Announcing the 2021-2022 Meredith apprentices from Iowa State University

CATEGORIES: News, Students

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Ten Iowa State students have been selected to participate in the Meredith Apprentice Program for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Established in 2004, the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication’s partnership with Meredith Corporation places Iowa State students in yearlong apprenticeships at a leading media company. This year’s assignments include editorial/digital and graphic design apprenticeships with Meredith media brands and departments based in Des Moines, New York and Vermont. All apprenticeships are remote this year until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s with both gratitude and anticipation that we announce our Meredith apprentices for 2021-22 after the 2020-21 program was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Deb Gibson, Greenlee associate professor of practice and Meredith professional in residence. “As with the previous 16 classes, these 10 new students bring extensive experience in writing, editing and designing. But they also share a true appreciation for the revival of the program, and they are excited to continue that tradition of excellence established by the more than 100 Iowa State students who have served, to date, as Meredith apprentices.”

The part-time, paid apprenticeships offer students real-world work experience alongside seasoned professionals. Apprenticeships also can be used for Greenlee students’ JL MC 499A required internship.

“The Meredith Apprentice Program is one of the premium opportunities available to Iowa State students who have career aspirations in media and design. We’re proud to partner with Meredith to place students in apprenticeships, and we are very appreciative of Meredith’s longstanding commitment to our program,” said Michael Dahlstrom, director of the Greenlee School and LAS Dean’s Professor.

Headquartered in Des Moines, Meredith Corporation is a leading media company for nearly 120 years. Meredith produces service journalism that reaches consumers across multiple platforms in areas such as entertainment, food, lifestyle, parenting and home. Meredith’s National Media Group engages 95 percent of American women through 40+ brands, including PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Allrecipes, Southern Living, REAL SIMPLE and Magnolia Journal. Meredith’s premium digital network reaches more than 150 million consumers each month. The company is the No. 1 U.S. magazine operator, with 36 million subscribers, and the No. 2 global licensor. Meredith’s businesses also include leading affinity marketer Synapse, award-winning creative content studio The Foundry, and the Meredith Data Studio.

Meet the 2021-22 Meredith apprentices from Iowa State:

Editorial/Digital

1) Better Homes and Gardens — Food: Sydney Novak is a junior from Cedar Rapids, majoring in journalism with a minor in anthropology.  She has worked for the Iowa State Daily for two years, with three of those semesters serving as lifestyle editor. Sydney also serves on the story styling committee for Trend, the campus fashion magazine, and as an online interview host for Young Media Professionals.

2) BHG.com — Outdoor Living: Kaylei Fear is a sophomore from Muscatine, majoring in public relations with minors in environmental studies and apparel, merchandising and design. She writes for Trend magazine and serves on the special events team for the ISU Fashion Show. Currently, Kaylei is interning remotely with EightSixtySouth, a Los Angeles lifestyle PR agency. She also works as the social media manager for the Good Makers Market event in Muscatine. She is a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and has served as president of her residence hall floor and on the ISU Dance Marathon committee.

3) Eating Well: Morgan Durick is a junior journalism major from Des Moines with minors in apparel merchandising and design, and event management. She is a writer for Trend, ISU’s fashion magazine, and has worked as the Iowa State Daily’s fashion reporter and now as a lifestyle reporter. She is an active member of the Chi Omega sorority on campus, having served on the Collegiate Panhellenic Council and now a recruitment assistant. Morgan currently works as an editorial intern for ISU’s College of Human Sciences. She has managed social media for the Pink Print Company in Des Moines and is a freelance writer for D-Ravel, a travel blog. Morgan has earned Dean’s List honors, and is an active member of ISU’s Salt Company. 

4) E-Commerce: Alyssa Brascia is an apparel merchandising and design major with a journalism minor. This junior from Shorewood, Illinois, currently interns for D-Ravel, an online travel blog, and Debonair Supply Co., an Ames T-shirt company. This is her third year on staff for Trend magazine, where she has worked as its beauty director, Trend For Men lifestyle editor and fashion editor. Alyssa has created marketing videos for Pinpoint Mortgage in Plainfield, Illinois, and has worked as a teaching assistant at Iowa State.

5) InStyle: Julia Meehan is a junior from Dubuque, majoring in journalism with a minor in women’s and gender studies. She works as a content writer for ISU’s new Student Innovation Center and as a contributing writer for Fashion Fundamentals, an e-learning community and blog for college students. She has held several positions with Trend magazine, including print copy editor, online monthly copy editor and fashion editor. Julia has worked as a student life reporter for the Iowa State Daily, and served as both a sports reporter and a sports analyst for GreenleeTV. She currently is employed by ISU’s Testing Center.

6) Parents: Sierra Hoeger is a junior from Cedar Rapids, majoring in journalism with a minor in apparel merchandising and design. Sierra works as a communications intern for ISU’s College of Engineering and is the branding co-director for the ISU Dance Marathon. She is an online monthly copy editor for Trend magazine, and has also served that title as fashion editor and writer. She also is an Iowa State Daily veteran, having worked there as a lifestyle reporter, and the student life/lifestyle editor and writer. Currently Sierra volunteers as a Greenlee Ambassador, and works for the city of Ames’ parks and recreations division as a youth gymnastics instructor.

7) Traditional Home: Lauren Krueger is a junior journalism major from Andover, Minnesota, carrying a minor in apparel merchandising and design.  Lauren serves as editor in chief of ISU’s Ethos magazine, a title for which she’s also worked as a staff writer, treasurer and articles editor. Lauren also serves as a Greenlee Ambassador for prospective students, and serves on the PR team for the Iowa State Blood Drive. Included on the ISU Dean’s List every semester she has been enrolled at Iowa State, Lauren also has worked as a senior team leader for Old Navy.

Graphic Design

1) AllRecipes: Claire Taets is a senior from West Des Moines, Iowa, majoring in graphic design with a minor in public relations. She is currently a graphic design intern with Lynco Products, working on catalogs, packaging, flyers, and other print projects. She also spent a year as a graphic designer with ISU Student Wellness. Claire is active with Alpha Delta Pi sorority, serving currently as the Vice President of Marketing and previously as the Director of Public Relations. In addition, she has held positions with University Tees and Iowa State’s Office of Admissions.

2) Midwest Living: Jesse Benbrook is a senior from Bartlett, Illinois, majoring in graphic design with a minor in advertising. Jesse works part time as a design assistant for the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, and has worked as a videography intern for the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames. He also has worked as an in-store visual merchandiser at Tilly’s in Algonquin, Illinois, and this summer will be launching a new nail polish line. Jesse is a member of the ISU Graphic Design Social Club.

3) Meredith Agrimedia: Lindsay Castleman is a junior from Duluth, Minnesota, majoring in graphic design with a minor in journalism. Currently, Lindsay is a graphic design intern for the ISU Rural Shrink Smart Research Project, creates graphic design work and videos for an ISU journalism professor and works as a graphic designer for Willow & Rye Event Planning and Design. She also has worked as a graphic designer for Engwalls Flowers. Lindsay serves as creative director for Trend magazine and is active with the Sigma Kappa sorority.

Jesse Benbrook Midwest Living, Graphic Design
Alyssa Brascia E-Commerce, Editorial/Digital
Lindsey Castleman Meredith Agrimedia, Graphic Design
Morgan Durick Eating Well, Editorial/Digital
Kaylei Fear BHG.com — Outdoor Living, Editorial/Digital
Sierra Hoeger Parents, Editorial/Digital
Lauren Krueger Traditional Home, Editorial/Digital
Julia Meehan InStyle, Editorial/Digital
Sydney Novak Better Homes and Gardens—Food, Editorial/Digital
Claire Taets Allrecipes, Graphic Design