20 high school students travel to Tuskegee for Mobile Parks & Recreation Department’s summer college tour
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Madalyn Bierster
Madalyn Bierster joined the WTOC Team in June 2024, and grew up in Suwanee, Georgia. She will now Anchor the Weekend Evening Newscasts and report during the week. If you have any story ideas reach out to her at Madalyn.Bierster@wtoc.com.
MMJ/Weekend Anchor Savannah, Ga.
Madalyn Bierster joined the WTOC Team in June 2024, and grew up in the Peach State in Suwanee, Georgia.
Madalyn has spent the past 3 years as the Evening Anchor for ABC Big 2 News in Odessa, Texas. Prior to that, she spent 2 years as an MMJ in Panama City Beach Florida at WMBB News 13.
She will now Anchor the Weekend Evening Newscasts and report during the week. Covering all over our region, including Bryan County, Jeff Davis County, and Bacon County. If you have any story ideas reach out to her at Madalyn.Bierster@wtoc.com
Madalyn graduated from The University of Mississippi, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism, with an emphasis on Sports Marketing and Communication. She minored in Psychology and was a Phi Mu sorority member during her time there.
In her time outside of work, Madalyn enjoys spending time with her family in Northern Georgia, watching documentaries and getting outside with her two dogs.
You can also reach out to Madalyn on social media @MadalynBiersterTV
Ryan Kaufman
Ryan Kaufman is the managing editor of WCTV in Tallahassee, Florida. He comes to WCTV from WTAP in Parkersburg, WV. He has won six Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists awards in six years at WCTV.
Managing Editor Tallahassee, FL
Ryan comes to WCTV from WTAP in Parkersburg, WV. While at WTAP, he was the morning news and web producer. Ryan also filled in as a breaking news reporter through the morning hours. Prior to joining WTAP, he was the main news anchor/producer for his university’s news station (CUTV). While in CUTV, he served as a camera, graphics and replay operator for various sporting events on campus covered by CUTV.
In his six years at WCTV, Ryan climbed through the ranks from weekend news producer to becoming the Senior News Producer on the award-winning The Good Morning Show. During his six years, he has won six Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists awards.
Feel free to reach out to Ryan anytime on social media or via email.
Alexis Dominguez
Alexis Dominguez joined Arizona’s Family from Telemundo Wisconsin in Milwaukee. She was a Multimedia Journalist and bilingual Anchor at KRDO in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Alexis is the proud daughter of immigrants and is excited to use her bilingual skills to highlight the Hispanic community.
Reporter Arizona’s Family
Alexis Dominguez joined Arizona’s Family from Telemundo Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where she was an Evening Anchor.
Before moving to Milwaukee, she was a Multimedia Journalist and bilingual Anchor at KRDO in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During her time at KRDO, Alexis covered several big murder cases including the Chris Watts case, the disappearance and murder of Kelsey Berreth, and the murder of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch.
Alexis is a Chicago native who grew up in the Valley, she attended to Notre Dame Preparatory Catholic High School and graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Broadcast Journalism.
Alexis is thrilled to be back in the Valley telling stories in the community she grew up in. She is the proud daughter of immigrants and is excited to use her bilingual skills to highlight the Hispanic community.
When she isn’t reporting, she enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends!
20 high school students travel to Tuskegee for Mobile Parks & Recreation Department’s summer college tour
Twenty students from Mobile are headed to Tuskegee University. It’s all part of the Mobile Parks & Recreation Department’s summer college tour. They’ll be able to speak with admission representatives and get first-hand experience of campus life. “I’ve been thinking about going to Tuscegee University for a minute now. I’m excited for this opportunity to tour the campus,” Savannah Johnson said.
They’re visiting Tuskegee, where they’ll be able to speak with admission representatives and get firsthand experience of campus life.
They’re visiting Tuskegee, where they’ll be able to speak with admission representatives and get first-hand experience of campus life. (WALA)
“I feel like it’s very exciting. I can finally know what I want to be when I get out of high school. I also want to know more about my black culture, so I feel like going to an HBCU can really open me up to that,” Alisyn Bonney said.
“I’ve been thinking about going to Tuskegee University for a minute now. I’ve never been on their campus, so I’m excited for this opportunity to tour the campus,” Savannah Johnson said.
At the end of the day, they will hopefully learn all about the academic programs and extracurricular activities available to them.
“A lot of them have never been on a college campus. Let alone, outside of Mobile, Alabama. So, also seeing outside of Mobile,” Assistant Team Mentor Coordinator, Macaiah Beck said.
“This is a great opportunity for them to get the exposure and ask questions. It’s very important,” Team Mentor Coordinator, Phelon Carter said.
And it’s an opportunity that they’re grateful for.
“I’m visiting Mobile and I’m glad that she gave me this opportunity to have this college tour because back in my small town, we don’t have these opportunities,” Johnson said.
Copyright 2025 WALA. All rights reserved.
Rosanna Smith
CNN.com will feature iReporter photos in a weekly Travel Snapshots gallery. Visit CNN.com/Travel each week for a new gallery of snapshots from around the world. Visit iReport.com for more travel photos from the U.S. and around the globe. Click here to see more travel pictures from CNN’s Travel Snapshot gallery.
Reporter Montgomery, AL
Born in Germany and raised in Lima, Ohio, Rosanna Smith is no stranger to exciting adventures. However, Montgomery and its southern hospitality would claim Smith’s heart, making it truly “Sweet Home Alabama.” Rosanna graduated from Montgomery’s Taylor Road Academy and completed her collegiate career at Auburn University at Montgomery as a communications major.
Rosanna started her career at WSFA 12 News in September 2011, working behind the scenes as a photographer and news content specialist. Starting in 2014, she covered news in the Wiregrass and East Alabama as a general assignment reporter. The most exciting stories she’s covered have included an Elmore County colorblind teenager seeing color for the first time with the help of special glasses, the dedication of the WWI statue at Union Station and the opening day of the Alabama National Fair.
Rosanna stepped away from the news business in 2019, when she graciously accepted the opportunity to use her expertise as the Communications Director at Fresh Anointing House of Worship. She returned to WSFA in late 2021 to co-anchor WSFA 12 News First At Four. She is excited to continue covering issues that concern residents in and around the River Region.
Rosanna was recognized by the WSFA staff when she earned the 2012 “Team Spirit Achievement” award for her fun-loving personality, likability in the newsroom and dedication. In 2018 she was honored in numerous categories, including Best Reporter and Best Specialized Reporter, by the Associated Press.
A proud member of Leadership Montgomery Torchbearers class XI, Rosanna hopes that her contributions will create stronger communities, better connections and greater results. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.