Poetry Team
Shanna Allridge, assistant Poetry Team editor, is a senior from Finleyville with a major in Journalism. Allridge has had three poems published in books. One poem received the Editor’s Choice Award. Allridge is the treasurer of the Colleges Against Cancer organization, and she plans on doing an internship with the Make a Wish Foundation next semester. Upon graduating, Allridge hopes to move to the New England area, where she will pursue a career in Journalism. In her spare time, she enjoys writing poetry, cooking, shopping, and watching hockey and football.
Michael Billy of Monessen is a Journalism major, who has the ambition of one day being a columnist in a newspaper or magazine. Billy has received internship funding from the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University for his internship with the Times-News in Burlington, N.C., which he did in the summer of 2009. In his spare time, Billy likes to write fiction and play bass guitar, as well as watch sports, like hockey and football. He has also traveled to various places, such as Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Cozumel, Mexico; and the Grand Cayman Islands.
Andrew (Andy) J. Carl is a senior from Washington, who is majoring in Journalism and Creative Writing. Carl is involved with Universitas Scholarium and the Burning Man Club. Carl has been to Black Rock City, Nev., for the Burning Man Festival. Upon graduation, Carl would like to be a writer, and one day he hopes to support himself financially as a freelance writer. In his spare time, Carl enjoys playing music, and he is a member of Hatfield Corn Liquor Company, which is a grassroots/bluegrass band.
Chris Orient is a senior from Cecil, majoring in Journalism. Orient writes for the Cal Times, and he is in the Cal U chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Upon graduation, Orient would like to move to New York City or Colorado, where he hopes to start a career in music journalism and write for a music publication. Orient enjoys skiing, going to concerts, playing guitar, and traveling. He has traveled to various places, like London and Paris.
Erica Zechender (a.k.a. Aquene Sincerity) is the Poetry Team editor. She is a graduating senior from Pittsburgh, with a dual major in Criminal Justice and Creative Writing, and with a minor in Music. Zechender writes for the Cal Times and is involved with the Hispanic Students Association, Peace Studies, Law and Justice Society, and Student Mentoring. Upon graduating, Zechender is going to grad school to pursue her master’s in Law and Policy. While she is in grad school, Zechender plans to do freelance writing. She would like to one day write a few books, as well as start an organization that focuses on restorative justice for juveniles. Zechender is a Student Ambassador and has traveled to places like France, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, Vatican City, and Jamaica.
Mark Zedonek is a senior, majoring in English Literature and Creative Writing. Zedonek works at Manderino Library on campus as a periodical and microfilm cataloging assistant. After graduation, he would like to go to grad school for library science. Zedonek is from Coudersport, and he plays in an indie/folk/alternative band called The Slant. Zedonek and The Slant have played various shows in areas such as New York City, Pittsburgh, Nelson’s Ledges in Ohio, and Morgantown, W.V.