Reflections Magazine Issue #81 - Fall 2014 | Page 10

Feature Article

‘The Next Right Thing’
Carolyn Donaldson Brings a ‘Zest’ for Life as TV News Anchor

C

arolyn Welniak Donaldson ’82 is used to the spotlight – both on camera and off. The longtime news anchor for
WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Pa., nicknamed “Zest” by her family, not
only has a zest for the news business, but also for the community in which she lives.
“I am most gratified, as part of our news team, when we are
able to bring our views and members of our community meaningful stories that have or could impact their lives,” said Donaldson, who has anchored at WTAJ for nearly 20 years. “There
is no greater reward than ‘doing the next right thing’ as my
husband (Robert) and I and now our grown daughters (Elisabeth and Sarah) try to embody and live each day.”

10 | Reflections Fall ’14

By Doug Goodnough

Her broadcasting career actually blossomed from a corporate sales career after she graduated from Siena Heights with a
double major in theater/speech communications and business
administration/management.
“My Folgers coffee sales days armed me with invaluable
time management and marketing skills,” said the Toledo, Ohio,
native, who first moved to central Pennsylvania when she
managed a sales territory for Proctor and Gamble. “When the
opportunity presented itself to move into broadcasting at the
local TV station, I welcomed the challenge of reporting and
anchoring weather.”