Najib Aminy

Junior

Najib Aminy came to Stony Brook University keeping his family tradition alive — he is the third person in his family to attend. Originally on the health-science track, Aminy realized that route would not suit him well. “Chemistry and I never bonded,” he says.

Aminy’s path towards journalism began when he started writing for the university’s 30-year-old alternative paper, The Stony Brook Press. “They teach you the fundamentals of journalism in class, but writing for The Press has taught me why being a journalist is important and how it can be fun,” says Aminy, the current managing editor. And after taking the introductory News Literacy course, Aminy was certain that he would major in journalism. “The department here treats you very well, offers you advice and works with you in becoming a better reporter and a better writer,” he said.

Though Aminy said he appreciates the state-of-the-art newsroom he says the faculty is what makes the program. “They are there with you through thick and thin.”

Samantha Burkardt

Sophomore / Danbury, Conn.

Samantha Burkardt came to Stony Brook thrilled to start her college career. Going from a high school with only 400 students to a university with over 20,000, she knew many opportunities would be available for her.

“I’m a people person,” she said. “I love the fact that I get to meet new people literally every day. Also, since I’m a journalism major, the field forces me to put myself out there all the time.”

Burkardt interned at The Danbury News-Times, a local newspaper in her hometown, this past summer and was hired to be a freelancer during the winter. “It was the greatest experience I could have ever asked for,” she said. “They allowed me to pitch ideas for stories and then put those ideas into action. I made the front page a few times and through the paper my network has grown so much. I worked there almost every day this past summer and by practicing my reporting skills there, it has helped me immensely in the classroom.”

Burkardt continues to improve her journalistic skills as a staff writer at The Statesman. Besides all things journalism, Burkardt is also involved in many other clubs and activities around campus. She is an SBU Blogger, the Vice President of Benedict Hall Council, the hired photographer for the African Students Union on campus, and loves taking photoshoots and making music videos with her friends in her spare time.

“There’s so much I want to do,” she said. “My biggest dream is to work my way from print, to becoming photo journalist, to a war correspondent and anchor for FOX News. I really believe I can do it. With my family and Stony Brook helping me, I know I will achieve my goals.”

Katie Epifane

Sophomore

Katie Epifane is a journalism major in her second year at Stony Brook University in New York. Her concentration is broadcast journalism, a field she chose after her experience as a news anchor for “Good Morning SJB,” the morning news program at St. John the Baptist High School. In her time at St. John’s, Epifane covered many stories, including weapons of mass destruction response training at Good Samaritan hospital and an interview on abortion with Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Storytelling has always been a passion of Epifane’s. In her spare time, she writes short stories and poems. However, it was her exposure to broadcasting in high school that influenced her to choose television as her medium. Epifane came to Stony Brook in 2008, because she loved the fact that the University’s School of Journalism would allow her to specialize in broadcast, but would also hone her writing and reporting skills. She is a fellow in the University’s College for Global Studies as well as a commuter assistant. Epifane currently works as an undergraduate assistant in the Office of Commuter Student Services.

Matt Hammer

Junior

Matt Hammer is in his junior year as a broadcast journalism student at Stony Brook University. Coming out of high school, he wanted to pursue a degree in broadcast meteorology based on a life-long passion for weather and a recent love for news. However, upon taking the introductory course for the journalism program, “News Literacy," Hammer decided to take a longer look at what he wanted to study in college.

That’s when, in the Spring of 2008, Hammer applied for and received an internship with the WLNY TV 10/55 News at Eleven. Ever since setting his foot in the door of WLNY’s Melville studios, Hammer knew broadcast news was where he belonged. He now serves as a freelance weather anchor and freelance writer for the News at Eleven.

Hammer is heavily involved with Stony Brook University. Prior to becoming a member of the School of Journalism Student Advisory Board, he participated and reported for the campus news show, SBU-TV News – a closed circuit television show broadcast only on campus.

Hammer joined the advisory board so that he can have the chance to recruit future journalism students as well as help newer students to the journalism program with anything they may need.

He feels networking, having a good news IQ and simply being professional are the most important aspects to finding that dream news job. Hammer’s future goals include becoming an anchor for a local news program in New York City.

Carolina Hidalgo

Junior / Elmhurst, N.Y.

Stony Brook University caught Carolina Hidalgo's attention as she began looking into colleges, but at the time the university only offered a minor in journalism. Soon after, Stony Brook announced the creation of the journalism school, just in time for her to apply. She says her favorite thing about the school is its sense of community.

“You have small classes with the same students so you make friends and get to know your professors,” she said, adding that the faculty’s passion and experience are invaluable to the program. Last year, she completed an on-campus internship at The Statesman, a student newspaper. Her experience and coursework prepared her for a summer internship at Popular Photography magazine and a current internship at the United Nations Association of the USA.

She says her learning experience and the journalism school’s support has prepared her for the real, changing world of journalism. “Our curriculum takes into account that the media landscape is changing,” she said. “We learn how to be comfortable working with all different platforms.”

Sarah Kazadi

Senior / Bronx, N.Y.

Sarah Kazadi stumbled into journalism. As a sophomore biology major in 2007, she took a News Literacy course at Stony Brook University and developed a passion for the profession. She hopes to one day become an established broadcast journalist and is using the many resources that Stony Brook has to offer to accomplish her goal.

Sarah is a news contributor to SBU-TV, the campus television network, and is also sports editor for the Stony Brook Statesman, the university's oldest newspaper. "I just want to make my parents proud, and give my younger siblings someone to look up to," she says.

She credits her international background for shaping her as a human being and altering her view on life in general. She moved to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo at age 8, and hopes to use journalism to bring positive change to her war-torn homeland.

In the meantime, she is set on becoming a producer writer, or assignment reporter in the New York City market after graduating from graduate school.

In her spare time, Kazadi enjoys music, spoken word poetry, basketball and art. You can find her in the School of Journalism Newsroom or The Statesman office, working to achieve her dreams.

Michael Kelly

Senior / Clifton Park, N.Y.

Michael Kelly came to Stony Brook University as an applied mathematics and statistics major, but quickly dropped it for journalism after spending his first semester struggling through calculus and concentrating more on his writing class. His concentration is in online journalism, and he would like to work as either an investigative or sports reporter. He currently serves as the executive editor of the Stony Brook Independent, a campus news organization, and has interned with the Albany Times Union and newsday.com.

Basketball is his major hobby, and he spends most of his free time either watching games on TV or tinkering with one of his fantasy teams. He also likes to read — he lists his favorite book as “Johnny Tremain” by Esther Forbes — and to listen to his favorite bands, O.A.R and Stephen Kellog and the Sixers.

Alessandra Malito

Freshman / Dix Hills, N.Y.

Alessandra Malito, also known as Ali, came to Stony Brook in fall 2009 specifically because of the journalism program. After having learned about the School of Journalism she knew immediately that it was the perfect institution for her future studies as a journalist.

"I love writing articles and knowing what I say and write can inform hundreds of other people," she said. "And Stony Brook is exactly the place I can hone those skills."

Originally from Queens, Ali moved to Long Island in 2005 and has since been very involved in her journalism. She has been an intern for the Long Islander for the past three years, is a current intern with the Long Island Radio Group and is also a freelance writer for Ultimate Athlete magazine.

She said through her internships and freelance jobs, she has "had an incredible opportunity to meet and learn more about people and their passions and experiences, and that's something you never forget as a journalist. With the J-School, I'll be able to continue my own passion for journalism."

Adam Peck

Senior / Scarsdale, N.Y.

Adam Peck entered the School of Journalism in his freshman year, and hasn’t regretted a moment since. While he is technically concentrating in broadcast journalism, Peck can see himself working with any medium after college.

Outside of class, Peck is involved in a number of media organizations. He serves as Editor-in-Chief at Think Magazine, a publication he founded in 2008; News Director at the campus radio station WUSB; and treasurer of the campus chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists, among other things.

Peck is also interested in politics. He has been involved in several campaigns, working in the press offices of New York State Senator Brian Foley and New York City mayoral candidate Bill Thompson. Hobbies include baseball, graphic design, and good television (30 Rock and Colbert come to mind).

Frank Posillico

Sophomore / Levittown, N.Y.

Frank Posillico knew immediately that Stony Brook University School of Journalism was the place for him from day one of Dean Schneider’s News Literacy class. He was enthralled by it all and soon joined The Statesman, Stony Brook’s first and oldest paper. Working up the ranks quickly, Frank was made an assistant editor in his freshman year and is now the photo editor of the paper. Frank is currently knee-deep in all things journalism. Spending long nights at the Statesman, then going back to the dorm to writing yet another draft of a story is not unusual, but he would not have it any other way. Posillico aspires to not only become a great journalist, but photograph the world.

John Powers

Senior / Baiting Hollow, N.Y.

Through his widely publicized on-line series, "Faith and Murder," chronicling the events leading up to the arrest of notorious teen-age killer, David Ludwig, John Powers has already demonstrated an ability to break news on national levels. Locally, Powers covered politics for the Long Island weekly, The Community Journal, including reports filed from the floor of the 2004 Republican National Convention. After 15 years of service with the Long Island Power Authority, Powers decided it was time to retire from his position as a lineman, and pursue a second career in journalism. When he discovered the School of Journalism at Stony Brook, Powers was impressed.

"Judging by the wealth of expertise at the school's disposal, I figured I could get a Columbia-sized education at state college prices," he said.

Powers traveled to China with Stony Brook's Study Abroad Program in the summer of 2009, and published his reports on his blog, ReportingfromNewYork.com. Powers currently writes the, "Overheard on Campus," column for The Statesman.

April Warren

Senior / Sayville, N.Y.

Senior April Warren will be graduating in May with a double major in journalism and political science.  Throughout the last four years at Stony Brook, she worked at The Statesman as a writer and editor covering campus budget cuts, graduate student protests, crime and feature stories. She is currently the paper’s managing editor.  Warren was awarded the 2009 Martin Buskin award for commitment to campus media and third place for best news story from the New York Press Association in a collegiate competition.  Warren currently freelances for Newsday.

Jackie Zabielski

Senior / Farmingdale, N.Y.

Jackie Zabielski is in her senior year at Stony Brook University after transferring from Manhattan College in 2006. Three years later, she is confident that she made the right choice. Since begining at Stony Brook, Zabielski became a part-time producer for the Cablevision show "Neighborhood Journal." She has also completed an internship at News 12.

"Learning in class from professionals is fantastic, but the chance to execute those skills in a professional newsroom is an extremely rewarding learning experience," Zabielski said.

Zabielski joined the advisory board as a way to help build the journalism program and to help recruit future students.

"I want to publicize the J-School as much as possible," she said. "In high school, I knew I wanted to go into journalism, but I didn't know this great program was right in my backyard. I wish I did."