Rose Thomson is a second year coach for the Writing and Technology Workshop. She works for the program as the coach's supervisor. She graduated from Escalon High School and is currently attending California State University, Sacramento as an English Major. She enjoys reading, swimming and listening to music. Rose wants to be an English high school teacher when she graduates.
Photo Manager Emily Felt
Emily Felt is entering her sophomore year at Sierra high. Her jobs included tagging photos, taking photos, watching the kids after school, and creating a page for the website. This is her second year coaching for the program. Some of her interests include music, history, and poetry. Emily's favorite color is light tan, her favorite animals are puppies and she likes to hike and play volleyball. She can be easily bribed when chocolate (preferably dark) is involved.
Video Editor Christina Robles
Christina just graduated from East Union High School. In the fall she will be attending CSU Stanislaus and will be majoring in Pre-Nursing. She will be a part of the Honors Program there because she’s ‘bout dat nerd life. Christina’s job in the GVWP Writing and Technology Workshop was Video Designer and Editor. Her hobbies include reading, watching TV, playing the flute and piccolo, hanging out with friends, sleeping, and having all-day Harry Potter marathons. One day her name will be Christina Melena. Her friends, family, and boyfriend are everything to her.
“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” -Albus Dumbledore
Junior Anthology Editor Lisa Robles
Lisa Robles is entering her junior year of high school at East Union High. She is an honors/ AP student. She spends her time with friends and playing the clarinet in her school's marching band and concert band. She also loves everything about batman. Her job in the GVWP writing and technology workshop is junior anthology editor but she dreams of becoming a prosecutor.
" I wear a mask. And that mask, it's not to hide who I am, but to create what I am." - Batman
Junior Photo Manager/ Asst. Video Editor Lydia Lee
Lydia is entering her Sophomore year at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee. She heard about the program from her dad, who lives in California and is also one of the teachers. Her job this year was shadowing Emily and taking over her jobs for the second week. In her spare time, Lydia enjoys running cross country, reading, playing video games with her sister, and writing short stories. Her favorite colors are blue and purple and her favorite foods are tacos and fried chicken.
Junior Coach Elizabeth Russell
Elizabeth Russell is entering her Freshman year at Sierra High. This is her first year with the program and she's enjoyed it a lot. She was in charge of watching the kids after school and running a few games here and there. She is preparing to work as a photographer and video editor at future workshops. In her spare time, she enjoys doing karate (she is currently a brown belt), skiing, and painting. Her favorite color is blue, and her favorite food is pizza.
Website Manager Jonah Ledesma
Jonah was born in a hurricane in Stockton, California and eventually settled in Manteca. He is a high school graduate going into college at Delta. As the A/V and Website Manager, this is his third year working as a coach for the workshop. His interests include music, theatre, and politics. Some of the very cool things he has done is serve as Vice-President of his school's Thespian Club (he is a certified member of the International Thespian Society) and he is also the singer and guitarist for Californian rock band United Front. His favorite band is Foo Fighters and his favorite food is Italian. facebook.com/unitedfronttheband
Senior Anthology Editor Noah Ledesma
Noah Ledesma is an incoming Junior and 4.0 Honors/AP student attending East Union High School on Manteca. he is the Senior Anthology Editor during his third term as a student coach. Noah is also the secretary for his school's Kiwins club and a counsel member of the Youth Advisory Commission for the city of Manteca.
Photographer Allie Fern
Allie Fern will be entering round two of high school at Tracy High. Because of her dad's role teaching in the computer lab, she has been lucky enough to participate in the program since 2nd grade. Partnered with her trusty Nikon sidekick, this is her second year working as a photographer. Her passion for reading and writing extends outside the workshop, where she also loves goofing off online, running track and cross-country, and traveling the world. She will keep on helping the Great Valley Writing Project as long as she is able!
Junior Coach Talon Waters
Talon Redfeather Waters is 13 years old and in 9th grade. This year will be his second year in the writers’ workshop and his first year as a junior coach. This year his job was to be an anthology assistant, but he is learning a variety of other job skills from the senior coaches. The reason Talon is attending this writer’s workshop is because it will look good on his transcripts to college, and so far, he is enjoying the experience. He also loves helping people. It gives him a sense of pride knowing he made an improvement in someone’s life. Even if it was a small task, it still feels like a big accomplishment, which is why Talon loves coaching.