T-Squared: Generation Excellent

The best thing about interns is that they become ex-interns — they leave the nest and learn to fly on their own, and in many if not most cases they soar. It's fun to watch, but more than that, it's inspiring. It gives me hope, and it should give you hope, too. Especially at a time when all we hear is negativity and pessimism about the future of journalism.

Over the last three-plus years, our intern program, run expertly by managing editor Brandi Grissom, has brought us and all of you in contact with some extraordinary young men and women. The vast majority have been college students in and/or from Texas, but we've been fortunate enough to rope in a few out-of-staters from places like Yale, Stanford, The New School, Boston University and, of course, Northwestern (so brags the proud alumnus). Whatever their provenance, they returned home with great experience at producing real reporting — and, ideally, a few clips from The New York Times.

After a recent visit from one of our earliest interns, Andrew Kreighbaum ("Kreighbaum!"), now of the McAllen Monitor but for a while on staff at the Laredo Morning Times, I asked Brandi for an update on the whereabouts of as many of our baby birds as she could find. It's so gratifying to see how well they seem to be doing, at least based on their current gigs.

Becca Aaronson — Texas Tribune
Sarah Acosta — Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Arianna Auber — Austin American-Statesman
Sam Bacarisse — Office of State Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville
Sean Beherec — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Beth Brown — San Antonio Express-News
Taylor Cammack — Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Claire Cardona — The Dallas Morning News
Bobby Cervantes — Politico
Julie Chang — Beaumont Enterprise
John Wayne Ferguson — Galveston Daily News
Alexa Garcia-Ditta — Center for Public Policy Priorities
Christopher Smith Gonzalez — Galveston Daily News
Tristan Hallman — Intern, The New York Times
Christopher Hooks — Gothamist
Susannah Jacob — Editor, The Daily Texan
Andrew Kreighbaum — McAllen Monitor
Dan "DTI" Leyendecker — Facebook
Ioanna Makris — Beaumont Enterprise
Erin Mulvaney — Houston Chronicle
Ryan Murphy — Texas Tribune
Aziza Musa — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
David Muto — Texas Tribune
Kosaku Narioka — Wall Street Journal (Japan)
Hollie O'Connor — San Antonio Express-News
Allen Reed — Bryan-College Station Eagle
Gerald Rich — Intern, KUHF
Elizabeth Titus — Politico

The next great interns are a semester or two away from joining us  — we're certain of it. Perhaps you have what it takes (or know someone who does)? Email Brandi at bgrissom@texastribune.org, or check out our online application.