A lifelong writer, Dena knew she wanted a career in media when being sports editor of Homestead High School's newspaper allowed her to boss around male classmates.

Since then she's gained the nickname Ledes; worked the transportation, crime and education beats for daily papers; helped publications use digital platforms to gain audience; and assisted in covering President Obama. Part-time she's earning her Masters in Media Entrepreneurship as a member of American University's inaugural program.

Her favorite journalistic endeavors so far run the gamut: A profile of a teacher attacked by a student. An investigation into an illegal land deal involving a state senator. A think piece questioning how the naming of city neighborhoods alters their fate. And a feature on D.C. residents' growing interest in the Israeli Army fighting style of krav maga.