Luna said she was thrilled to receive the Chula
VOLUME 23 | JANUARY 2024
sentation of underrepresented journalists. After
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Trailblazing Teen Journalist Receives Hometown Honor for Accomplishments
NICOLETTE LUNA JOINED SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE’S NEWSPAPER WHEN SHE WAS JUST 14
S
he was ACP’s 2023 National College Reporter of the Year. She recently earned a proclamation from the City of Chula Vista for her achievements in journalism. Just a few months after earning a national award for her accomplishments in journalism, Southwestern College student
Nicolette Luna has been recognized in her hometown for making a name for herself in a very short time. The Chula Vista City Council this month presented the 17-year-old student with a proclamation in recognition of her distinguished young career which has included work with the Southwestern College’s The Sun newspaper
and El Sol Magazine, and the championships before she was old recent National College Reporter enough to drive a car,” Branscomb of the Year Award from the said. AssociatedCollegiate Press. Luna said she would like to Things happened pretty quickly become part of a vanguard of for Luna, who decided in June 2020 young Latinas working to diversify to enroll in journalism classes at the American news media and Southwestern College when she was improve its representation of just 14 during the pandemic while underrepresented journalists. After still a student at Bonita Vista High high school, she hopes to move to School in Chula Vista. The dualNew York City, attend Columbia enrollment option gave her the University, work in the field of break of a lifetime when she signed magazine publication or law and up for Journalism 101 and started start her own magazine. writing for the college newspaper. From the looks of it, this recent Pretty soon, her stories were award from the City of Chula Vista LOCAL NEWS | www.LocalUmbrellaMedia.com /LocalUmbrellaMedia @LocalUmbrellaMedia earning awards and she ADVERTISE eventually | Brad@LocalUmbrella.com won’t be her last as she sets her sights took over as editor. on a promising journey ahead. Luna said she was thrilled to “Take any opportunity that receive the Chula Vista City Council’s comes your way, no matter how recognition for her work, adding that difficult it may seem,” Luna said. “It the support she received from her will be worth it.” Southwestern College journalism professor, Max Branscomb, had a lot ABOUT SOUTHWESTERN to do with her success. COLLEGE: “Receiving these recognitions Southwestern College, the only felt amazing,” she said. “ItMedia was the public institution 11of higher A Publication of Local Umbrella VOLUME 10 | JANUARY 2024 | build-up of all the hard work I education in southern San Diego put in and also the work of those County, provides services to a diverse that supported me like my family, community of students by offering a colleagues and Dr. Branscomb.” wide range of high-quality academic Don’t let Luna’s age fool you. programs and comprehensive As editor, she skillfully directed services She was ACP’s 2023 National College Reporter Vista City Council’s recognition for her work, high school, she hopes tostudent move to New York — including of the Year adding that the support received her students, City, attend Columbia University, work in through the theshework of from college some those offered distance She recently earned a proclamation from the Southwestern College journalism professor, Max field of magazine publication or law and start whom were twice her education. Southwestern College City of Chula Vista for her achievements in Branscomb, had a lot of to do with her success. herage. own Last magazine. journalism “Receiving these recognitions amazing,” Fromthree the looks of it, this recent award fromthe development year, herfelt work was awarded also stimulates Just a few months after earning a national she said. “It was the build-up of all the hard the City of Chula Vista won’t be her last as she spotsthat at the Society of on a promising and journey growthahead. of the region through award for her accomplishments in journalism, work I put in and alsofirst-place the work of those sets her sights Southwestern College student Nicolette Luna supported me like my family, colleagues and Dr. “Take any opportunity that comes your way, Professional Journalistsnobanquet, its educational, economic has been recognized in her hometown for makBranscomb.” matter how difficult it may seem,” Luna said. ing a name for herself in a very short time. Don’t let Luna’s ageand fool you. editor, she to “It will be she As was invited write anworth it.” and workforce opportunities, The Chula Vista City Council this month preskillfully directed the work of college students, SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE: op-ed inyear, the San ABOUT Diego Union community partnerships and sented the 17-year-old student with a proclamasome of whom were twice herpiece age. Last Southwestern College, the only tion in recognition of her distinguished young her work was awardedTribune. three first-place spots at The California College services.public institution of higher education in southern San career which has included work with the Souththe Society of Professional Journalists banquet, Diego County, provides services to a diverse western College’s The Sun newspaper and El and she was invited toMedia write anAssociation, op-ed piece in SanDiego community of students by offering a wide range Sol Magazine, and the recent National College the San Diego Union Society Tribune. The California of ProfessionalofJournalists, For more information, high-quality academic programs and compreReporter of the Year Award from the Associated College Media Association, San Diego Society hensive student services — including those ofand and thethe Journalism visit swccd.edu. Collegiate Press. of Professional Journalists, Journalism Association fered through distance education. Southwestern Things happened pretty quickly for Luna, who Association of Community Colleges have each of Community Colleges have each College also stimulates decided in June 2020 to enroll in journalism given Luna multiple awards. the development and classes at Southwestern College when she was “Nikki is a brilliant given and hard-working young awards. Luna multiple just 14 during the pandemic while still a student lady who is a gifted writer and leader. She led El growth of the region “Nikki is a brilliant hardthrough its educational, at Bonita Vista High School in Chula Vista. The Sol Magazine and The Sun with vision and ener- and economic dual-enrollment option gave her the break of a gy to national championships before she was old working young lady who is a and workforce opportunities, lifetime when she signed up for Journalism 101 enough to drive a car,” Branscomb said. andofleader. She ledpartnerwww.riley.photography/newborn community and started writing for the college newspaper. Luna said she wouldgifted like to writer become part a ships and services. For Pretty soon, her stories were earning awards and vanguard of young Latinas to diversify hello@riley.photography El olworking Magazine and The Sun with she eventually took over as editor. the American news media and improve its repre- more information, visit swccd.edu. vision and energy to national Luna said she was thrilled to receive the Chula sentation of underrepresented journalists. After
Trailblazing Teen Journalist Receives Hometown Honor for Accomplishments
Nicolette Luna joined Southwestern College’s newspaper when she was just 14
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