Ӱ̳ senior Laken Kincaid ’24 is the 16th recipient of the 2024 NBC/Ӱ̳ “Meet the Press” Fellowship, a nine-month position with the top-rated Sunday morning public affairs program and the longest-running television program in the world.
Exclusive to Ӱ̳ students, the NBC/Ӱ̳ Meet the Press Fellowship honors the legacy of Tim Russert ’72, who passed away in 2008 following more than 16 years at the helm of “Meet the Press.” The University’s Department of Communication also bears his name.
Receiving the Meet the Press fellowship is the ultimate dream come true. I have wanted this opportunity for years and consistently worked to place myself in a position where I would have a chance to one day call it mine. This is everything to me and I am forever grateful for my mentors and support systems.
Kincaid, of Beckley, West Virginia, is the Editor-in-Chief for The Carroll News. They are a senior at Ӱ̳ who is double majoring in political science and communication (digital media) and minoring in leadership development.
Dr. Brent Brossmann, Chair of the Tim Russert Department of Communication, says Laken’s work ethic at Ӱ̳ has earned them this fellowship.
“Laken is an ideal candidate for Meet the Press. They blend all the skills the show could ever desire. A strong passion for politics with tremendous talent in reporting, writing, researching, truly understanding the role of news in contemporary society,” said Brossmann.
Four years ago, Laken told me they wanted to become the perfect candidate for Meet the Press and then spent four years honing the skills to try and make that dream a reality. We had great candidates for this, but ultimately, the people who run the show noticed that Laken really stood out.
Kincaid has written for The Carroll News since the start of their freshman year and has previously served as a staff reporter, campus section editor, and managing editor. They have received 18 Best of SNO awards, a Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence award for Region 4, and two honorable mentions from the College Media Association. Universities like Georgetown have also recognized them for investigative reporting. Kincaid also writes political satire for The Hilltop Show and feature stories on global poverty for The Borgen Project.
In addition to their involvement with The Carroll News, Kincaid is active with the Kappa Delta Sorority, the Speech and Debate team, the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI), and the Improv Club, among other organizations. They also serve as the news director for WӰ̳ 88.7, Ӱ̳'s radio station, and president for Ӱ̳'s Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Kincaid started their own national nonprofit organization known as Art with the Elderly which they have won the President's Volunteer Service Award and the Humanity Rising Award.
When not writing, Laken leads graphic design projects at an internship with Union Home Mortgage and works as a resident assistant and peer learning facilitator on campus. Laken also enjoys skiing and watching true crime documentaries.
In the future, Laken hopes to become a political journalist for a national news organization or a campaign commercial editor for politicians.
Learn more about the fellowship and see where the previous fellows are now by visiting the webpage.
