My name is Jessica Horton and I am a recent graduate of Penn State University. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in environmental inquiry. I was born and raised in Memphis, Tn., and as my parents say "I was raised by Yankees in the South." My parents were both born in Central Pennsylvania and both attended Penn State (as well as the better part of my extended family), so one could say I bled blue and white from day one.
From growing up in the south to attending a large university in the north, I have many diverse experiences and have learned to adapt to different situations and environments. In the fast-paced, ever-changing world of journalism, adaptability is crucial and I welcome any and all challenges.
As a journalism major I decided to join The Daily Collegian and was on staff for five semesters. Working at an award-winning independent student newspaper was, by far, the highlight of my college career. I wanted to experience as many aspects of the newspaper as I could in order to become a more well-rounded journalist, so I began as an arts and entertainment reporter and from there became a page designer, then a news copy editor and finally a sports copy editor. I have been able to see and experience all aspects of the production of the paper and have developed a love for working on deadline in a bustling newsroom. My ideal job would be one that would combine my interest in environmental conservation, which was the focus of my minor, with my love for writing and editing.