond academics, as he spends his free time capturing the artistry of dance.

Ron Cabagungan

Photographer

Andre Ottati

Photographer

Andre Ottati is a photographer for the Accent. He is an accounting major who has a passion for photography. He’s excited to expand his skills as a photographer and as a businessman.

Meg Ermer

Web Manager

Lia Colon

Social Media Manager

Lia Colon is the social media manager for the Southern Accent this year. Lia is a freshman pursuing a major in journalism and a minor in Spanish. She hopes to become a sideline reporter for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. Lia loves spending time with her family and friends and learning new things every day.

Norelie Cabrera

Circulation Manager

Norelie Cabrera is the circulation manager for the Southern Accent. She is a junior majoring in nursing and hopes to soon graduate with a bachelor’s degree and become an RN. She loves to eat and spend time with her friends in her free time.

Conner Bartsch

Layout Designer

Anton Kannenberg

Layout Designer

2022-2023

Alana Crosby

Editor-in-Chief

acrosby@southern.edu

Alana Crosby is the Editor-in-Chief of the Southern Accent. This is her third year on the team, previously working as a reporter and Collegedale News Editor. She is an English major focusing on professional writing and minoring in journalism and publication. She enjoys connecting with people through stories.

Amanda Blake

Managing Editor

Amanda Blake is the Managing Editor of the Accent, having previously worked as News Editor and a lead reporter. She is a junior journalism major with a passion for storytelling who especially enjoys writing human interest stories. She hopes to one day author and publish a book.

Elsie Pak

Collegedale News Editor

Elsie Pak is a senior double majoring in pre-dental hygiene and English with an emphasis in professional writing. Pak was previously a reporter for the Southern Accent and is excited to now embrace the position of Collegedale News Editor. In her free time, Pak enjoys reading, listening to podcasts and playing volleyball. With her love for storytelling, she is excited to interact with more people and tell their stories.

Christina Cannon

Lifestyle Editor

Christina is a senior history major minoring in chemistry, biology, and philosophy. She particularly enjoys exploring the intersection between sciences and humanities and has a passion for all things outdoors. She is based in Oregon and Colorado. This is her fourth year writing for the Accent.

Madison Wilcox

Religion Editor

Madison Wilcox is an English literature major from California who hopes to pursue a career in writing. This is her second year working for the Accent. When not studying or writing essays she enjoys spending time with friends in the mountains. She just discovered this past summer that her favorite place is the top of a peak at sunrise.

Jacob Nevis

Sports Editor

Jacob Nevis is a third-year journalism major who is the Sports Editor of the Southern Accent. This is his second year working for the Accent. He really likes sports, with football, baseball, and basketball being his favorite. In the future, he would like to work as a sportswriter.

Stefanie Green

Copy Editor

Sarah Klingbeil

Copy Editor

Sarah Klingbeil works as the Copy Editor for the Southern Accent. This is her seventh semester working for the newspaper. She has previously served as Lead Reporter, Religion Editor, and Managing Editor. Throughout her engagement with the Accent, she loves exploring and sharing the world through words. Currently, she is pursuing a double major in mathematics and TESOL English.

Josep Garcia

Reporter

Josep Garcia is a biology major and an intercultural communications minor who aspires to pursue medicine after college. This is his first year working as a reporter for the Accent. He loves traveling, music, and a good book. Josep is excited to interview individuals and tell their side of the story.

Charlene Arnold

Reporter

Kathy Zelidon

Reporter

Kathy Zelidon is a sophomore English major with an emphasis on literature from Texas. This is her first year working as a reporter for the Southern Accent. She is excited to connect with the student body and hear their stories.

Génesis Ventura

Reporter

Adam De Lisser

Photo Editor

Adam De Lisser is the Photo Editor of the Southern Accent for the 2022-2023 school year. A mass communication major, he started off as a photographer for the newspaper last year. Eager to learn and improve, he hopes that this opportunity will allow him to do so. In the future, Adam hopes to work as a portrait photographer for a reputable magazine.

Mila Bales

Photographer

Mila Bales is a photographer for the Southern Accent. This is her first year working for the Accent, and her second year as a mass communications major with an emphasis in photography. She loves to express herself through photography and is excited to get creative with the photos she takes for the Accent.

Keishla Galán

Photographer

Anna Estep

Social Media Manager

Anna Estep is the social media major for the Southern Accent. She is a junior elementary education major, and this is her first year working for the Accent. After she graduates, she hopes to become an elementary school teacher in either the Adventist or public school system.

Nickolas Nieves

Web Manager

Nickolas Nieves is a returning web manager for the Southern Accent. He is a senior majoring in computer science and graphic design. With his degrees, he hopes to find a position as a front-end web developer or a UI/UX designer in the digital space. On the weekends, he enjoys hiking, throwing a frisbee, and drawing.

2021-2022

Megan Yoshioka

Megan Yoshioka was the editor-in-chief of the Southern Accent.

Madison Reinschmidt

Madison Reinschmidt was the opinion editor and the news editor.

Aaron Mumu

Aaron Mumu was the lifestyle editor and a copy editor for the Southern Accent.

Violet Petrikas

Copy Editor

violetrpetrikas@southern.edu

Violet Petrikas is a senior professional writing major at Southern Adventist University. This is her first year working with the Southern Accent. Petrikas is a California native who has a passion for traveling, sports and photography. After graduation, she hopes to attend law school.

Victoria Mills

Religion Editor

leam@southern.edu

Victoria Mills is the religion editor for the Southern Accent. She is a junior mass communication–writing/editing major and is passionate about God and storytelling. In the future, she hopes to work in ministry and communications.

Xander Ordinola

Photo Editor

jordinola@southern.edu

Xander Ordinola is the photo editor for the Southern Accent. He began as a staff reporter but quickly realized that photography was more his niche. He switched majors from publication journalism to mass communication with an emphasis in photography, and he one day hopes to become a photojournalist working at a reputable newspaper.

Madi Sewell

Layout Designer

msewell@southern.edu

Madi Sewell is a layout designer for the Southern Accent and a senior in graphic design. She’s very interested in packaging design and also book design. Her favorite colors are #587f8e and #e5b52b, and coconut is her go-to flavor and scent. Sewell’s current drink of choice is iced espresso with oat milk and brown sugar.

Lucas Bueno

Reporter

lucasb@southern.edu

Lucas Bueno is a junior religious studies major and a reporter for the Southern Accent. This is his first year working for the newspaper. After college, he plans to teach religion and history. Bueno greatly enjoys writing and hopes to use it as a way to share God with others.

Geoffrey Fowler

Reporter

gfowler@southern.edu

Geoffrey Fowler is a reporter for the Southern Accent. This is his first year working for the newspaper. He is currently a junior majoring in public relations with a political economy minor. He loves to learn the perspectives of individuals and connect their stories with others.

Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake was the news editor for the Fall 2021 semester and a reporter for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Elise Deschamps

Elise Deschamps was the lifestyle editor for the Fall 2021 semester and the 2020-2021 academic year. She was also a reporter for the Winter 2020 semester.