Alex Thomason is currently a sophomore at the University of Tennessee.  He plans to major in journalism and electronic media with hopes to become an editor.  Thomason plays music with two local groups, the Orange Roots and Spades Cooley.  He can play seven instruments and is self-taught on all of them.  Outside of music, Thomason is employed by Texas Roadhouse.  He works in the kitchen and, on average, gets about 38 hours a week.  He has earned an employee of the month award and is a certified kitchen trainer for the company.  Thomason worked as a reporter for his high school newspaper in Maryville, TN.  He later became the editor of the news section.