Pursuing a Lifelong Dream

Leah Thompson found her calling when she was 10 years old. While attending the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, she was approached to do an interview for a local news station about why she was a fan.

"Ever since I was interviewed, I wanted to be a reporter because it seemed like the coolest job ever," she says.

Since her arrival at Drake, the junior broadcast news major has vigorously pursued that goal. She assists with video production for Drake Athletics, is a member of the Drake Broadcast System and works as a DJ on 94.1 The Dog, Drake's student radio station.

"There are so many opportunities at Drake if you go and look for them," Leah says.

Last year, she worked for the Des Moines Radio Group as a promotions assistant for two local stations. She recently began an internship at KCCI, Des Moines' CBS affiliate, that will allow her to explore every aspect of working in a newsroom.

"I would like to be on-air. That is my ultimate goal," she says. "I also want to be a well-rounded journalist, so I am excited to learn about all of the positions available."

Leah is the first recipient of the John Lytle Endowed Scholarship for News Journalism, which was created by Robert Gillies, JO'89, GR'91, to honor the longtime broadcast news professor. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student, like Leah, who wishes to pursue a career in news reporting.

If you want to learn how you can create a scholarship like the one Leah received, please contact John Amato at 515-271-2849 or john.amato@drake.edu.