Armone' Gates

angates@valdosta.edu

Senior Mass Media Major
Hello everyone and welcome to the 2026–2027 semester! My name is Armone’ Gates, and I am the Chief Editor of the VSU Spectator! Be sure to stay tuned on our social media and website to find out what’s happening on and off-campus!

Fun Fact: I love to watch documentaries.

Gray Walker

taylorgwalker@valdosta.edu

Junior Mass Media Major
I am an avid reader, and I generally enjoy talking story dynamics and fandom. Please ask me about these things. I love to talk when I’m not being shy.

Fun Fact: I am the person most likely to die first in a horror movie, as I regularly investigate strange noises even when logic and reason should make me stop.

Faith Forster

fpforster@valdosta.edu

Senior Fine Arts Major
Hey everyone! If you don’t know me, I’m Faith, the Managing Editor and Graphics Coordinator for The Spectator! I help the Editor in Chief keep our Spectator machine running and I do all things graphics (apart from this website)! Stay tuned to the website and Print Editions for all things Spectator!

Fun Fact: I’ve been to the Miami Grand Prix twice.

Maddie Higdon

mshigdon@valdosta.edu

First Year of the Graduate ESOL Program
Hey, everyone! I’m Maddie. I am the Photography Editor for The Spectator this semester. I’ve been taking photos for about seven years, and some of my favorite things to shoot are stage shows and sports.

Fun Fact: I have recently won a singing competition, and in October, I will compete at the international level.

“Reach for the stars, and if you don’t grab them, at least you’ll fall on top of the world.”
— Pitbull, “Give Me Everything”

Aiyana Hunter

aihunter@valdosta.edu

Junior Political Science Major
Yo! I’m Aiyana Hunter, and I’m the Social Media Editor for the newspaper. Please say hi if you see me — I am on campus a LOT because I cannot stop doing random things.

Fun Fact: I WILL take hours explaining the lore of my favorite video games to you. Do not let me get started if you value your time.

“You’ve been blessed with unfathomable power. Unfathomable. It’s… uh… without fathom.”
— Megamind

Alex Marshall

alexmarshall@valdosta.edu

Junior Computer Science Major
Hi, I’m Alex! I’m the Web Editor for The Spectator. Don’t be afraid to say hi, I’m pretty friendly and almost always somewhere on campus.

Fun Fact: I love video games, and enjoy programming. I hope to make my own video game one day.

“Skyblock teaches us that no matter how ridiculous the odds may seem, within us resides the power to overcome these challenges and achieve something beautiful, that one day, we’ll look back at where we started and be amazed by how far we’ve come.”
— Technoblade, “the hypixel skyblock experience”

Shaye Sikes

slsikes@valdosta.edu

Senior Mass Media Major
Hi I’m Shaye, and I’m the Podcast Editor. Yes, we have a podcast. You should totally check it out!

Fun Fact: I’ve played 12 Zelda games.

“There is a fine line between listening and not caring. I like to think that I walk that line every day of my life.”
— Burnie Burns

Lloydrica Hudson

lrhudson@valdosta.edu

Senior Mass Media Major
Hi! My name is Lloydrica Hudson. I have been the Sports Editor for The Spectator for a year. I am also the president of the SISTUHS, INC. I am a member of NCNW.

Fun Fact: I have been a reporter for the Valdosta Daily Times for a year.

Megan Callahan

mcallahan@valdosta.edu

Senior English Major
Hi I’m Megan Callahan, and I’m the Campus Life and News Editor.

Fun Fact: In my free time, I like to watch documentaries.

Rut Labrada

rmlabrada@valdosta.edu

Senior English Major
Hi, my name is Rut Labrada! As the Arts & Entertainment Editor for The Spectator, I cover all artistic events on and off campus, and I also write a restaurant review column.

Fun Fact: My favorite classic is “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt

Mallory Taylor

malltaylor@valdosta.edu

Freshman Mass Media Major
Hello, I’m Mallory! This is my first year on The Spectator and I’m a Staff Writer. I love everything to do with writing especially in entertainment and music! Don’t be afraid to ever say hi to me I love making new friends!

Fun Fact: I love concerts, cats, and coffee.

“Never be so kind you forget to be clever, never be so clever you forget to be kind.”
— Taylor Swift, “Marjorie”

Dionte Daniel

didaniel@valdosta.edu

Junior Mass Media Major
My name is Dionte Daniel. I am a junior mass media major with a minor in journalism. I am from Gainesville, Georgia. I am the Assistant Sports Editor for The Spectator. I have a passion for sports journalism and broadcasting.

Fun Fact: Growing up, I dreamed about being a meteorologist. I enjoyed reading the newspaper with my grandma and pointing out things that I saw on the paper.

“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.”
— Kobe Bryant

Aileene-Bjork Novascotia

First Year MA Communications Major
Salutations! My name is Aileene-Bjork Novascotia, and I am a Staff Writer for The Spectator! As a person of popular culture, I primarily write things in the realm of entertainment, like reviews. You’ll most likely recognize me on campus because of my cat-ears, but I play video games, listen to records, and try and get out in my spare time!

Fun Fact: I trolled Joshua Seth, the voice of Tai from Digimon, at ThunderCon 2023.

Ailyn Quiroz

ayquiroz@valdosta.edu

Senior Interdisciplinary Studies Major with a Concentration in Psychology and English
Hello! My name is Ailyn Quiroz and I am a Staff Writer for The Spectator.

Fun Fact: I like to read, listen to music, and play video games.

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
— Marcus Aurelius

Nathalie Moreno

nmoreno@valdosta.edu

Senior Marketing and Business Management Double Major
Hiiii, my name is Nathalie Moreno and I am a Staff Writer for the VSU Spectator! I aspire to own a cat tea shop with my best friend one day, if you want to reserve your spot at the ribbon cutting let me know!

Fun Fact: I was born in a socialist dictatorship (Cuba) and have visited 5 countries!

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”
— Groucho Marx