Hannah Godel – Head Editor

Hannah Godel is a senior double majoring in Communication and Studio Arts at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Godel serves as the Head Editor of Rising Rock for the Fall 2026 semester. She works as a marketing specialist at UTC’s Graduate School and is a staff photographer for The University Echo, using photography to explore stories that challenge and broaden her perspective. In addition to her work with the Echo, Godel has written a blog for the Chattanooga Tourism Co., expanding her interest in storytelling beyond photography. She is passionate about documenting culture, people and places, and hopes to travel the world after graduation covering cultural stories through visual media. Outside of photography, she is often found with a book in her hand and one of her pets nearby. To connect with Godel, contact her at zyd457@mocs.utc.edu 

Ashlyn Yoes – Assistant Editor

Ashlyn Yoes is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, majoring in Communication and minoring in Marketing. She is skilled in journalistic writing, but her passion lies in photography. Yoes has been a news writer and sports photographer for the University Echo and is proficient in Adobe programs. She mainly photographs sporting events and portraits but wants to work more in the music industry. She strives to use photography to not only capture memories but also highlight people’s stories. In her free time, Yoes enjoys creating art and attending concerts. To contact Yoes, email her at bvr974@mocs.utc.edu.  

Aidan Henderson

Aidan Henderson is a senior majoring in Communication with a minor in Criminal Justice at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Henderson specializes in photography and social media and is the social media manager for the Kpop Culture Club. Through her academic career, she has developed experience in photojournalism, public relations, creative writing and social media marketing. Henderson’s passion lies in telling impactful stories for others to feel connected and capture everlasting memories. She strives to broaden her creative outlets through different mediums, whether it be a camera, phone or pencil. Henderson loves to go to concerts, play video games and listen to her favorite music. After graduation, she hopes to work in social media marketing and photography. To reach out to Henderson, reach out at pww399@mocs.utc.edu.

John Talley

John Talley is a senior studying Communication with a minor in Rhetoric & Professional Writing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Talley is a visual storyteller interested in photojournalism and multimedia projects. He aims to promote Chattanooga-based stories and share what makes our city so amazing, from its citizens to its unique local events. It’s Talley’s belief that there are stories worth telling all around us that often go unnoticed or untold. In his free time, Talley is an avid runner and reader. Graduating in December, Talley is now seeking career opportunities. You can contact John through his email at YRV129@mocs.utc.edu.

Ryan Conley

Ryan Conley is a senior studying Communication with a minor in Environmental Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Conley has years of experience studying photography and many multimedia outlets such as Rising Rock, and has also worked on video projects for UTC’s Football team and on personal projects. He aims to capture the beauty of the environment worldwide with pictures and videos to show how breathtaking the world is. Conley loves to be in nature and loves outdoor activities such as running, hiking, paddleboarding, and so on. He hopes to keep capturing the real beauty of this world for all to see in real time. You can find him at dzp647@utc.edu.

Amy Hanna

Amy Hanna is a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, majoring in Communication with a minor in Creative Writing. She has experience working as the Fiction Editor for UTC’s student literary journal, the Sequoyah Review, and has a short essay published in the journal as well. She currently serves as the Membership Services student lead at UTC’s Aquatic and Recreation Center, as well as holds a leadership position with Chattanooga Cru. A natural storyteller, Hanna is deeply empathetic and passionate about melding creative writing and journalistic wording to bring spaces, people and experiences to life. To contact Hanna, email her at vzl618@mocs.utc.edu.  

Maggie Graham

Maggie Graham is a Communication major with a Business Administration minor at UT Chattanooga. Originally from Columbia, Tennessee, she is passionate about building a career in public relations, with a diverse skillset in writing, videography, and graphic design. Alongside her academic work, she serves as the Vice President of Membership Experience on the executive board of the Beta Beta chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, as well as a Chancellor’s Ambassador in coordination with UTC. In her future career, Graham hopes to work in a creative environment where she can combine her communication skills and passion for event planning with her interests in public relations and advertising. To connect with Graham, contact her at yvv781@mocs.utc.edu.

Noah Blount

Noah Blount comes from Memphis, TN and is a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, majoring in Communication with a minor in Film and TV. Blount specializes in photography, media writing, and audio production. Through photography, Blount has developed skills in capturing important moments and telling stories through visual media, while his experience with audio workshops has helped him build skills in recording, editing, and producing audio content. Blount also has a strong background in music, having played saxophone for nine years and previously performing with the UTC Jazz Ensemble. During high school, he also had the opportunity to record a full-length album at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis. Outside of media and music, Blount has a passion for LEGO and works as a shift manager at Bricks and Minifigs in Chattanooga. Blount hopes to use his time in Rising Rock to help tell the stories of the Chattanooga community and gain valuable experience in professional media production. Contact Noah Blount at (901) 656-0726 or email him at Noah.blount@outlook.com.

Emma Womack

Emma Womack is a senior at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga majoring in Communication with a minor in the Brock Scholars honors program. She is originally from Nashville, Tennessee but has found Chattanooga to have a sprawling community worth exploring. Womack has a passion for storytelling and learning about new facets of the world with a focus on creative media projects and writing. With developed skills of visual storytelling, video editing, and adobe creation Womack helps with many creative projects. She expanded her horizons in the summer of 2026 by interning with wedding planning business El Events based in Chattanooga. She ran their instagram account posting every day for the whole summer including capturing and making reels. Additionally Womack was tasked with the vendor communications for each wedding. When she is not working toward her degree she has her head in a book exploring different sprawling stories and lives. After graduating Womack hopes to travel the world and gain her own new stories to expand her mind as well as others. Contact Emma with any questions at emmaruthwomack@gmail.com or visit her portfolio at her website.

Lauren White

Lauren White is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, majoring in Communication with a minor in Marketing. She is currently a Student Ambassador for Tamron Lenses, she is one of the main sports photographers for the school newspaper the UTC Echo, she is the lead manager of the UTC Marching Mocs social media and photography team, and she worked for Glossy Finish Photos in the summer of 2026. She loves to create sports photos and do portraits on the side. She is planning to be a sports photographer once she graduates in 2028 and continue to tell people’s stories through her photos. To contact Lauren, email her at wjs335@mocs.utc.edu.

Isabella Preston

Isabella Preston is an English major concentrating in Rhetoric & Professional Writing with a minor in Communications at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Originally from San Diego, California, Preston is a member of Brock Honors College and is passionate about investigative journalism, criminal justice, and strategic communications. She is particularly interested in the intersection of public safety, storytelling, and government. She currently interns with the Chattanooga Police Department’s Public Affairs Department, assisting with press releases and social media content. During Summer 2026, Preston interned with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, gaining firsthand experience in criminal investigations, intelligence, evidence review, and interagency collaboration. She also conducted criminology research as an Honors Research Fellow at UTC. Beyond her investigative and academic work, Preston serves as an Editor and Social Media Director for Sequoya Review Journal. She hopes to pursue a career in investigative journalism and public-interest storytelling. To connect with Preston, contact her at lsl141@mocs.utc.edu.

Sicily Hardgrave

Sicily Hardgrave is a senior at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is majoring in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Hardgrave has a passion for writing and telling the stories of others and their experiences and hopes to pursue a career in Journalism. Hardgrave has a background with photography, videography, and audio work. She has experience from other outside projects such as being production designer for Strike Magazine Chattanooga and choreographer/assistant for student-led films and theater productions. Outside of school, Hardgrave enjoys being with friends and exploring Chattanooga. She loves traveling and discovering new places. To reach Hardgrave, reach out to wpq733@mocs.utc.edu

Justin Smith

Justin Smith is a junior studying Communication at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He works as a student videographer and editor at the UTC Communications and Marketing department. Smith also frequently edits for creators on social media, where he has amassed over 7 million views across social platforms. He is passionate about video and has been able to acquire professional certificates in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Video Design. When he is not working in video, you can find him on the field playing and coaching soccer in the community. After graduating, Smith plans to pursue a career as a video editor with a focus on social media. He aims to create captivating videos that connect and inspire audiences. To contact Justin, email him at nws596@mocs.utc.edu

Trey Jernigan

Trey Jernigan is a senior at UTC majoring in Communication with a minor in Marketing. He is a sports journalist and has covered sports for the University Echo for two years, including UTC Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, and Women’s Soccer. He’s passionate about sports and the art of telling a story through sports, and showing that sports are more than a game but a medium to tell stories about the human experience. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, primarily football, and studying history. After graduating, Jernigan plans to pursue a career in sports journalism as either a writer, commentator, or analyst to continue telling stories through sports. To reach Jernigan, email him at nvy159@mocs.utc.edu.

Olivia Abuelouf

Olivia Abuelouf is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, majoring in Communication with a minor in Political Science. She has worked for Strike Magazine’s PR team and is a staff writer for the University Echo. She also enjoys doing photography work for local bands and artists in the Chattanooga area. Abuelouf is passionate about political journalism and sees it as a valuable tool for social change and cross-party unity. As a Palestinian-American, she ultimately aspires to work in international conflict reporting, hoping to bridge divides and amplify underrepresented voices. To reach out to Abuelouf, contact dkt932@mocs.utc.edu.