Testimonies from Academy Participants

The academy helped me a lot. I learned the tricks and honed the skills I needed to excel in my high school journalism class. I also gained insight into the professional world of journalism and why it's like to live on a college campus.

-Ben Heisler

My experience at the GJA was a great one. The real life situations that I went through in my broadcasting class helped me in my class back at school. I learned so many new skills that make my job in my high school class a lot easier. I encourage anyone who can come to this camp to do so. I had a great time and met a lot of new friends. I can't wait till next year!!

-Holly Jean Wise

The week at GJA was definitely filled with unique opportunities to learn more about the field of interest, broadcast journalism. I was able to truly experience the stress and accomplishments of producing a live news broadcast. The academy also enabled me to work with other students who had the same dreams and aspirations as I do. I made many new friendships and built relationships for a lifetime. Despite the heavy course-work, overall I learned many skills and techniques that will benefit me in my upcoming school year.

-Lauren Anderson

The GJA was an intensive crash course in journalism situations and skills. It offered a hands-on instruction in journalism. As my core class, I took newspaper and online media as my elective. By participating in these classes, I learned what it was like to work on a newspaper and to further my web experience in designing. I really felt confident in my writing and leadership skills after leaving the GJA.

-Sherene Patel

The experiences that I had at the GJA equipped me for any situation in journalism at my school and even in college. Not only did we listen to lectures and attend classes but we got to experience journalism in an interactive way. The core classes took an in-depth look within the journalism track I chose. Even though I wasn't excited about my elective class at first I can now build my own web page. I will never forget all my experiences at the GJA and I would recommend it to anyone.

-Michael Paul Peaden

Coming to the GJA at the University of Georgia has been one of the best decisions I have made. I have learned so much in broadcasting which is what I am considering as my career in the future. I have met so many different people that have been so welcoming and fun, including all the counselors. I now know so much more and can apply it to my classes back at high school. I plan on coming back next year again!

-Tracy Rene Russo

I don't believe that there is any other place that could have given me the real life experience that I got at the GJA. It was a busy week of rushing to meet deadlines, but the counselors guided us through it, and in the end we came out with a great show. After being introduced to the Grady College, it helped me realize journalism is definitely a rewarding field that I want to pursue. I'm very excited to take what I have learned here at the GJA back to my high school and share it with my classmates. Thank you GJA!

-Harrison Lobdell IV