Student journalist Rhiley Montoya has joined the News-Record as a contributor for the spring 2026 semester.
She is a senior journalism major at Tarleton State University where she is also a member of the rodeo team.
“Rhiley is one of my brightest students,” journalism instructor Austin Lewter said. “Her interest in all things equine is what led her to the News-Record. She will be working closely with editor Jessica Edwards on farm, ranch and equine stories this spring.”
Lewter is also the owner and publisher of the News-Record.
Montoya is a native of Hesperous, Colorado. She is a goat tyer at Tarleton and aspires to qualify for the College Finals in June.
She earned two Associate Degrees at Cisco College where she was Editor-in-chief of the Wrangler Express.
“I started out as a kinesiology major,” Montoya said. “But that was not for me. I love telling peoples’ stories and I am passionate about the Western lifestyle. Journalism allows me to enjoy both.”
She also works as a freelance videographer.
Montoya’s time in Whitesboro is tandem with Lewter’s Advanced Reporting class at Tarleton.
“This is our final, capstone class for all journalism majors,” Lewter said. “Each student spends the semester working a beat for a community newspaper somewhere in Texas.”
In addition to the News-Record, this year’s cohort has students at the Dublin Citizen, Comanche Chief, Muenster Enterprise, Jefferson Jimplecute, Graham Leader and Goldthwaite Eagle.
“These real-world experiences are invaluable,” Lewter said. “This is the fifth year for this course— as it is structured— and it has been beneficial to the Texas newspaper industry as a whole. We’ve been able to place several students upon graduation based upon the contacts made in the class.”
