Matt Hamilton/Daily Citizen-NewsLinda Olvera-Jones was recommended by journalism and PBS Student Reporting Lab teacher Gina Gray at Dalton Middle School to attend "PBS NewsHour's" Student Reporting Labs Academy in Washington, D.C., June 25-29. 

DALTON, Ga. — Linda Olvera-Jones says she wants to cover “important events that are happening right now.”

Olvera-Jones, 14, is one of 25 students who were selected to participate in ”PBS NewsHour’s” Student Reporting Labs Academy in Washington, D.C., this week. Olvera-Jones recently completed the eighth grade at Dalton Middle School and is the only student from Georgia who will be attending this year’s academy, which is now in its fourth year.

Olvera-Jones said she’s excited to meet the PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) officials and the other students.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s like to be an actual journalist because we’ll produce a story that is actually happening in D.C.,” she said. “I’ve only covered stuff that’s happened around school or Dalton, but now I feel like I‘m going to a larger scale, which is really exciting for me.”

The students were recommended by their PBS Student Reporting Labs teacher for the fellowship. Gina Gray, who also teaches journalism at Dalton Middle School, recommended Olvera-Jones.

“It’s exciting to have a student representing Dalton again,” said Gray. Former Dalton Middle student Abby O’Ferrall attended last year.

To qualify for the academy, students had to submit an application, a video about themselves telling why they wanted to attend (part of Olvera-Jones’ video is available as part of a larger video at https://srlacademy2018.tumblr.com, along with information about her) and a letter of recommendation from their teacher.

Gray said she wrote about how much Olvera-Jones has to contribute to the academy, how well she works with others and her potential in journalism.

“The main reason I nominated her is because she’s going to absorb everything they teach her,” Gray said. “She’s going to take what she learns and apply it in the future.”

Gray said PBS provides a great opportunity for students.

“Students are able to get involved in real journalism because of the PBS Student Reporting Lab program,” Gray said. “It’s making them realize this is something they really enjoy doing.”

Students will work with public media mentors to “produce original digital content and sharpen their journalism and production skills,” a press release stated.

Elis Estrada, director of the Student Reporting Labs, said the academy provides students with “unparalleled access to a trusted national news organization and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work and speak with professionals they look up to.”

While in D.C., the students are required to find a topic and create a story on it within two days. Topics can range from anything happening in the city to something of the student’s choice.

Olvera-Jones said she’s looking forward to the challenge.

“I’ve been doing really well in class and on assignments,” she said. “I feel like I’m ready.”

Olvera-Jones started in the PBS class during the seventh grade. At the end of the year she applied for the advanced portion of the class and was selected.

“It’s a really fun class,” she said. “You chose how involved you want to be.”

Olvera-Jones said she enjoys editing video the most. She hopes to attend the University of Georgia for its journalism program.

She said being in the class and learning Premiere Pro, an editing software program, helped her advance her skills.

“It’s going to help tremendously, before this class I didn’t have any experience,” Olvera-Jones said. “Everything I learned in class I’m taking to D.C.”

Gray called Olvera-Jones a “deep thinker” and said the academy will be good for her.

“She has a lot of thoughts and opinions about things and is excited she can share with others,” Gray said. “I’m excited for her, too, I think she’s going to do extremely well in D.C.”

Gray said Olvera-Jones is a “wonderful writer,” great at writing voice-overs and taking B-roll shots (video footage).

“I really see her going somewhere big,” Gray said. “She’s the kind of kid that needs to study abroad and experience different places.”

Gray said Olvera-Jones is an “interesting person.”

“Her interests are a lot more mature than most kids her age,” she said. “That is what PBS looks for when accepting middle school students into the academy, a kid who is mature and can communicate with high school students.”

Monica Hernandez, a PBS classmate and Olvera-Jones’ best friend, said she’s proud of her.

“She knows how to put a story together and how to show the viewers what they need to know,” Hernandez said.

Jesus Quintero said he’s known Olvera-Jones since elementary school, but didn’t interact with her until they joined the PBS class.

“Linda is really good at editing and getting interviews,” he said. “I’m glad she was chosen to go to the academy, she deserves it.”