Meet WBHM’s Interns
Fall 2012 Interns
Anjali Wagle
Meet Anjali Wagle, a dreamer. Dreaming a simple dream – mostly involving food.
A sophomore pre-medical student majoring in Neuroscience and Chinese, Anjali’s interests range from obsessing over Harry Potter to running from her golden retriever pup, Rani. Although she lives in Gadsden, she went to high school at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham. This one hour commute gave her plenty of time to catch up on the news by listening to WBHM.
While Anjali has worked many jobs including being a sales representative at King Cotton, a teacher at the McWane Center, and an auctioneer assistant, you can usually find her at the library studying for an organic chemistry test or practicing writing Chinese characters. Anjali hopes to gain more journalism experience to help her in her future narrative medicine endeavors. Anjali Wagle lives her life one day, one dream, and 1-4 coffees at a time.
Summer 2012 Interns
Will Dahlberg
As WBHM’s Morning Edition Intern, Will Dahlberg happily spends the early summer mornings writing, rewriting, and then rewriting local news and headlines for Tanya Ott.
Will moved to Alabama in the fall of 2011 from northern Vermont, where he had spent most of his life. A graduate of Hiram College, he is currently writing the final draft of his M.A. thesis for Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. His love of public radio started as a teenager– he first started listening while working at a piano and organ restoration business.
While he has worked many various jobs including landscaper, bartender, newspaper journalist, and housing administrator, he now balances his internship while finishing his thesis, working at a restaurant, writing an oral history book, and longing to squeeze in a few minutes tinkering with his vintage military motorcycle with a sidecar.
Remaining time is spending having fun with his girlfriend Katherine and her daughter, Marley. Both of them, thankfully, tolerate his crazy schedule. They all live together in West Homewood.
Walker Kennedy
As a rising sophomore at Bowdoin College in Maine, Walker Kennedy spent a fair share of his first year at WBOR, the student-run station. Returning home to Birmingham for the summer, Walker hopes to gain more radio experience at WBHM to help him in his new role as WBOR’s new Music Director.
Aditi Jani
By day, Aditi Jani is a WBHM intern, but her nights and weekends are spent studying for cell biology, writing science research papers, and throwing pots – a skill that she is tragically far from mastering.
A junior majoring in molecular biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Aditi is a member of the Early Medical School Acceptance Program and the University Honors Program. While her interests range from narrative medicine and science education to pandas and traveling, she hopes to pursue a career in academic medicine. Born in London and raised in Birmingham, Aditi has listened to WBHM for most of her life. With her passion for education and interest in journalism, she hopes to increase public awareness in the fields of science and medicine.
When she is not working at WBHM or doing something science-related, Aditi enjoys reading books that are not found in the teen-bestseller section and running/walking (mainly walking) with her rather chubby chocolate Labrador, Seina.
Amber Ritchie
Amber Ritchie is a UAB junior from Gadsden, AL. She majors in Journalism and minors in Philosophy. She works in promotions and booking at the Bottletree Café. She writes for UAB’s student newspaper, The Kaleidoscope, and is a DJ for Indie Hour on UAB’s BlazeRadio. She is also a volunteer advocate with Rape Response at the Crisis Center of Birmingham. She is an avid music lover and is extremely excited to work with Tapestry at WBHM. She hopes to move to Nashville, TN, after graduation to pursue a career in music journalism and continue work in a music venue. She loves reading, music, writing, traveling, and her two cats, Sylvia and Grendel.
Em Wiginton
Em Wiginton’s history with public radio started somewhere around the age of eleven, when she discovered her love for A Prairie Home Companion and chose “garrisonkeillor” as her first online screen name. It blossomed into a beautiful and meaningful relationship years later, when her history teacher assured her that the government would cut NPR’s funding before Em ever had a chance to work there. Em now works as an intern at WBHM, where she enjoys completing small writing/editing tasks and decorating her desk with Hello Kitty stickers.
Em attends Hayden High School, a comically small facility in the boondocks of Alabama. Although she spends most of her time there glaring threateningly at her peers, she also takes part in marching band and scholars’ bowl. She plans on attending UAB in the fall of 2013, where she hopes to major in communications.
When she’s not down at the station, Em spends her free time selling coffee at farmers’ markets and pursuing her numerous silly interests, including comic books, girl bands, rooting through thrift stores for old dresses, writing, and exploring the city of Birmingham.
Secretary of State investigating Bessemer for potential voter fraud
While rumors of election fraud or irregularities have lingered in the city for years, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill confirmed to WBHM his office is looking into allegations of voter fraud in Bessemer this election cycle.
Local health officials plan to increase monkeypox vaccinations
Health officials will soon begin offering intradermal vaccinations, reaching more people with less vaccine.
Some 3rd graders in local schools could be held back under new law
This is the first school year that third graders who do not read at grade level by the end of the school year must be held back in that grade, rather than passed on to fourth grade. The Alabama Literacy Act was passed several years ago, but its implementation was delayed because of the pandemic.
How one Birmingham custodian preps for the first day of school
When the kids are away, the custodial and maintenance staff in schools work all summer long. One custodian told WBHM about what it takes to keep the kids happy and healthy as they trade sunshine for fluorescent lights.
Dollar store workers are organizing for a better workplace. Just don’t call it a union.
Fired up by a labor movement that’s seen big union victories recently, dollar store workers are organizing in their own way to improve work conditions.
Bill Clark has a knack for making comebacks. Will he make one more?
Bill Clark has had to overcome some serious hurdles during his career at UAB, as well as in his personal life. He not only resurrected a football program that had been neglected—and then out-right killed—he’s also been fighting through what he’s called a serious injury since childhood.
