But how did UMD internship opportunities and faculty support help Ornat launch her career and achieve early success? Her answer: say yes to every opportunity in front of you, and ask for the ones that are not yet offered.

When Ornat asked her UMD professor, Paul Brown, about an internship at Northern News Now, she did not know it would change her career. “If I wouldn’t have asked a simple question,” she says, “the trajectory would have looked different.”

Ornat loved the newsroom so much she asked to extend her internship (read about her 2025 internship). Soon after, the station invited her back full-time as a digital content manager before she had even finished her degree. She was not sure how she would balance a full-time job while being a full-time student. Recognizing the unique opportunity, Ornat approached her UMD faculty advisor, Dr. Jennifer Moore who insisted, “We’ll make it work.” She then arranged for Ornat to complete a special report at the station as an independent study. 

That targeted special report (TSR), The Camo Coalition, earned Ornat her first Emmy nomination, a rare honor for a digital content manager. Drawing on her experience in the Army and passion for supporting military members and first responders, she had many potential storylines for the report. Dr. Moore’s guidance helped shape the story by reminding Ornat to “look at one thing, one focus, and expand from there.” Ornat also credits the report’s success to the station’s photographers and newsroom team. 

Ornat graduated in May of 2026 with a major in Journalism and minors in Spanish and Arts in Media. She now pairs her work in the newsroom with a growing photography business.