Editor-In-Chief: Wyatt Meyer
Managing Editor: Janie Ripps
Lead Copy Editor: Miles Lawrence
Adviser: David Ragsdale
Staff Directory
Peter Atchley is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and the Diversity and Representation Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Atchley enjoys expressing his creativity, ideas, and identity through his writing. Atchley wants to improve his organizational and communication skills through journalism. Atchley has attended many journalism conferences, like the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, the Southern Interscholastic Press Association, and the National Scholastic Press Association along with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association workshop. In his free time, Atchley enjoys painting, drawing, hanging out with his friends and watching scary movies.
John Buckner
Violet Cantarella is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and a Variety Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. She is hoping to write content that entertains as well as informs. In her free time she enjoys welding, writing film scripts and hanging out with her dad.
Lea D’Angelo is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School and the Digital Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. This year, D’Angelo hopes to become more confident in writing, editing and creating multimedia, among other skills. In her free time, she likes to read, play piano and hang out with friends.
Jesse Dantzler is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and a Digital Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Dantzler seeks to become more well-rounded in all areas of life, including journalism, and push himself out of his comfort zone. In his free time, Dantzler likes to spend major portions of his day practicing martial arts and composing music.
Andréas Dillies is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, GA and is the Beat Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. He hopes to serve those around him in a journalistic setting and broaden public understanding of Clarke Central. Dillies has attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association conference. He enjoys learning languages and theology in his spare time.
Grady Dunston is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School and a Visuals Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. This is his second year with ODYSSEY, where he aims to improve his writing and photography skills. In his free time, Grady enjoys photography, engineering and video games.
Samaya Ellis is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and a Journalism I Facilitator for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Ellis looks forward to the new opportunities this year brings as well as bonding with colleagues. She also enjoys reading and spending time with loved ones, including her two pets.
Lucca Fleenor is a freshman at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and a Journalism I student for the ODYSSEY Media Group. During her time with the program she hopes to explore her interests as a student and grow as a journalist.
Brandon Frazier
Brandon Frazier is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and Videographer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. He is excited to learn more about digital storytelling and broadcast.
Victoria Garland is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, GA and is the Managing Editor for the iliad Literary-Art Magazine. Garland strives to encourage people in her community to share their work in order to highlight the creative minds of Clarke Central. Garland has attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, Southern Interscholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association Convention. Garland enjoys playing piano, cheerleading, and hanging out with friends during her free time.
Jovi Grantham is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, GA, and a Sports Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. With inclusion as Granthams goal, she hopes to cover the broad range of athletes and teams represented at CCHS.
Isabella Gresham is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and the Viewpoints Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Over the course of the year, Gresham hopes to grow in her leadership skills and improve her writing and design abilities. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music and spending time with her friends.
Adah Hamman is a junior at Clarke Central High School and the Variety Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. She is excited for her first year in an editorial position and wants to leave a lasting impact on the OMG. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends and walking her dogs.
Isabella Hammock is a freshman and Journalism I student in the ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia. Hammock aims to utilize this opportunity to develop the writing and design skills required for a journalistic career. In her free time, Hammock enjoys sketching, listening to music and reading.
Sam Harwell is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and is a Viewpoints Staffer and Illustrator for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Harwell is very excited to learn and grow, and plans to stay committed to ODYSSEY throughout his high school experience. During this experience, Harwell hopes to improve his skills as an artist and make new connections.
Olivia Hendershot is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, GA and is the Editor-In-Chief for the iliad Literary-Art Magazine. Hendershot strives to make the iliad magazine an inclusive platform showcasing the talented artists at CCHS. Hendershot has attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, Southern Interscholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association Convention. She has been awarded for her use of social media storytelling and promotion. Hendershot enjoys listening to music and spending time with her friends.
Merren Hines is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and the Business Manager for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Hines is hopeful of connecting with her team members and the environment around her. She is optimistic about meeting new people and leaders to gain skills, socially and academically. Hines’ hobbies are dancing and being with friends.
Abigail Holloway is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and a News Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Throughout the year, Holloway hopes to grow her journalistic talent and share the stories of those she interviews. In her free time, Holloway enjoys listening to music and hanging out with friends.
Cooper Jones is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, GA and is the Sports Editor and a Journalism I Facilitator for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Jones has attended both the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and Southern Interscholastic Press Association conventions during his career and has received rewards for his writing. Jones hopes that he can bring coverage to a variety of sports and sports issues in his community, and enjoys spending time with friends.
Liza Larson is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and the News Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Through her work she hopes to expand her journalistic and leadership skills and to tell the stories of CCHS and Athens community members. Outside of school Larson enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music and reading.
Miles Lawrence is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and the Senior Copy Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. As a student journalist, Lawrence hopes to write and help others produce stories that inform and interest the CCHS community. Lawrence has attended and presented at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and Southern Interscholastic Press Association conventions and has virtually participated in the National High School Journalism Convention. Lawrence has been awarded for his writing by the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, the Southern Interscholastic Press Association, and the National Scholastic Press Association. Outside of ODYSSEY, Lawrence enjoys playing tennis, watching movies and hanging out with his friends.
Cesia Martinez is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School and a Variety Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Throughout the year Martinez hopes to make an impact for the OMG, and develop her interviewing skills. In her free time she enjoys playing soccer, traveling and being with family.
Emlyn McKinney is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and a News Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. McKinney hopes to grow more confident in their writing, reporting, and communication skills during their time with the OMG. In McKinney’s spare time, they like to read, spend time with friends and journal.
Wyatt Meyer is a Clarke Central High School senior and the Editor-in-Chief of the ODYSSEY Media Group. Through his work writing, editing, and designing for the program, Meyer hopes to further his abilities as a journalist and tell stories valuable to the community. Outside of school, Meyer enjoys writing, playing the piano, and playing soccer.
Mzée Pavlić is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and is a News Staffer in the ODYSSEY Media Group. Mzée is excited to learn about his new role as a news staffer while also improving as a writer and student. Throughout the year, Mzée hopes to bond with his new staff and the rest of the ODYSSEY.
Marcus Quarles
Marcus Quarles is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School located in Athens, GA. He is a Visuals Staffer to the ODYSSEY Media Group for the 2024-25 school year. He is looking forward to expanding himself as a writer and publishing his photography.
David A. Ragsdale (UGA B.S.Ed. ’01, M.Ed. ’03, Ed.S. '09), CJE, has advised student publications since 2001 at Clarke Central H.S. in Athens, Ga., where his duties include advising the ODYSSEY Media Group and Iliad literary-art magazine. Additionally, he serves as Co-Department Chair of the English department at CCHS, coordinates student internships with the University of Georgia, serves as Gifted Coordinator and teaches English at the Title I school. He spends summers teaching at the Georgia Governor's Honors Program for the state's top gifted and talented students or on the faculty of journalism workshops across the Southeast.
Ragsdale received the Crystal Apple Award, an honor given to University of Georgia alumni in K-12 education who have made a significant impact on student, school or school district performance in 2007. Ragsdale was the GSPA Adviser of the Year in 2007 and 2020. He was named an ASNE Reynolds High School Journalism Fellow in 2014, an Elizabeth Dickey Distinguished Service Award recipient by the Southern Interscholastic Press Association in 2015, named a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Distinguished Adviser in 2019 and the Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2022. Ragsdale and his staff have twice been recognized for their commitment to Diversity by the Journalism Education Association (2020-21 and 2021-22). He received the Leslie Dennis Heart for Diversity Award from SIPA in 2024 and he’s been commended by the JEA Board of Directors for his work for the organization.
He served on UGA’s College of Education’s Alumni Board for several years, and currently serves on the National Council of Teachers of English’ REALM committee, as the Journalism Education Association’s State Director for Georgia, and as the Southern Interscholastic Press Association’s Executive Chair and on the Georgia Scholastic Press Association Advisory Board. Ragsdale will facilitate the JEA Outreach Academy at fall conventions.
Ragsdale advocates a stance of student inquiry in his work and seeks to provide a safe place for students to not only succeed but also to fail. He seeks to empower students to recognize the implicit and explicit import of their words and to engage them in masterful storytelling. His students have received top honors in critiques and competitions across the country.
Jane Ripps is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and Managing Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Ripps hopes to strengthen her writing and inform readers of the magazine about ongoing topics that play a big role in society. She has attended and presented at multiple journalism conferences including the Georgia Scholastic Press Association conference, the Southern Interscholastic Press Association conference, and the National Scholastic Press Association conference. Through journalism, she hopes to meet new people and form new bonds with fellow students. Some of her interests consist of swimming, shopping and traveling.
Sylvia Robinson is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and is a Variety Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Robinson hopes to tell stories among the Athens community through her illustrations and her writing and pursue more in her journalistic skills. Robinson has attended Georgia Scholastic Press Association and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association conventions. Robinson enjoys hanging out with friends and listening to music.
Lydia Rowell is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and is a Sports Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Throughout the year, Rowell hopes to strengthen her reporting and writing skills while establishing meaningful connections in the Athens and CCHS community. In her free time, she loves listening to music, spending time with friends and reading.
Kimberly Sanabria-Amaya is a senior at Clarke Central High School located in Athens, Georgia and serves as the Graphic Designer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. She is looking forward to strengthening her weaknesses and improving her writing abilities and has a passion for making art digitally and traditionally.
Liya Taylor is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and serves as the Social Media Coordinator for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Through her work, Taylor hopes to connect with community members and colleagues, grow her journalistic skills and represent all cultures of Athens and CCHS. In her free time Taylor likes listening to music, playing volleyball and hanging out with friends.
Iliana Tejada is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and a Social Media Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Tejada wants to improve her writing and vocabulary skills in the OMG, Tejada loves meeting new people and is excited to do so this year.
Ma’Kiyah Thrasher is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and a Visuals Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Thrasher has attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. Throughout the year, Thrasher hopes to advance her writing skills and begin her career in photography. Thrasher enjoys hanging out with friends and playing sports in her free time.
Gillian Williams is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia who is new this year to ODYSSEY. This year in ODYSSEY as a Viewpoints Staffer, she hopes to learn more about journalism and further her knowledge about her community through journalism. In her free time she enjoys baking, watching sports and traveling.