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Heather McCulloch Mistretta VICKERS SHINES (AND RISES) Award-winning journalist Talitha Vickers '02 is preparing to report on the news long before most of us even wake up. Since last October, she has been anchoring the morning program for Winston Salem’s WXII-12 every weekend morning, starting at 5:30 AM on Saturdays and 6:00 AM on Sundays. 16
The journalist, who has proven that breaking news is her specialty, has worked arduously since 2002 learning every facet of the business both behind and in front of the camera. Over the years she has covered presidential campaigns and debates, health and entertainment, major national stories including the Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman trials and has interviewed notables including Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Grammy-winning poet and author Maya Angelou. Vickers fondly recalled her days in West Long Branch, saying, “Professor (Everett) Rich and Adjunct Professor Jim Driscoll really inspired me to be a journalist.” Following graduation from Monmouth, Vickers was a field producer with New York’s WWOR-TV in Secaucus where she conducted interviews, made beat calls and went on breaking news assignments. She also worked in the promotions department to create content that motivated viewers to tune in. At the urging of New York journalists and news directors, Vickers took the initiative to learn how to shoot, edit video and create a resume tape, which landed her a position as a “onewoman-band” freelance reporter with News 12 in the Bronx. From there, Vickers covered the Delmarva Peninsula news for about three years at the CBS affiliate, WBOC-TV in Salisbury, MD, where in only two short months she was promoted to bureau chief in Delaware. It was also during this time that she received an Associated Press Award for Outstanding Spot News Coverage. Realizing she needed to make the move into a larger market, she landed an anchor/reporter position for two years at The Tar Heel State in Charlotte, NC, working for WCCB- TV. After getting married in 2008, she and her husband moved to Orlando, FL, where she worked for two stations in the market, FOX 35 and WESH 2 News (a sister station to WXII) before moving back to North Carolina. “Professor (Everett) Rich and Adjunct Professor Jim Driscoll really inspired me to be a journalist.” When she is not striving for a scoop, Vickers enjoys giving back to the community by educating and mentoring children. She spends time volunteering with local Boys and Girls Clubs, Stand Up for Autism events, Hosting the Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) and Hope Now’s Annual Back to School Event and Health Fair. Vickers is also a member of the Central Florida Association of Black Journalists. While at Monmouth, Vickers ran track and field and was student body president of the school’s Division I Athletic Association. She was also part of the drama club, served as a residential assistant and captain of the track and field team. Her hard work paid off, earning her the Bill Boylan Award, the highest award given to a student-athlete who consistently demonstrates leadership, sportsmanship, scholarship and athletic ability. “Talitha is awesome and on her way up the TV ladder,” said Track & Field Coach Joe Compagni. “I think The Today Show may be next.” TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: MORNINg shOW INTERvIEW WITh MIss ORlaNdO; vIckERs ON ThE sET IN 3...2...1... BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: fuN WITh cOMEdIaN bIll bEllaMy; INTERvIEW WITh gRaMMy-WINNINg POET aNd auThOR Maya aNgElOu LEFT: vIckERs INTERvIEWs u.s. sENaTOR bIll NElsON WINTER MONMOuTh uNIvERsITy MagazINE 17
Page 1 and 2: WINTER 2014 Monmouth UNIVERSITY M A
Page 3 and 4: FEATURES 3 TRANSFORMING MONMOUTH 9
Page 5 and 6: Michael Maiden TRANSFORMING MONMOUT
Page 7 and 8: The new 20,000 square foot building
Page 9 and 10: our increasingly competitive pool o
Page 11 and 12: Winter Commencement 2014 Heather Mc
Page 13 and 14: DAVID C. BROWN > President of the M
Page 15 and 16: When he wasn’t racing, he was nur
Page 17: Dr. Gene Simko, associate professor
Page 21 and 22: DR. KRISTIN BLUEMEL Female Wood Eng
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Page 27 and 28: ONcaMPus ALLEN NAMED OCEAN CHAMPION
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Page 37 and 38: aThlETIcs MEDAL OF HONOR BOWL FOR B
Page 39 and 40: aThLETICs ECAC ALL-STAR HONORS FOR
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Page 59 and 60: who what makes a great UNIVERSITY

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