My name is Evgenia Kopanos I am a Greek-American from Queens, New York and I am studying print and digital journalism and minoring in English at Penn State.

Growing up so close to New York City I was able to meet people from all over the world. Along with this going to Greece every summer to visit my family has allowed me to learn about their stories, their struggles and their passions.

Through my internship at the Centre County Gazette, I was able to meet many people from small towns who had big stories to tell, after speaking with so many of these individuals and learning their stories whether this be their personal struggles, business endeavors, or passions. I knew everyone would benefit from hearing their strengths and the failures that led them to where they wanted to be.

Through all these experiences I have learned how important it is to hear stories that are unheard and all we can learn from them. Through collaboration and elements of storytelling, I strive to let others hear stories that they would normally not know much about!