Baptiste Raffin, Editor-In-Chief
Baptiste is a French international student studying to become a TV host. He joined The Messenger to get his foot in the journalism world and gain valuable experience. A fun fact about Baptiste is that he already has a French Master’s degree in Public and Media Information and Communication. He can also watch almost anything on TV, going from the new Hallmark movie to college football in one second.
Before becoming the Editor-In-Chief, Baptiste was the News Editor for the Spring of 2025.
Seth Lampton, Managing Editor
The town Seth considers home is KCMO, and he graduated from Park Hill High School. He joined The Messenger because he saw it as an opportunity to get his foot in the world of journalism and make a name for himself. A fun fact about him is he is also a drummer, snowboarder, and climber!
Before becoming Managing Editor, Seth was the Sports Editor for the Spring of 2025.
Aubrey May, Managing Editor
Aubrey couldn’t be more excited for the future of The Messenger! She’s from Olathe, Kansas, and graduated from Olathe West in 2024. After JCCC, she plans to transfer to KU where she plans to major in Communication and minor in Journalism. Aubrey joined The Messenger because she loves all things journalism, and wants to help tell more stories from the incredible students and staff at JCCC. A fun fact about Aubrey is that she was Little Miss Wheelchair Kansas 2016, and she has a Children’s book written about her and her experience with participating in theatre as a disabled individual.
Before becoming Managing Editor, Aubrey was the Copy Editor for the Spring of 2025.
Sammie Magee, Reporter
Sammie is a Journalism major in her first semester at JCCC. She is a previously homeschooled student from Louisburg, and she is beyond excited to be at JCCC. Sammie was drawn to major in Journalism after starting her toy drive, Sammie’s Toy Drive, for the Uvalde, Texas community. She hopes to be able to tell people’s stories in a respectful, empathic way. In her free time, Sammie enjoys playing with her eight cats, or working on her fish tanks.
Mya Roberts, Reporter
This is Mya’s first year at JCCC and she is majoring in Liberal Arts, focusing on journalism. She has a background in journalism from her years on her high school’s newspaper staff and she is so excited to be working with The Messenger. In her free time she loves to read, watch TV, and hang out with her friends and family. You’ll probably catch her working, she’s there all the time. Mya is genuinely so excited to help others learn through her writing for The Messenger and gain lots of experience.
Shayna Mitchell, Video Production Editor
Shayna is a Liberal Arts major, focusing on Film and Media studies. Based out of Missouri, Shayna started out as a freelance photographer and videographer for The Messenger and eventually worked her way up to Video Production Editor. Her main interests and hobbies include videogaming, theatre, filmmaking, writing and roller skating. Shayna joined the Messenger to help hone her photography/videography skills and to help The Messenger get our name out there and known more on campus and in the community!
Israel Montantes, Videographer
Israel is a student with a focus on Journalism and Film. He has lived in Olathe for the past 7 years. He enjoys films/TV, old Xbox games, and embracing the vibe that the KC area offers. He joined The Messenger as a videographer and has tried to bring a focus from the student perspective.
Zach Jewell, Podcast Production Editor
Serving as the podcast editor for The Messenger, Zach couldn’t be happier. Currently studying Liberal Arts, Zach plans to attend a four-year college after their time at JCCC. After taking a class on podcast production, Zach was introduced to the world of journalism and hasn’t looked back since. Some of the hobbies Zach likes to engage in are: playing video games, Dungeons & Dragons, musical theater, and collecting trading cards. Interestingly, they also collect Monopoly sets, currently owning nineteen different varieties. Zach is committed to letting students, or people in general, have a platform to express their voices.
McKenna Daugherty, Copy Editor
McKenna didn’t start the year with The Messenger in mind, but once she heard about their copy editor position, she knew she had to go for it. She’s currently focusing on her gen-eds at JCCC, and plans to transfer to KU’s William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Fall 2026. Her main interests include music (particularly singing), writing, reading, and animation. Above all else, she loves that she gets to help the writers on staff bring out the best in their writing.
Chastity Stemmons, Social Media Production Editor
Chastity brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of media savvy to The Messenger. A familiar face from Fox 4 KC, Great Day KC, and The Dr. Oz Show, she’s no stranger to the spotlight or to motivating the masses. Chastity is a returning student to Johnson County Community College with a focus on Journalism. When she’s not on-air or behind the scenes creating scroll-stopping content, you can catch her hanging out with her children, friends, and adorable dog Miss Violet. Chastity loves inspiring others and creating content that truly connects.
Mckenzie Hollinshed, Social Media Reporter/Main Mic Co-Host
Mckenzie grew up in Olathe, Kansas and is a Liberal Arts major focusing on journalism. She’s aspired to be a reporter her whole life after constantly watching the news as a kid, making sure never to miss a broadcast. She joined The Messenger on a whim but thinks it is one the best decisions she’s made. Not only is she a reporter but also works as the Co-Host of The Messenger’s podcast. Her passions go beyond journalism as she enjoys baking her time away in the kitchen hoping to find the time to share her desserts with the world.
Before becoming Social Media Reporter, Mckenzie was a written reporter for the Fall of 2025.
Maisy Lowers, Senior Designer & Editor
Maisy is in the Graphic Design program and originally from Salina, Kansas. She has an associates in English and a background in theatre. In her free time she enjoys writing, video essays, improvisational comedy, and cozy video games. She joined The Messenger for hands-on design experience and the ability to collaborate with others. She now lives in Shawnee with her partner and their two cats.
