Published on November 10, 2025
We are excited to share that sophomore Veronika Oryshchenko has been selected to join the PBS News Student Reporting Labs’ 2025-26 Student Advisory Team. This national group is made up of just 33 students chosen from across the country to help guide the program’s editorial direction.
Ms. Rakiewicz, the High School Broadcasting Teacher, shared information about the PBS Student Reporting Labs with her students and provided recommendation letters to support their applications. Veronika’s love of journalism and storytelling, coupled with Ms. Rakiewicz’s support, encouraged her to apply. As part of the application process, students were asked to submit a resume and a story about their hometown. Originally from Ukraine, Veronika leveraged her experiences before coming to the U.S. to help her stand out in the application process.
In early October, Veronika received the exciting news that she had been accepted to the program and has since been participating in monthly Zoom sessions with PBS Reporting Labs. During these virtual classes, she’s learning more about journalism, writing, and connecting with wider audiences. The program runs through March, and Veronika is hoping to apply for PBS’s summer program, too.
Veronika is thrilled to take part in this project, as it combines her passion for language (she speaks 6 languages!) and storytelling. In the future, she hopes to study linguistics in college and sees this experience as a great opportunity to grow as both a communicator and a storyteller.
Congratulations, Veronika, on this incredible achievement!