A familiar Schuylkill County face can be seen every morning on Fox 29's daily program "Good Day Philadelphia."
City native and 2008 Nativity BVM High School graduate Kacie McDonnell, 22, joined the morning news crew as a traffic reporter in August and has since become a favorite television personality among Philadelphia residents.
Based in Philadelphia, Fox 29 covers the Delaware Valley, which includes parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
From a young age, McDonnell said she enjoyed meeting new people and being on stage, participating in dance competitions and musicals.
"It's just an interesting lifestyle and I was always wondering what's the next step."
McDonnell was also a former Miss Teen Pennsylvania International and 2007 Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival Snowflake Princess.
"That was one of my most precious memories," McDonnell said of the Winter Carnival. "It was one of the best experiences of my life. It's an unbelievable organization and pageant."
It was also a starting point for her career.
"I did my first musical that year then went on to participate in state pageants. After that, the ball just started rolling," she said.
Before graduating from Villanova University, McDonnell did some modeling work and even had some on-air experience while working for the QVC home-shopping channel in West Chester. She also appeared in several commercials for a south Jersey local car dealership, Fiat of Maple Shade.
"I think QVC helped me a lot," she said. "It got me really used to the cameras. Just understanding the technical aspect, I think that was definitely a great experience I couldn't get anywhere else."
Residing in Philadelphia, she has also been active the last several years with children's charities such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Alex's Lemonade Stand.
"I think that helped my resume. I was able to build it up with a lot of accomplishments in the community," McDonnell said.
She also credited the staff at the university.
"They have amazing teachers for on-air talent," she said.
Shortly after graduating in May 2012 with a degree in communications/journalism, McDonnell found a media coach specializing in traffic reporting and applied for jobs across the country before the opportunity at Fox 29 opened up. She also trained as a traffic reporter at Radiate Media, a media technology services company in Malverne.
She said she was thrilled when she got the phone call from Fox 29.
"It was totally over the moon. I could not have been any happier," McDonnell said.
Despite being one of the rare on-air personalities to get such an opportunity so quickly out of college, McDonnell said she was welcomed by the news crew with open arms.
"It took me a little while to get up to speed but everyone there was behind me and there to help," she said. "They were all very welcoming which made for a smooth transition."
The most difficult thing part of the job was the 2 a.m. alarm clock, she said.
"It was a culture shock at first, but I'm used to it now," she said. "I'm still able to enjoy the nightlife on the weekends."
Pronouncing street names has also presented its challenges.
"And I thought Mahantongo was bad," she said.
If she makes a mistake, McDonnell said she often hears about it from viewers on Twitter.
"I think the most amazing part of my job is that they let us totally be ourselves. It's all about our personalities," she said.
She also has great chemistry with her coworkers.
"We're so close, we're like a family," she said. "It's like I'm the little sister. If I need anything, they are there in a heartbeat."
Since getting to know the area as a college student, McDonnell said she loves working in Philadelphia.
"This city is unbelievable," she said. "I could not be happier to be here. The people are great, it's just a great city. But it's nice to come home, too."
McDonnell said she usually returns home to Pottsville once a month.
"I loved growing up in Pottsville. It made me who I am today," she said. "I love going back home and just the experiences there."
As for where to next, McDonnell said she's not sure.
"I love it here, but I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up yet," she said. "The sky is the limit and I'm just staying open to the opportunities the universe presents me with."
Although a Nativity graduate, McDonnell said she had a lot of friends at Pottsville Area High School and went to a lot of football games at both schools.
"That was definitely a starting point for my love of football. I would love to do something with that," she said, noting that the next Superbowl will be played in the area at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
As a young "skook" appearing on a major-market news channel, McDonnell offered some advice for her fellow county natives as they embark on their own careers.
"Bang on every door," she said. "You're going to hear a lot of noes and people telling you to do this instead. Take the advice but go with your gut. Knock down every door and you'll get where you want to go."