HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Lawrence Herbert School of Communication students won top honors in five categories at the 50th national Gracie Awards for exemplary news programming.

Among the winners was Melinda Rolls, a Journalism from Merrimack. Melinda won in the category of Public Affairs [Radio-Student] for excellence in anchoring and producing the weekday program Newsline on WRHU-FM Hofstra University..

The prestigious honor, awarded annually by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF), recognizes work by, for, or about women in television, radio, and online media on the national, local, and student levels. Hofstra students have taken home multiple Gracie Awards for the last 11 years.

“We are enormously grateful to the Alliance for Women in Media for once again honoring so many of our students,” said Mark Lukasiewicz, a broadcast veteran and Dean of The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. “This recognition is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and journalism, and its vital importance for new generations in these challenging times.”

The local and student winners of the 50th Annual Gracie Awards will be celebrated in New York on June 18, 2025, at Cipriani 42nd in New York City. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is a charitable nonprofit that creates educational programs and scholarship initiatives to benefit the public and women in the media.

The Herbert School’s multiple wins at the Gracie Awards exemplify Hofstra’s commitment to student success, a pillar of the Hofstra 100 strategic plan, introduced by Hofstra President Susan Poser in fall 2024.

The Herbert School is a nationally recognized leader in educating students with the skills they need to not only launch successful careers today but also to shape the media landscape in the years to come. For more information, visit hofstra.edu/herbert.

Hofstra University’s primary mission is to provide a quality education to its students in an environment that encourages, nurtures, and supports learning. At Hofstra, new ideas take shape through collaboration, engagement, and interaction. Hofstra students create their success with small classes and dedicated faculty, alongside a beautiful campus, plus all the opportunities of New York City within easy reach.