Cara Kelly joins

Watauga

Democrat staff
From Staff Reports

The Watauga Democrat welcomed a fresh face to its ranks recently after Appalachian State University graduate Cara Kelly joined the staff.

Kelly, a 2008 double-major graduate, will assume the duties of staff writer Caroline Monday, who will be leaving for China to teach English.

A native of Summerville, S.C., Kelly will write about non-profit groups, county education issues and ASU news.

Kelly earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science and graduated from the university’s honors program, writing her thesis about the religious and political climate of Turkey.

No stranger to community journalism, Kelly’s byline may be familiar to readers since she has already written several freelance stories for Mountain Times Publications over the past year.

“I believe that covering non-profits and education for The Watauga Democrat will prove to be a great first job for me,” she said.

“I am very excited to give the charitable organizations in the area the coverage they deserve and need to complete their generous programs. It is also a great time to be working with the school system as they transition with several new staff members and are completing momentous construction projects such as the new high school.”

In addition to her honor’s work and freelance duties, Kelly managed to find time to coordinate public relations for the Kappa Delta sorority on campus.

“We’re simply thrilled to have a graduate of such high caliber filling a role that will require a wide-range of journalistic skills,” editor Jason Reagan said. “Cara had already proven to be a capable, talented writer months before we decided to hire her. We couldn’t be happier.”

“Education and community service are two powerful twin engines driving our economy and way of life in Watauga County,” he added. “I’m confident Cara will be able to ably report on both.”
To contact Cara Kelly, e-mail at cara@mountaintimes.com.