Brittany Parker – Editor-in-Chief
Brittany Parker is a senior double-majoring in mass communication and English. This is her second year serving as Editor of The Patriot and her third year on staff. Brittany wants to work in newspaper editing and layout. Though Brittany seems laid back, she works hard in both the newspaper office and the classroom. She is also a member of the Student Media Association, Omicron Delta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta. She served as head of the marketing committee for the 2011 Leadership Conference. Brittany spends what little free time she has with her two dogs, Buddy and Groovy.
Email: Britt152@gmail.com
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Veronica Stark – Assistant Editor
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Staci Poston – Managing Editor
Staci Poston is a senior English—liberal arts major. She is minoring in religious studies and has completed a collateral in mathematics. After she graduates in May 2012, Staci has plans to attend graduate school and obtain her Ph.D. Besides working for The Patriot, Staci also serves as editor of the Snow Island Review, FMU’s literary and arts journal, and she works in both the FMU Writing Center and the All-Campus Tutoring Center. In her free time, she takes care of her bulldog, border collie and seven rescue cats.
Email: sposton5921@g.fmarion.edu
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Aaron Gotter – Head Photographer
Aaron Gotter is a senior double-majoring in mass communication and photography. Aaron has worked on The Patriot since he was a freshman at FMU. After he graduates in May 2012, Aaron wants to continue pursuing a career in photography. He is currently in the process of building a successful photography business with his wife, Eleni Gotter. Aaron started photography when he was in 5th grade and now has over nine years of experience in the field. In his free time, Aaron enjoys kayaking, biking, backpacking and deep-sea fishing.
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Darby Sauls – Layout Editor
This is the personal bio of the illustrious Darby Sauls. He is a graphic designer from the hardwood swamps of Eastern South Carolina. He treads the strong currents of web, branding, and print design. He wrestles with the exotic client creatures of the world with a smile, regardless of their angle of attack.
Darby is currently a rising senior at Francis Marion University where he flourishes within the Visual Communication program. His alternative passion for the music industry guided his decision in (the process of) declaring a music minor. In his spare time, he manages to offer yet another burst of personality to the already-animated Patriot staff. There he designs everything from advertisements to the look and feel of the publication itself.
Email: dsauls89@gmail.com
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Alyssa Carver – Website Manager/Copy Editor
Alyssa Carver is an English—professional writing major. She is minoring in literature and will graduate in May 2012. She plans to attend graduate school for a Master’s Degree in professional communication. In addition to working for The Patriot as Copy Editor and Web Site Manager, Alyssa also works as a writing consultant for FMU’s Writing Center and contributes to Snow Island Review. Alyssa interned for WBTW News 13 and The Florence Morning News during the summer of 2011.
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Hannah Maltry – Photographer
Hannah Maltry is majoring in visual communication and minoring in professional writing. Her hometown is Asheville, N.C. She plans to become a professional photographer specializing in performance and recital coverage. Hannah takes pictures all the time, and in her travels she is guaranteed to have her camera with her.
Email: fadeproofphotos@yahoo.com
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Tiffany Roper – Staff Writer
Tiffany is in her second year at Francis Marion University as a junior and a double major in Mass Communication and Spanish. This will be her third semester with The Patriot as a staff writer. Tiffany realized her passion for writing in second grade and has moved forward with her journalism career ever since, writing and editing for her high school newspaper for two years and eventually pursuing a position on The Patriot. One day, she aspires to be a well-known face in the world of journalism and either write and edit for a major publication or work in the broadcasting field as a news anchor for CNN. Tiffany also wants to become fluent in Spanish so that she can use her writing and reporting abilities to inform Hispanic readers and viewers as well. When Tiffany is not in the newsroom, she is working as a Resident Assistant for the University, studying as hard as she possibly can to maintain an outstanding grade point average, reading fiction novels, and going down to the beach to relax in her free time.
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Christopher McKagen – Staff Writer
Christopher McKagen is a senior majoring in mass communication and seeking a minor in Spanish. After graduation, he hopes to secure a paying job so that he can continue eating and living indoors. Christopher has worked for the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs for three semesters and is currently as the secretary for the Student Media Association. He is a member of the Multicultural Advisory Board and a graduate of Leadership FMU. Christopher enjoys waking up every day and a broad spectrum of sports, viewed continuously.
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Melanie Mitchell – Staff Writer
A fairly new addition to The Patriot staff, Melanie Mitchell is a sophomore staff writer majoring in Mass Communication. Born and raised in Sumter, South Carolina, Mitchell is the middle of her parents’ three children. In her free time, Mitchell enjoys working out, spending time with friends and, most importantly, being a journalist! Mitchell aspires to work for E! News or Yahoo! as a creative writer after graduation.
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Rachel Baggett – Staff Writer
Rachel is a junior at FMU who recently joined the staff of The Patriot as a staff writer. She is majoring in marketing. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing by taking naps or watching an alarming amount of reality television. She also likes to travel, go to the movies and attend concerts.
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Melissa Rollins – Staff Writer
Melissa recently joined the staff of The Patriot as a staff writer. She is a junior at FMU who is majoring in mass communication. Melissa is recently married. She loves to read Ted Dekker books, listen to music, and watch American Pickers. She is also an amateur photographer whose favorite subjects are small children and animals.
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Tim Laurent – Sports Writer
Tim Laurent is a junior majoring in mass communication—sports and minoring in religious studies. Besides being a sports writer for The Patriot, Tim also works as a youth minister. He plans to eventually become a full-time minister. He enjoys both playing and writing about sports, playing drums, and ministering to others. He is heavily involved in the on-campus Baptist Collegiate Ministry, where he plays drums for the praise band. In his free time, Tim can most likely be found either listening to music, or watching ESPN to keep up with the sports world!
Email: whbc52tim@bellsouth.net
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Armand Broady – Sports Writer
Armand Broady is a sports writer for The Patriot and a junior at Francis Marion University. Armand is a Mass Communication major with a minor in Literature. He is from Clio, S.C., and he has aspirations of becoming a play-by-play sportscaster for a major network. He is currently the color commentator for Francis Marion University’s men’s and women’s basketball games. Broady loves following football, basketball and baseball.
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Brooke Rogers – Editorial Cartoonist
Brooke is happy to be back drawing squirrels and squirrely politicians for The Patriot once again. She is a senior majoring in political science and minoring in history. When Brooke isn’t keeping up with the news, she can be found reading comics, obsessing over Star Wars and doing other various super nerdy activities.
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David Doughty – Editorial Cartoonist
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Jonathan Rainey – Staff Writer
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Pratik Patel – Staff Writer
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Chelsea Barlow – Staff Writer
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Lillian Miller – Sports Writer
Lillian Miller is a Junior from Duncan, South Carolina, double majoring in mass communications (specializing in broadcast journalism) and history. She is also double minoring in religious studies and biology. After graduating from Francis Marion University, she plans to go to graduate school at City University of New York (C.U.N.Y) to get her Masters in Journalism to become a sports reporter. She is apart of Phi Alpha Theta and the Intramural Student Advisory Council. She also referees for Intramural sports. In her off time, she tutors athletes and goes to many of Francis Marion’s home games.
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Cody Simpson – Advertising Representative
An alumnus of the 2010 Leadership FMU and past Chairman of the 2011 Leadership FMU Registration Committee, W.R. “Cody” Simpson, III is a junior majoring in Business Administration who has recently joined the award-winning Patriot as an advertising representative. He also serves as the Student Body President for the 2011-2012 academic year. After being elected by the students of Francis Marion University, Senator John C. Land, III awarded him a Resolution on behalf of the South Carolina Senate. Simpson has worked for many years on his family’s plantation near the town of Manning, “Matchless for Beauty and Hospitality.” In his spare time, he enjoys being in the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and in the Organization of the Year, Student Alumni Association. As a southern gentleman and proud Patriot, Simpson enjoys meeting new people. Simpson lives by this famous quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
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Dave Sacash – Adviser
David Sacash is an associate professor of mass communication and a freelance business writer and journalist. Sacash acts as the adviser to The Patriot. He has over 25 years experience in communications as a newspaper reporter, editor, columnist, bureau chief and marketing communications vice president for a Fortune 500 company. Sacash was a writer in Vietnam for the U.S. Army and worked with foreign correspondents covering the war. Prior to this assignment with the First Infantry Division, Sacash experienced combat as a rifleman for an all-volunteer reconnaissance platoon. Sacash earned a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from Kent State University. His teaching philosophy is to help students believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.
Email: DSacash@fmarion.edu
