Editor-in-Chief: Lea D’Angelo
Managing Editor and Business Manager: Merren Hines
Senior Visuals Coordinator: Emlyn McKinney
Outreach and Alumni Coordinator: Cesia Martinez
Adviser: David Ragsdale
Staff Directory
Edie Ash is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. and serves as a Broadcast Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Ash hopes to grow as a leader and experiment with all types of journalism. During her time with the OMG, Ash has attended numerous journalism conferences hosted by the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, the Southern Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. In her freetime, Ash enjoys spending time with friends and watching reality TV.
Peter Atchley is a Clarke Central High School senior in Athens Georgia, and the Managing Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Atchley enjoys expressing his creativity, ideas, and opinions through his writing. Atchley wants to improve his organizational and communication skills. In his free time, Atchley enjoys painting, drawing, hanging out with his friends and watching scary movies.
Sasha Barkan is ODYSSEY Media Group’s News Editor and a Clarke Central High School junior. She hopes to convey meaningful stories and support her staffers' growth and development. In her free time, she enjoys reading, rock climbing and walking her dogs.
Renn Borger
Renn Borger is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. and is a Variety Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Borger is excited to get to write about topics she's interested in.
Jay Braswell
Jay Braswell is the iliad Literary-Art Magazine Outreach Director for the 2026-27 school year as a junior. Upon returning to the position for the second time, Braswell aspires to continue leading community outreach in order to give eligible artists and authors a platform to express themselves within the Clarke Central High School community. When they aren’t volunteering to spread the word of the iliad, Braswell enjoys creating art and daydreaming alongside listening to music.
Singer Brinson is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. and is a Sports Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Brinson hopes to be a voice for the athletes of Clarke Central High School. Brinson has attended journalistic conferences such as Georgia Scholastic Press Association and Southern Interscholastic Press Association, hoping to improve her journalistic skills. In her free time, Brinson enjoys writing and watching movies.
Charlie Crawford
Charlie Crawford is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School and is entering his second year with the ODYSSEY Media Group, working as a News Staffer. Crawford hopes to use ODYSSEY’s platform to grow as a student and to share the stories of the Athens community. During his free time, Crawford enjoys going for runs, watching shows and hanging out with friends.
Lea D’Angelo is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and the Editor-in-Chief for the ODYSSEY Media Group.Through the program, D’Angelo hopes to expand the reach of ODYSSEY’s publication and tell stories of her community. In her free time, she likes to read and hang out with her friends.
Violet Dockery is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and the Viewpoints Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. This year, Dockery hopes to expand her leadership abilities and create a platform where she can share her opinions and the opinions of others. In her free time she enjoys reading, listening to music and spending time with friends.
Grady Dunston is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and is a Journalism I Facilitator for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Dunston is also the 2026-27 Southern Interscholastic Press Association President. Dunston aims to teach incoming freshmen the basics of journalism as well as create a stronger community between students from all across the south.
Lucca Fleenor is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and serves as a Journalism I Facilitator for the ODYSSEY Media Group.. Fleenor is looking forward to connecting with her peers, gaining experience, and learning journalistic skills. In her free time, she enjoys creating art, writing and reading.
Essex Forker
Essex Forker is a senior at Clarke Central High School and a Social Media Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Forker wants to create ‘More Than Media’, with more personal and deeply rooted stories in his school and community. Outside of ODYSSEY Media Group, Essex has experience with social media, highlighting his public outreach capabilities and intrapersonal skills. Outside of school, Forker enjoys playing soccer.
Olive Forrester is a sophomore and a Social Media Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. Forrester is thrilled to explore all aspects of journalism, and wants to excel. In her free time, she loves to play volleyball, bake and learn new hobbies.
Adair Hewatt
Adair Hewatt is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School and a first-year member of the ODYSSEY. As a News Staffer, she plans to be involved in her community by reporting what is most influential. As a new journalist, she hopes to grow her writing skills and make a positive impact through her work. Hewatt has served in multiple leadership roles through volleyball and literature classes that have strengthened both her communication and teamwork skills.
Merren Hines is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and the Managing Editor 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.
Senya Kero
Senya Kero is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. and is a Viewpoints Staffer for The ODYSSEY Media Group. Kero hopes to write stories that not only educate the readers but entertain them. Kero has attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and looks forward to going to more events this school year. Outside of school, she enjoys going to Irish dance class and spending time with her family.
Anna Kim is a junior at Clarke Central High School who is starting her first year in the ODYSSEY Media Group as a Viewpoints Staffer. This year, she hopes to refine her writing and grow her public speaking skills to become a better journalist. In her own time, Kim’s favorite things to do are read and watch movies.
Eloise Luken is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and the Variety Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Luken hopes to grow in her leadership skills and tell the stories of those in the community. Luken has attended and participated in workshops at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association as well as the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. She has been awarded for photography and writing at the SIPA. In her free time, Luken enjoys taking dance classes and spending time with her friends and family.
Cesia Martinez serves as the Outreach and Alumni Coordinator for the ODYSSEY Media Group and is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga.. Martinez hopes to challenge herself and connect with OMG alumni and keep them informed about the program. Martinez has attended conferences with the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. Martinez enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends and family, and drinking coffee.
Emlyn McKinney is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga., and works as the ODYSSEY Media Group Senior Visuals Coordinator. McKinney hopes to connect with the members of their community and explore different opportunities to promote the OMG through design and branding. McKinney has attended Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA), Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) and National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) conferences, and has co-presented a session at SIPA. McKinney has been awarded regionally and nationally for their writing and leadership skills. In their spare time, McKinney enjoys reading and recreating designs from their favorite movies.
Mzée Pavlić is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and is the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Broadcast Editor. Pavlić has attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and Southern Interscholastic Press Association conventions. Pavlić is excited to learn more about videography while also improving as a writer, storyteller and leader.
Maya Pringle is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and is the Webmaster for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Pringle hopes to share local stories with the community while improving her writing and journalistic skills. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, reading, watching movies and playing soccer.
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 and on the Georgia Scholastic Press Association Advisory Board for several years, and currently serves on the National Council of Teachers of English’s REALM committee, as the Journalism Education Association’s State Director for Georgia, and as the Southern Interscholastic Press Association’s Executive Chair. 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.
Mekaiya Randles
Mekaiya Randles is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. and a News Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group. With being freshly new to Athens as a whole, she is very interested in getting to know and learn about the community. She hopes ODYSSEY brings her new and improved insights about things.
Jack Rumfelt is a sophomore and Sports Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga.. With this year being his second in the ODYSSEY, he hopes to improve his interviewing skills and inform our community about the world of sports through journalism.
Miriam Silk is a junior at Clarke Central High School and a Journalism I Facilitator for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Silk has attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association convention and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention multiple times where she has gotten awards for her writing. She hopes to help mentor the younger journalists as they come into the ODYSSEY program. In her free time, Silk enjoys dancing, reading and spending time with friends and family.
Kye Streetman is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. and is the Sports Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Through her work, Streetman hopes to connect with her community and grow in her journalistic and photography skills. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, playing tennis and spending time with her friends and family.
Sara Stuart is a junior and a Variety Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga.. This year, Stuart hopes to grow her confidence in the ODYSSEY Media Group and learn more about journalism. In her free time, Stuart loves to bake and spend time with her friends.
Iliana Tejada is a senior at Clarke Central High School, in Athens Ga. and serves as the Photography Editor for the ODYSSEY Media Group. Through her photography, Iliana hopes to tell stories, and to gain more confidence in her writing. Iliana has attended conferences with the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. She has been awarded for her photography by both GSPA and SIPA. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and traveling.
Sid Tesler
Sid Tesler is a Freshman at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. and a Journalism I student who is new to the ODYSSEY Media Group. With this being his first year at Clarke Central High School, Tesler is excited to meet new people and grow as an individual.
Maypop Wren is a junior and a photographer for the ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School. Wren hopes to convey stories throughout her community with her photos, and hopes to grow as a student and a member of the ODYSSEY Media Group.