Meet the Students from Syracuse
Meet the students reporting from Syracuse, New York.
— -- Marlei Martinez, bureau chief, is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in political science and theatre. She was born on Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, and moved base-to-base all her life. To date, she has called four countries, five states and eight cities home.
Most recently, Martinez interned for ABCNews.com in London, where she was studying for the spring semester. She wrote stories on topics such as the London chocolate festival, Seville, sex museums and Air New Zealand. Her broadcast experience includes interning at CBS's 13WMAZ in Macon, Ga., reporting for CONNECT (SU's public affairs television program), SU's TheNewshouse.com and Syracuse's NPR-affiliate WAER. In addition to working for On Campus this summer, Martinez traveled to Angeles City, Philippines, to produce a documentary on international online dating. Her future career goals include digital multimedia journalism. Aside from following the news, Martinez enjoys acting, dancing and hiking.
Sierra Jiminez is a senior newspaper major with a minor in legal studies. While at Syracuse University, Jiminez worked at The Daily Orange, a student-run newspaper on campus, and CONNECT, a student-run public affairs television show. She has also had fellowships with The New York Times and the Carnegie and Knight Foundations. Although she is a newspaper major, Jiminez has experience in television, photography and online journalism. She aspires to be a multimedia journalist.
Clay LePard is a third-year broadcast journalism major whose interest in the field began at a young age. Growing up in Wenham, Mass., he staged mock television broadcasts in his parents' basement during football games. Today, he anchors a nightly newscast for Syracuse University's all student-run campus station, CitrusTV, and covers SU athletics. LePard had the opportunity to work as an intern for NBC at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and has also served as guest host of "Totally Patriots," a Boston-based television program geared toward the younger generation of New England Patriots fans.
Matt Phifer is a junior dual majoring in broadcast journalism and political science. Prior to joining ABC News on Campus, Phifer was a co-host of Orange State, a political and current events radio show on Z89 in Syracuse, where he interviewed all three candidates in the 2009 Syracuse mayoral race. Phifer was a campus reporter for Citrus TV News and also covered the 2010 Syracuse women's lacrosse team for Citrus TV while working with the station's sports department. Over the summer, Phifer was a DJ and producer for QBSA, the official radio station of the National Boy Scout Jamboree. Most recently, Phifer covered the Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp while interning with ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley.
Phifer also plays the trombone in the Syracuse University Marching Band, concert band, and Sour Sitrus Society Pep Band. He is also an avid golfer and fisherman.
Danielle Waugh is a senior studying broadcast journalism and American history. In addition to working for ABC News On Campus, she is a reporter and field producer for a local public affairs program called CONNECT, where she has interviewed Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim.
She is also a reporter for The Stand, Syracuse's South Side community newspaper.
Waugh's broadcast experience includes a sports internship with CNY Central in Syracuse, a local news station.
She has also been a news intern at WJAC-TV in Johnstown, Pa., near her hometown of Greensburg.
On campus, she is a four-year member of the award-winning SU Mock Trial Team. She also volunteers as a youth mentor at the Syracuse Center for Community Alternatives.
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