Ana Agudelo, a reporter and writer at Hunter College, has been awarded the Jack Newfield Investigative Journalism scholarship, an honor recognizing students committed to advocacy-driven reporting.
The Jack Newfield Investigative Journalism scholarship honors the late Jack Newfield, who dedicated his life to advocacy. Newfield spent his life investigating, reporting, and being a lighthouse for other reporters and journalists.
Agudelo was not expecting the news.
“I emailed the department to make sure,” she said, admitting she initially thought the award notification was a scam.
Though surprising, the recognition reflects years of dedication to storytelling. Agudelo’s passion for journalism is rooted in her love for English and literature. For her, journalism is where creativity and truth meet.
“It’s intertwining my love for literature and English and being able to tell stories that are true,” Agudelo said. “To get the voices of those who aren’t heard out into the public.”
That mission has guided her work in her personal life and across campus. From rising the ranks of The Envoy – from reporter to co-editor-in-chief – to contributing to WHCS Radio, Agudelo has consistently searched for platforms that highlight underrepresented voices. Since childhood, she has connected to this through dance as well, always finding different mediums to relate with her audience.
Agudelo sees her future in magazine journalism, where photography, marketing, and writing intersect. She hopes to combine creative expression with factual reporting – not just sharing information, but shaping it into stories that resonate.
Classes such as Magazine Writing and Feature Writing helped her see how her literary background could merge with her passion for journalism. And in New York City, she feels she is exactly where she needs to be.
“I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon,” she said.
For Agudelo, journalism is more than delivering facts. It is a responsibility to ensure that stories are told accurately and that unheard voices are brought forward.
Agudelo plans on spending her summer researching and writing with the funds she received. Although she is unsure of her exact topic now, she knows she will give it her all.
