The Chula Vista City Council in December presented 17-year-old Nicolette Luna with a proclamation in recognition of her distinguished young career for her work with Southwestern College’s The Sun newspaper and El Sol Magazine. Nicolette earned the National College Reporter of the Year award in the Two-year School category from the Associated Collegiate Press.
Luna enrolled in journalism classes in June 2020 during the pandemic while still a student at Bonita Vista High School at 14-years-old. This dual enrollment landed her in Journalism 101 and started writing for the college newspaper earning awards for her articles, and eventually took over as editor and chief.
Luna said she was thrilled to receive recognition from the city council for her work, saying that the support she received from her journalism professor Max Branscomb had much to do with her success.
“Receiving these recognitions felt amazing,” she said in a press release. “It was the build-up of all the hard work I put in and also the work of those that supported me like my family, colleagues and Dr. Branscomb.”
As editor, she directed the work of college students, some twice her age. Last year, her work was awarded three first-place spots at the Society of Professional Journalists awards and was invited to write an op-ed piece in The San Diego Union Tribune.
The California College Media Association, San Diego Society of Professional Journalists, and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges have each given Luna multiple awards.
“Nikki is a brilliant and hard-working young lady who is a gifted writer and leader. She led El Sol Magazine and The Sun with vision and energy to national championships before she was old enough to drive a car,” Branscomb said.
Luna said she would like to become part of a vanguard of young Latinas working to diversify the American news media and improve its representation of underrepresented journalists. After high school, she hopes to move to New York City, attend Columbia University, work in the field of magazine publication or law and start her own magazine.
“Take any opportunity that comes your way, no matter how difficult it may seem,” Luna said. “It will be worth it.”
