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The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

Student news without fear or favor
The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

Student news without fear or favor

2024-2025 1st semester Staff

Jack Freeman
Editor-in-Chief

Jack Freeman

(he/him) Jack Freeman joined The State Hornet in spring 2022 as a staff writer and is currently a senior majoring in journalism. He returns as the Editor-in-Chief, resident Indoor football aficionado, and Kellen Moore fan.

Nancy Rodriguez Bonilla
Managing Editor

Nancy Rodriguez Bonilla

(she/her) Nancy Rodriguez was born and raised with a love of her culture and community in Santa Ana, CA. She is passionate about DEI and covering the communities that were ignored for far too long. This is her third year working at The State Hornet and she currently holds the position of managing editor.

Jocelyn Hill
Copy Editor

Jocelyn Hill

(she/her) Jocelyn Hill is a fourth-year political science and journalism major returning for her second semester at The State Hornet as a copy editor. She is originally from Orange County and enjoys drawing and running in her free time. Jocelyn is eager to get more involved with the State Hornet and pursue a career in political journalism.

Rinn Lee
Copy Editor

Rinn Lee

(she/her) Rinn Lee joined The State Hornet in Fall 2023. After two semesters as a sports staffer covering softball and soccer, she is now a copy editor for the Hornet. She is a junior journalism major, set to graduate in Spring 2025 and hopes to go into book publishing.

Alexander Musa
News Editor

Alexander Musa

(he/him) Alexander Musa is a senior journalism major and the news editor for The State Hornet. Formerly a design editor and staff writer at The American River Current, he seeks to graduate this fall semester. His goal is to become a crime reporter.

Leah Stewart
Social Media Editor

Leah Stewart

(she/her) Leah Stewart is a fourth-year journalism major with a theater minor from Los Angeles. She aspires to have a career in social media or public relations and has a special interest in film, which heavily influences her work. She is also an avid reader and enjoys discovering new music.

Isabella Nyiri
Social Media Editor

Isabella Nyiri

(she/her) Isabella Nyiri is a fourth-year journalism major with hopes of working in PR or management for the music industry. She joined The State Hornet in fall 2023 and is now a social media editor. In her free time, she loves music, dance and is president of her sorority.

Analah Wallace
DEI Editor

Analah Wallace

(they/them) Analah Wallace is a senior student from Sacramento who's studying journalism and film. They enjoy working on diverse community coverage and learning about different communities both on and off campus. They hope to work in the Journalism industry as a film reviewer or news reporter.

Adam Camarena
Sports Editor

Adam Camarena

(he/him) Adam Camarena is a senior journalism major. This is his second year on The State Hornet and his first as co-sports editor. He hopes to work in sports media once he graduates.

Ryan Lorenz
Sports Editor

Ryan Lorenz

(he/him) Ryan Lorenz is a senior journalism major and is returning for his third semester at the State Hornet, this time as co-sports editor. He has a strong passion for sports and plans on having a career in sports media.

Madison Lopez
PRMA Editor

Madison Lopez

(she/her) Madison is a public relations major and this semester's PRMA editor. This is her second semester with The State Hornet. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking or checking out new coffee shops with friends.  

Brionna Woody
Visuals Editor

Brionna Woody

(she/her) Brionna Woody is a senior public relations major. This is her third year on The State Hornet and her first as visuals editor. She hopes to work towards a career in sports media and marketing.

Delaney Joyce
A&E Editor

Delaney Joyce

(she/her) Delaney Joyce is a third-year public relations and communication studies student. She is currently the Arts & Entertainment editor in her third semester at The State Hornet. In her free time, she enjoys writing, traveling and camping. She hopes to work in media for the entertainment or conservation sector.

Jada Portillo
Digital/Newsletter Editor

Jada Portillo

(she/her) Jada Portillo is a transfer student from Delta College in her second semester at the State Hornet as the digital/newsletter editor. Prior to her transfer, she wrote for the Collegian as the opinion editor. Portillo is in her junior year as a journalism major.

Jonathan Santiago
Multimedia Editor

Jonathan Santiago

(he/him) Jonathan Santiago is in his third semester at The State Hornet, returning as the multimedia editor. He is an economics major and hopes to work as a financial analyst. During his free time, he spends time with his friends and loved ones.

Evan Patocka
Podcast Editor

Evan Patocka

(he/him) Evan Patocka is a senior majoring in communication studies and minoring in journalism. A native of San Diego, he joined The State Hornet in fall 2023. He hopes to pursue a career in sports broadcasting.

Angelica Brito
Spanish Editor

Angelica Brito

(she/her) Angelica Brito is a fourth year student from Los Angeles majoring in Journalism and pursuing minors in marketing and communications. She is the Spanish editor for the fall 2024 semester and is in her third semester at The State Hornet. She hopes to pursue a career in Spanish-speaking journalism.

Fernando Gallo
Adviser

Fernando Gallo

Faculty Adviser Fernando Gallo is a versatile multimedia journalist with 15 years of experience across multiple platforms and a proud alumnus of both Sacramento State and The State Hornet (Class of 2008). Fernando has filed stories for San Francisco Chronicle, The Sacramento Bee, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, Associated Press and Capital Public Radio, and worked as a daily crime reporter for the Lo...

Greg Micek
News Staffer

Greg Micek

(he/him) Greg Micek is a junior transfer student from Sierra College majoring in journalism. When he isn't neck deep in homework, Greg enjoys history, aviation and spending time with his family. But really, he spends every waking moment on schoolwork.

Omid Manavirad
News Staffer

Omid Manavirad

(he/him) Omid Manavirad is a senior transfer student majoring in journalism. This is his first semester at The State Hornet, and he is very excited to be joining the news team, he is passionate about storytelling and in his free time enjoys reading, watching movies. He hopes to puruse a career in journalism and someday be a professional reporter.

Emilie Jocson
News Staffer

Emilie Jocson

(they/them/siya) Emilie is an international student from the Philippines and finishing their last semester as an International Relations major at Sac State. Once the interviewee for State Hornet DEI articles, they have now become the interiviewer as a State Hornet News staffer. Outside of the newsroom, Emilie is either baking, playing D&D or learning a new dance style.

Cheryl Howard
News Staffer

Cheryl Howard

(she/her) Cheryl D. Howard excels in writing short stories, stageplays, screenplays and as a contributing writer for the Sac Cultural Hub magazine. She holds an Associate's degree in journalism and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's for the same.

Finneas Brumbaugh
News Staffer

Finneas Brumbaugh

(he/they) Finneas is a third-year political science and journalism major entering his first semester with The State Hornet. Born and raised in San Francisco, Finneas strives to report on untold stories and underprivileged communities. In his free time, Finn enjoys drawing, cooking and curating music. He is currently the host of several shows on KSSU and a member of the Hornet Speech & Debat...

Usamah Hammour
News Staffer

Usamah Hammour

(he/him) Usamah Hammour has a master's in mechanical engineering and dedicated over 40 years to the field. Due to human rights advocacy in Syria, he immigrated to the United States. He graduated from American River College in journalism and is currently in his fourth-year passionately pursuing human rights work.

Alex Wong
Sports Staffer

Alex Wong

(he/him) Alex Wong is a journalism transfer student from Sac City College. This is his first semester at Sac State, and he has an associate's degree in Journalism. He is in his first semester at the State Hornet. He plans to have a career in sports media and hopes to become a future sports analyst.

Kaitlyn Riley
Sports Staffer

Kaitlyn Riley

(she/her) Kaitlyn Riley is a senior journalism major in her first semester on The State Hornet. She is an avid sports fan who plans to pursue a career in sports journalism.

Andrew Edwards
Sports Staffer

Andrew Edwards

(he/him) Andrew Edwards is entering his second semester with The State Hornet as a sports staffer. He is graduating in December, and plans to pursue a career in sports media after.

Jose Diaz
Sports Staffer

Jose Diaz

(he/him) Jose is entering his second semester at The State Hornet. He is majoring in journalism and is a lover of all things sports. In his free time, he enjoys playing a variety of sports and listening to music. He plans to have a career in sports media after he graduates.

Ishana Warren
A&E Staffer

Ishana Warren

(she/her) Ishana is a third-year student majoring in journalism with an interest in Broadcast media. She was a part of her high school news program, where she starred as a head anchor. Ishana is a lover of music and a matcha connoisseur. She believes food is love, so when she can, she enjoys taking trips to the bay to try new food spots, go thrifting, and be by the ocean.

Chris D. Johnson
A&E Staffer

Chris D. Johnson

(he/him) Chris D. Johnson is a journalism transfer student from the Los Rios Community College District. He is currently in his first semester at the State Hornet, and has hopes of working in music journalism in the future. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and watching sports.

Alyssa Earnest
A&E Staffer

Alyssa Earnest

(she/her) Alyssa Earnest is a foruth-year journalism major hoping to work as a music journalist in the future. Outside of school and work, she likes listening to music, play simulation video games like Animal Crossing and trying different coffee shops around Sacramento.

Ismael Martinez Castillo
A&E Staffer

Ismael Martinez Castillo

(he/him) Ismael is an English major who is currently in his senior year. This is his second semester at The State Hornet. When he's not writing, you can find him watching anime, playing sports, or working out.

Michael Pepper
A&E Staffer

Michael Pepper

(he/him/they/them) Michael Pepper is a senior transfer student majoring in journalism. He previously attended Cosumnes River College, where he was a staff writer and sports editor for The Connection. This is his third semester with The State Hornet.

Jada Trowel
Multimedia Staffer

Jada Trowel

(she/her) Jada Trowel is a second-year journalism major born and raised in the city of Sacramento. This is her first year being a part of The State Hornet, and she's very excited to put her skills to use within the multimedia department, considering this expereince as practice towards her future career as a news anchor.

Skylar Findlay
Multimedia Staffer

Skylar Findlay

(she/her) Skylar Findlay is a fourth-year journalism major that hopes to become a broadcast news reporter in the future. In her free time, she travels to see her friends and family and enjoys drinking coffee.

Sharmarke Holif
Multimedia Staffer

Sharmarke Holif

(he/him) Sharmarke Holif is a third year student from Elk Grove majoring in journalism. This is his second semester at The State Hornet. He is looking foward to learning about how to be a good investigator and story teller. In his free time, he adores watching Magic: The Gathering gameplay and Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. He is a huge fantatic about both fantasy and sci-fi, holding immense l...

Rodrigo Martinez
Visuals Staffer

Rodrigo Martinez

(he/him) Rodrigo Martinez is a fourth year psychology major.

Kai Arellano
Visuals Staffer

Kai Arellano

(he/him) Kai Arellano is a senior journalism major in his second semester on The State Hornet. He was a sports staffer and currently is in visuals as a staffer. He enjoys baseball, boxing, and MMA. He currently is in Combat U as a boxer and MMA fighter.

Alejandro Barron
Visuals Staffer

Alejandro Barron

(he/him) Alejandro Barron joined The State Hornet in fall 2023 and spent two semesters as a staffer for El AvispĆ³n del Estado. He is a journalism major and hopes to work in sports or Spanish language journalism.

Mateo Davis
Podcast Staffer

Mateo Davis

(he/him) Mateo is a senior communications major. This is his first semester as a staffer for the state hornet, in the podcast section. After he graduates from Sac State, Mateo wants to pursue a career in sports media.

Aaron Lofton
Podcast Staffer

Aaron Lofton

(he/him) Aaron is a journalism major in his second semester at the State Hornet. This is also his second semester in the podcast section, and he looks to continue the podcast 'Bracketology'. Aaron wants to pursue a career in sports talk on the radio and eventually on TV.

Aliza Imran
Podcast Staffer

Aliza Imran

(she/her) Aliza Imran is a third year journalism major from England. She has been with the State Hornet for a year as a podcast staffer. Aliza hopes to pursue a career within book publishing and journalism

Ana Sophia Vazquez
PRMA Staffer

Ana Sophia Vazquez

(she/her) Ana Sophia Vazquez, a senior majoring in public relations with a marketing minor, joined The State Hornet in fall 2024 as a pulic relations and marketing staffer. She shines in creating engaging content, managing social media, and organizing events. Passionate about effective communication, Ana Sophia Vazquez is dedicated to enhancing the paper's outreach and community connection....

Rian Lombardo
PRMA Staffer

Rian Lombardo

(she/her) Rian Lombardo is a junior communications major with a focus on public relations. She was born and rasied in Granite Bay, California but later went on to work for the Walt Disney Company. After returning back to her hometown, she aspires to work towards a communications degree in hopes to branch together her two greatest loves: performing and marketing.

Raynell Lynn
PRMA Staffer

Raynell Lynn

(she/her) Raynell Lynn is a fourth-year transfer student majoring in communication studies. She first joined The State Hornet in spring 2024 and is continuing her contribution to PRMA. With the experience she gains at The State Hornet, she hopes to pursue a career in media or advertising.

Bret Butson
Social Media Staffer

Bret Butson

(he/him) Brett Butson is a junior transfer student majoring in journalism. After one year of writing various pieces for his community college, his experience has helped him arrive at The State Hornet.

Jessica Shona-Stewart
Social Media Staffer

Jessica Shona-Stewart

(she/her) Jessica Shona-Stewart is a senior journalism major in her second semester on The State Hornet. She was a multimedia staffer and currently is a social media staffer. She enjoys all things food, travel, and entertainment.

Daisy Martinez
Social Media Staffer

Daisy Martinez

(she/her) Daisy is a senior journalism major and a film minor who hopes to work in social media or the TV industry in the future. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies or hanging out with her friends.

Siany Harts
Social Media Staffer

Siany Harts

(she/her) Siany Harts is a senior at Sacramento State, majoring in public relations with a minor in journalism. She is a former social media editor at The State Hornet and has been a sideline reporter for Sac State Football and Basketball. She hosts the podcast Anything But Sports! and completed a digital media internship with The Sacramento Observer over the summer. Passionate about innovative me...

Rodolfo Piste Lara
Spanish Staffer

Rodolfo Piste Lara

(he/him/el) Rodolfo is a political science and journalism major finishing up his last semester at Sac State. He is very passionate about access to education and equal opportunities for people of color. In his free time, he likes to jog, take his dog to the park, bake and watch Mexican telenovelas. One fun fact about Rodolfo is that he played six years of steel drums in grade school....

Maritza Ascencion
Spanish Staffer

Maritza Ascencion

(she/her) Maritza Ascencion is a second-year political science and journalism major. This is her first semester at The State Hornet. She looks forward to learning more about the Hispanic community at Sacramento State. In her free time, you can catch her spinning vinyl records or spending time with her loved ones.

Brandon Aguilar
Spanish Staffer

Brandon Aguilar

(he/him) Brandon Aguilar is a rising junior aspiring to get a BA in Journalism.

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