Samantha Smerechniak joined the ABC Big 2 News team and KPEJ Fox 24 in March 2021 as an MMJ.

She’s very excited to make the Lone Star State home after spending the past two years in Reno, NV as a morning reporter and fill-in anchor. In her time there, she covered everything from breaking news and major wildfires to glamorous events like the Miss USA pageant.

Samantha is originally from Queens, NY. She found her passion for journalism as a teenager while studying television and theatre at Fiorello H. Laguardia High School which is known as the ‘Fame’ school in Manhattan. 

After graduating, she moved to Boston where she majored in Broadcast Journalism. A highlight of Samantha’s college experience was getting to work in the newsroom for ‘CBS This Morning’ in London. She also got to work at Fox Business Network and helped produce the show ‘Making Money.’

Samantha has moved around a lot and is so excited to start the next chapter of her career in Midland/Odessa. She’s a huge foodie and can’t wait to check out the awesome BBQ that you can’t find up north. If you have any recommendations for great restaurants or other adventures nearby, please reach out and let her know! Contact her at ssmerechniak@kmid.tv.