18 students worked over the course of a year to prepare and fundraise for their trip to Berlin. Once there, they used their hands-on skills to produce the Missoula to Berlin project and stories. Meet them here:
Lucy Tompkins wrote the story on atheists in refugee camps. She is junior majoring in journalism and anthropology. Lucy also works as a reporter for the Montana Kaimin.
Shannon O’Hara studies anthropology, with a minor in international development, with the hopes of one day working on international policy.
Adam McCaw is a senior majoring in journalism with a minor in Chinese.
Verena Henners graduated in August 2015 with a Master’s of Science in Geography with an option in GIS and Cartography. For the Missoula to Berlin Project, she worked on the graphics for the ‘Seeking Freedom from Religion’ story.
Alicia Leggett is a junior studying journalism. In Berlin, she combined her passion for bikes with an interest in sustainable and efficient transportation to write about Rueckenwind, an organization that provides bikes for refugees.
Nik Dumroese designed the graphics for ready to work. He studies political science with a concentration in international relations and comparative government. Nik is also the business manager for the Montana Kaimin. View his website at nikdumroese.com.
Autumn studies Radio Journalism and German. Although she is currently studying abroad in Stuttgart, she plans on finishing her degree at the University of Montana School of Journalism, and then eventually starting up her own podcast on women’s health and sexuality.
Greg studies computer science with a minor in German and Theater Lighting. He hopes to get a career working with real-time systems that are useful in live environments.
Lauren Lewis worked on the feature text for the piece titled “Ready to work: Highly qualified refugees struggle to gain employment in Germany.” She graduated last spring with a degree in journalism and a minor in media arts. She is now working as the digital platform manager for the Billings Gazette.
Kayla Robertson worked on graphics for the burying the dead story. She’s a senior majoring in journalism and is also studying media arts and GIS. Kayla also works as the design editor for the Montana Kaimin. View her portfolio at http://www.kaylarobertsondesign.com.
Christa Street wrote the story about the legal and bureaucratic unaccompanied refugee minors encounter in Germany. She is a sophomore at the University of Montana. She is majoring in Spanish and Political Science with a focus in International Relations and is minoring in International Development Studies.
Kira Vercruyssen did the photography for Sheltered Without a Home, Burying the Dead, and contributed to Critical Coverage. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and is a senior majoring in journalism with a focus on photography and multimedia. Kira is a photo intern with the Missoulian and the Montana Kaimin. View her webpage here. http://www.kiravphotography.com
I’m graduating in spring 2017 with a major in Journalism & a minor in International Development Studies. I participated in “Missoula to Berlin” project as a photojournalist, capturing life styles of people seeking refuge as they settle in Berlin, also collecting stories of their live styles that they left behind. I have always loved capturing moments through my camera as a first hand experience in different cultures, specially when there’s change. I believe everyone has a unique story & I want to be a platform to bring those stories to life. In my leisure time, I love cooking & tasting food from different countries.
Tess Haas graduated from the University of Montana with a major in journalism and a minor in English literature. She is currently the editorial intern at the Missoula Independent. Tess wrote the Burying the Dead story.
Rebecca Keith wrote the story mobile minors. She is a junior at the University of montana. In addition to working on a bachelor’s degree in journalism she is getting minors in both astronomy and climate change. Another version of her story, which includes interviews from refugees in the U.S., will be published on the Montana Journalism Review this winter.
Ian Strahn wrote the piece, “Critical Coverage: the Controversy Between German Media and the Right-Wing.” He is a senior at the University of Montana studying Political Science, German and International Development Studies. Ian is also the International Outreach Coordinator for the Global Leadership Initiative on campus.
Alyssa Gray wrote the piece, “Religious Observations: Ramadan and Refugees in Berlin.” She graduated last spring with a degree in journalism and a minor in art history and criticism. She is now writing and editing for Montana Woman.
Madeline Taylor is a junior in the journalism program and hopes to become an international reporter one day.
