I'm a Cleveland girl that's loud and proud - born here, raised here, and unlike LeBron, stayed here.
But the 216 isn't my only stopping grounds. You'll find me throughout the rest of my Northeast Ohio home when I'm not reporting downtown.
As for how I got to be living my dream as a TV News Reporter, we have to start this story from the beginning...
Throughout my 21 year dance career, I earned my first paycheck as a Ballerina of Ballet San Jose's Production of The Nutcracker at the age of 11, and danced with the Radio City Rockettes for three years in NYC.
However, it was through cheerleading that I discovered my love for being in the action of a game. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I was voted most spirited four consecutive years in high school and earned a spot on the All-America team my senior year. Speaking of which, I attended Riverside High School in Painesville, Ohio. That's the place where I found my passion.
Anchoring the school's morning news instilled a love for reporting, and a drive to become one as a career. I believe that television news reporters are leaders in the community. And so to build my leadership skills, I became the Student Body President, National Honor Society Secretary, Gridiron Representative, P-R-I-D-E (anti-bullying) Ambassador founder, and creator of a charity called Adopt-A-Troop.
While I am grateful for being a part of all of these tremendous organization, it was the anti-bullying program I helped found that I am most proud of. Transferring to the Riverside district after being bullied out of my previous school was the single best decision I've ever made. My life made a complete 180, which motivated me to give back to my school as much as I can. I strived to be sure no student felt the way I previously had. With the guidance of the counselor who knew my story and assisted in the transfer process, a group of People Respecting Individuality, Diversity, and Equality was formed. With formal training, upperclassmen volunteers became ambassadors to 8th and 9th grade students on how to prevent and properly resolve bullying, as well as act as moderators and confidants to those who needed advice.
With my honors diploma in hand, the next step in my journey to becoming a television news reporter was to learn how to become one. And so, I attended John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, home of the Tim Russert Communications Department. There, I became the Sports Director and first female President in the decades-long history of JCTV-4, JCU's campus television news source.
When I was not reporting on the sidelines, I was dancing at halftime as Captain of the JCU Dance Team. However, I did not let my extra curricular activities distract me from my studies. Junior year, I was inducted into the National Communications Honor Society Lambda Pi Eta, and the National Jesuit Honor Society Alpha Sigma Nu. Senior year, I brought my training to test as an intern with WJW Fox 8's Friday Night Touchdown.
After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree and Cum Laude honors, was looking to create a television and online reporting platform that not only tells stories to the community, but also engages the community.
I am humbly proud to work at 19 News in my hometown of Downtown Cleveland. I was first hired as an Assignment Desk Editor and Digital Content Producer. From there, I became a Friday Night Under the Lights Digital Reporter (now called Friday Football Frenzy), Cleveland Now Host, and Afternoon Traffic Anchor. As if it was meant to be, my station is "2 Strong 4 Bullies," a cause you already know is near and dear to my heart.
I believe in hard hitting, soul searching, truth telling reporting that finds the untold facts, seeks to bring justice, and spotlights the everyday heroes in our world. With our modern day apps and technology, a single event can be broadcasted to every news platform, from the instantaneous social media to online, television, and print news sources. This is why I set forth to find and tell the "Google-Proof" stories. For a station to stand out, it is essential for its reporters to share a story that you can't find anywhere else, because it has never before been told by anyone else.
Additionally, I will use my voice to represent those who cannot speak for themselves, the animals. I am already so proud Ohio has made it a law to make knowingly causing serious, physical harm to a companion animal a fifth degree felony, but it can't stop there. Therefore, I plan to have a foundation called Rachel's Rescues that would promote the care, safety, and protection of all animals, and especially adoption of companion pets by working with animal advocate groups, shelters, and humane societies.
But the 216 isn't my only stopping grounds. You'll find me throughout the rest of my Northeast Ohio home when I'm not reporting downtown.
As for how I got to be living my dream as a TV News Reporter, we have to start this story from the beginning...
Throughout my 21 year dance career, I earned my first paycheck as a Ballerina of Ballet San Jose's Production of The Nutcracker at the age of 11, and danced with the Radio City Rockettes for three years in NYC.
However, it was through cheerleading that I discovered my love for being in the action of a game. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I was voted most spirited four consecutive years in high school and earned a spot on the All-America team my senior year. Speaking of which, I attended Riverside High School in Painesville, Ohio. That's the place where I found my passion.
Anchoring the school's morning news instilled a love for reporting, and a drive to become one as a career. I believe that television news reporters are leaders in the community. And so to build my leadership skills, I became the Student Body President, National Honor Society Secretary, Gridiron Representative, P-R-I-D-E (anti-bullying) Ambassador founder, and creator of a charity called Adopt-A-Troop.
While I am grateful for being a part of all of these tremendous organization, it was the anti-bullying program I helped found that I am most proud of. Transferring to the Riverside district after being bullied out of my previous school was the single best decision I've ever made. My life made a complete 180, which motivated me to give back to my school as much as I can. I strived to be sure no student felt the way I previously had. With the guidance of the counselor who knew my story and assisted in the transfer process, a group of People Respecting Individuality, Diversity, and Equality was formed. With formal training, upperclassmen volunteers became ambassadors to 8th and 9th grade students on how to prevent and properly resolve bullying, as well as act as moderators and confidants to those who needed advice.
With my honors diploma in hand, the next step in my journey to becoming a television news reporter was to learn how to become one. And so, I attended John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, home of the Tim Russert Communications Department. There, I became the Sports Director and first female President in the decades-long history of JCTV-4, JCU's campus television news source.
When I was not reporting on the sidelines, I was dancing at halftime as Captain of the JCU Dance Team. However, I did not let my extra curricular activities distract me from my studies. Junior year, I was inducted into the National Communications Honor Society Lambda Pi Eta, and the National Jesuit Honor Society Alpha Sigma Nu. Senior year, I brought my training to test as an intern with WJW Fox 8's Friday Night Touchdown.
After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree and Cum Laude honors, was looking to create a television and online reporting platform that not only tells stories to the community, but also engages the community.
I am humbly proud to work at 19 News in my hometown of Downtown Cleveland. I was first hired as an Assignment Desk Editor and Digital Content Producer. From there, I became a Friday Night Under the Lights Digital Reporter (now called Friday Football Frenzy), Cleveland Now Host, and Afternoon Traffic Anchor. As if it was meant to be, my station is "2 Strong 4 Bullies," a cause you already know is near and dear to my heart.
I believe in hard hitting, soul searching, truth telling reporting that finds the untold facts, seeks to bring justice, and spotlights the everyday heroes in our world. With our modern day apps and technology, a single event can be broadcasted to every news platform, from the instantaneous social media to online, television, and print news sources. This is why I set forth to find and tell the "Google-Proof" stories. For a station to stand out, it is essential for its reporters to share a story that you can't find anywhere else, because it has never before been told by anyone else.
Additionally, I will use my voice to represent those who cannot speak for themselves, the animals. I am already so proud Ohio has made it a law to make knowingly causing serious, physical harm to a companion animal a fifth degree felony, but it can't stop there. Therefore, I plan to have a foundation called Rachel's Rescues that would promote the care, safety, and protection of all animals, and especially adoption of companion pets by working with animal advocate groups, shelters, and humane societies.