McKeesport Area High School Launches Tiger Talks Podcast
June 10, 2025
From left: McKeesport Area High School principal Mr. Eric Harper is interviewed by sophomore Ava Dixon and freshman Brody Vivis.
Photograph by Ava Dixon
Every year the Red and Blue Student Newspaper student contributors pick a project to work on throughout the year, with a culminating end of year rollout and celebration. Each project has become a little more challenging, and the 2024-2025 project proved just that, but with great success.
The students decided to create a podcast called Tiger Talks. They wanted to focus on student life and provide a platform for voicing the student perspective because they felt that a student's voice is not always heard.
It was important for the students to participate in the process from beginning to end, which included choosing topics, writing scripts, interviewing subjects, and editing content, which would enable the students to eventually become autonomous in that process. We are all very excited to see what the future holds for Tiger Talks.
- Kerri Bryer, McKeesport Area High School English and Journalism Teacher.
Junior Nie‘Zhay Jefferson and Senior Katie Odenthal with facilitator Casey Georgi. Jefferson and Odenthal discussed classroom culture and it its impact on students ability to learn.
Sophomore Makenzie Yeager, freshman Brody Vivis, and sophomore Ava Dixon interviewed students, high school principal Mr. Eric Harper, and teacher Mrs. Michele Richardson in the cafeteria to get their opinions on the dress code at school.
Junior Jonovan Melendez and sophomore Tristan Nesbitt wanted to explore extracurriculars at the high school and discuss opportunities for new ones. Jonovan and Tristan interviewed the school’s dean and former McKeesport Area High School student Mr. Dana Brown and teacher Mr. Dave Reed.
Senior Savia Kawalski interviewed with two high school mental health professionals: Mrs. Kelly Mursch Kosor who is a guidance counselor at the high school, and Mrs. Sherri Geyer who retired last year as a long-time guidance counselor.
(left to right) Seniors Mekhi Stinson, Nazcir Ball, Tyrus Bennett and freshman Taylor Lewis are all competitive athletes, so chose to explore high school athlete experience on their podcast.
