Ali Hennessey, Courtney Runn, Viviana Castañeda, Phillip Tracy, Diana "Sunny" Sone
We are journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin. We hope this website serves as a resource for Austin residents. Austin has grown from a city with a small community feeling to a popular, year-round tourist destination. We pursued this project out of interest in the effects of growth on various facets of vibrant Austin life.
Viviana Castañeda
@vee_veecee
I am an 18-year-old gal who originally resides from the valley. I am currently a first-year journalism student at The University of Texas at Austin. As an aspiring broadcast journalist, volunteering for the student-produced weekly newscast, KVR News, has taught me the skills I need to know in order to make it in this field. I have produced, written, and reported for the award-winning news broadcast.
Ali Hennessey
@ahenny719
I am a freshman from St. Louis, Missouri. I moved to Austin in 2013 and have been amazed by the rising skyscrapers and evolving city life. In our project, we have examined Austin's transformation. I have enjoyed learning more about Austin's history from some of the most educated, experienced people in town. I love all aspects of the journalism field, but I especially love broadcast journalism. One day, I hope to be reporting on the continuous changes we are experiencing here in Austin.
Courtney RunnAli Hennessey
@ahenny719
I am a freshman from St. Louis, Missouri. I moved to Austin in 2013 and have been amazed by the rising skyscrapers and evolving city life. In our project, we have examined Austin's transformation. I have enjoyed learning more about Austin's history from some of the most educated, experienced people in town. I love all aspects of the journalism field, but I especially love broadcast journalism. One day, I hope to be reporting on the continuous changes we are experiencing here in Austin.
@courtney_t_runn
Ever since I was little, I've had a passion for writing. I loved writing short stories and creating newspapers for my family and could spend hours daydreaming. When I was 11, my family moved to Italy for my dad's job. After spending three years in a foreign country with few resources to thrive in a different culture, I decided to create an online magazine for girls similar to me. Publishing this magazine for the past five years has confirmed my love for journalism and specifically magazine journalism. I love how images, graphic design, and words can come together to paint a beautiful image and convey a powerful message. I'm currently a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in journalism.
Diana "Sunny" Sone
@sunnysone95
I am a journalist in the 2017 graduating class at the University of Texas at Austin. I grew up on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. before moving to Austin in 2008. I graduated from Dripping Springs High School in 2013 and began working for The Horn, a UT news website, fall of the same year. I write primarily about local Austin issues like transportation, housing and affordability, but I have a wider interest in politics and inequality. I am interested in bridging the gap between day-to-day news and the broader issues that define the obstacles of our generation.
Phillip Tracy
@phillip_tracy
I am a sophomore student at the University of Texas at Austin, aspiring to become a leading figure in technology journalism. I am the youngest of six boys and was raised by a military father and German mother. I spend countless hours reading articles, watching videos, and getting as much hands on time with products as possible. I created The Tech Journalist blog to provide technophiles unbiased opinion and extensive information on news and product reviews.
