‘We Are All Family’: Valedictorian Laila Henderson Moves Toward Coding Career
Laila Henderson, an honor student during her years at Brandon High School, was introduced to coding in elementary school, which later played a major part in her education and career decisions. Her teachers also played a part in her high-school educational experience.
Jakara Guston: Learning to Use Her Voice to Help Others
Jakara Guston is active in her community and uses her voice to help others
Headlines and Heart: The Making of Journalist Hannah Evans
Inspired by her mother’s strength and legacy, Hannah Evans is a rising teenage journalist using her voice to uplift stories that matter. With each word, she honors where she comes from and where she’s determined to go.
Through Pain, Charlton ‘CJ’ Davis Finds Creation
Charlton “CJ” Davis uses his struggle and pain from a football injury to bring other athletes’ dreams to life through photography. He plans to learn more about photography and refine his skills at the Youth Media Project.
Kirstyn Lyles: A Showstopper On and Off the Stage
Theater has been a huge part of Kirstyn Lyle’s life since the second grade. Although she is moving on to pursue bigger things, it will always be in her heart.
Future Reporter Taylor Brandon Evokes the Spirit of Journalism
The second-year Mississippi Youth Media Project student-mentor majored in journalism and minored in music at Mississippi College in fall 2024. Her first-year classes included many communication and music classes.
Brooklynn Jefferson Follows the Sound of Her Own Tune
Receiving a random delivery at the door wasn’t on then-6th-grader Brooklynn Jefferson’s mind that day in November 2020. When she went to the door, a “big and heavy box” was waiting to greet her. It was a trombone.
Keeping Her Faith: Madison Ford Has Faced, Overcome Adversity
Youth Media Project student Madison Ford, has faced adversity and encountered hardships, but through it all she found her breakthrough and has flourished ever since.
Through the Lens of Ava Washington
Ava Washington developed her love of photography at 15. Since then, she has become a young entrepreneur, photographing her school’s athletic events and classmates. After participating in the Youth Media Project last summer, she joined her school’s media team and Student Committee Publicity Officer.
Lula Davis: A Budding Botanist Who Wants to Heal with Plants
Lula Davis’ high school botany course sparked her interest in the subject. She believes it is important to understand the medicinal properties of certain plants, and she plans to travel the world, especially to Brazil where she will be able to study plant life in the Amazon.