Photo By The Sun Staff
Edited by Alfonso Julián Camacho
Some records may never be broken.
Incomparable achievements by Wilt Chamberlain, Joe DiMaggio, Lionel Messi and Simone Biles will likely stand the test of time.
Nicolette Luna has pushed her way into the conversation as a college journalism GOAT. Her unprecedented feat of leading Southwestern College El Sol Magazine to three consecutive Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Awards – the college Pulitzer Prize – while a high school student may never be replicated.
Luna was a dual-enrolled Bonita Vista High School student when she joined the journalism program as a 14-year-old during the summer between her freshman and sophomore years. Her first ever article, on gun violence in San Diego County, won state awards competing against university students. She became Editor-in-Chief of El Sol Magazine as a 15-year-old high school sophomore and led her staff to five national championships.
As a 16-year-old junior Luna did it again. She also started accumulating national awards for news, feature, arts and editorial writing, a total that surpassed 100 during her three years at Southwestern. Luna stunned academic journalism leaders and peers when she was named ACP’s National College Reporter of the Year for work she did as a 16-year-old junior at BVHS. She is the only student in ACP’s 105-year history to win college journalism’s most prestigious individual award while still in high school. She also won the coveted Dr. James Julian Award for Service to the Community from the San Diego Press Club that year, the first college student or high school student to do so.
In October 2024, El Sol XIV was named College Magazine of the Year by all five organizations that present that award, including its third straight Pacemaker. She was honored by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Chula Vista City Council and Southwestern College Governing Board for her achievements.
Her advisor said she earned every accolade.
“Nikki is an absolutely brilliant young lady,” said journalism professor Dr. Max Branscomb. “I feel blessed to have run into a genius like her. She is also one of the hardest working people I have ever met, at any age. Nikki has a burning desire to learn and to improve. That will serve her well as she studies at UC Berkeley and enters her career.”
Sun Editor-in-Chief Alexa Lima, one of Luna’s mentors in the journalism program, also had an impressive year. A returning student, Lima led The Sun to a Pacemaker as well as national titles from the Society of Professional Journalists, National Newspaper Association and American Scholastic Press Association. She is the winner of the College Media Association’s 2024 national championships for Diversity Writing and Coverage for Faith for her poetic feature about the 2024 Southwestern College Powwow entitled “Good Day to be an Indian.” Her sprawling profile of 15-year-old singer-songwriter Rosie Hamblin – the first Chicana rock star – was republished in Times of San Diego.
“Alexa is a talented writer and leader,” said Branscomb. “She runs a diverse staff with vision and high expectations. She is kind and patient, but firm when she needs to be. She models professionalism. Look back at Southwestern College publications from 2024. The product speaks for itself.”
Lima said student journalists at The Sun rose to the occasion last year.
“The entire year of 2024 was an incredible journey for the staff of The Sun and El Sol Magazine,” she said. “Our team wrote impactful stories that kept college leadership accountable and our community informed. It is a privilege to work with such a dedicated and professional staff. I am so proud of the way our team has upheld its commitment to the truth.”
STUDENT JOURNALISM HIGHLIGHTS, 2024
The Southwestern College Sun
Pacemaker Award, the collegiate Pulitzer Prize (Associated Collegiate Press, Minneapolis)
Best of Show (ACP, Minneapolis)
Best College Newspaper (National Newspaper Association, Pensacola, FL)
Most Outstanding College Newspaper (American Scholastic Press Association, College Point, NY)
Louis E. Inglehart First Amendment Award (College Media Association, NY)
Best Organizational Diversity Initiative (CMA, NY)
Most Outstanding Service to the Community (ASPA, College Point, NY)
Gold Medal Award (Columbia Scholastic Press Association, NY)
Best Two-Year College Newspaper (California Newspaper Publishers Association, Sacramento)
Best College Newspaper (California College Media Association, Sacramento)
Pacesetter Award (Journalism Association of Community Colleges, Sacramento)
Newspaper General Excellence Award (JACC, Sacramento)
Best College Newspaper (San Diego Press Club)
Best Collegiate Publication (San Diego Chapter, Society of Professional Journalism)
El Sol Magazine XIII
Pacemaker Award, the collegiate Pulitzer Prize (Associated Collegiate Press, Minneapolis)
Best of Show (ACP, Minneapolis)
National Pinnacle Award, Best College Feature Magazine (College Media Association, NY)
National Collegiate Magazine of the Year (Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Columbia, SC)
Gold Crown Award, America’s Best Student Publication (Columbia Scholastic Press Association, NY)
Most Outstanding College Magazine (ASPA, College Point, NY)
Most Outstanding Service to the Community (ASPA, College Point, NY)
Best College Magazine (California College Media Association, Sacramento)
Magazine General Excellence (JACC, Sacramento)
Best College Magazine (San Diego Press Club)
Best Collegiate Publication (San Diego Chapter, SPJ)
NOTABLE INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Diego Higuera, National College Reporter of the Year (4th) (ACP)
Camila Gonzalez, Ernie Pyle National Feature Profile Story (2nd) (Ernie Pyle Foundation, ACP)
Emily Ingco, National Sports Game Story of the Year (ACP)
Nicolette Monique Luna, National Feature Story of the Year (ACP)
Liliana Anguiano, National Editorial of the Year (ACP)
Nicolette Monique Luna, National Arts Story of the Year (ACP)
Alicia Rivero, Informational Graphic, (ACP)
Alfonso Julian Camacho, Ivan Medida, Yanelli Robles, Outstanding Newspaper Design, (ACP)
Alexa Lima, National Diversity Story of the Year (CMA)
Ivan Medida, Best Magazine Spread (CMA)
Morgan Jacobson, Juan H. Estrada, Yanelli Robles, Newspaper Front Page Design (CMA)
Julio Rodriguez, National Sports Column of the Year (CMA)
Juan H. Estrada, National Sports Feature of the Year (CMA)
Alexa Lima, National Award for Best Coverage of Faith (CMA)
Iyarie Murguia, Outstanding Investigative Reporting (CMA)
Robert Navarro, Outstanding Editorial Cartoon (CMA)
Iyarie Murguia, Outstanding Special Section (CMA)
Camila Gonzalez, Mark of Excellence National Award for Feature Photo (SPJ)
Ailyn Dumas, MOE Award for Best News Photography (SPJ)
Laney Norman, MOE Award for Best Illustration (SPJ)
Ailyn Dumas, MOE Award for Best Photo Essay (SPJ)
Juan H. Estrada, MOE Award for Multicultural Story (SPJ)
Anahy Gutierrez, Most Outstanding Arts Criticism (ASPA)
Iyarie Murguia, Most Outstanding Service to the Community (ASPA)
Edmundo Godinez, MOE Award for In-Depth Reporting (SPJ)
Laney Norman, MOE Award for Photo Illustration (SPJ)
Anahy Gutierrez, National Critical Review of the Year (NNA)(professional category)
Yanelli Robles, Best Use of Photography (NNA)(professional category)
Emily Ingco, Juan H. Estrada, Best Sports Section, (NNA)(professional category)
Juan H. Estrada, Preserving Local History Award, (NNA)(professional category)
Nicolette Monique Luna, Outstanding Performing Arts Story, (NNA)(professional category)
Iyarie Murguia, Best Special Section, (NNA)(professional category)
Ailyn Dumas, Nicolette Monique Luna, Best News Special Section, (NNA)(professional category)
Camila Gonzalez, Best Educational Story, (NNA)(professional category)
Ewan Toledo, Best Literary Story, (NNA)(professional category)
Nicolette Monique Luna, Bonitafest Leadership Scholarship
Razylin Avendano, Emily Ingco, Diego Higuera, Southwestern College Student of Distinction Award
Nicolette Monique Luna, May 13, 2024 declared “Nicolette Monique Luna Day” by Southwestern College Governing for unprecedented national achievements in journalism and outstanding leadership in the community.
