The journalism major has been named the recipient of the 2025 Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship, recognizing her leadership, reporting excellence, and commitment to public service journalism.
To Assistant Professor Israel Balderas, Anjolina Fantaroni ’26 embodies the very best of student journalism at Elon University.
“Anjolina represents what we want to cultivate in our journalism program – students who have fearless curiosity, integrity and the ability to lead under pressure,” the journalism professor said. “When she arrived at Elon, Anjolina already had strong instincts as a communicator. But over the past three years, I’ve watched her grow into a confident journalist who commands the room. She exemplifies the qualities of a modern broadcast journalist – sharp, ethical and relentless in her pursuit of the truth.”
The National Press Club recently reached a similar conclusion, awarding Fantaroni – a first-generation student from Southbridge, Massachusetts – with the 2025 Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship. The award supports aspiring reporters with $5,000 annually, renewable for up to four years.
The Leadership Fellow has built a standout résumé during her time at Elon. Fantaroni spent the 2024-2025 academic year serving as the broadcast news director for Elon News Network and was recently named executive director, the student-run media organization’s top leadership position. She has produced more than two dozen broadcasts and filed award-winning multimedia stories, including her coverage of Hurricane Helene, which earned first place in Best Crisis Coverage at the National College Media Convention.
“It is unbelievable and such an honor to be recognized by the National Press Club,” Fantaroni said. “I have been familiar with the NPC for a long time because of my interest and involvement in journalism. And I’m very grateful to have my work ethic recognized on a national level.”
Balderas, who wrote a recommendation letter in support of Fantaroni’s application, noted that the rising senior’s leadership is matched by her commitment to service.
“Whether she’s producing a live newscast on Election Day or reporting on stories during her study abroad trip to Australia, Anjo has been at the center of our most ambitious student coverage,” he said. “She approaches every assignment with a public service mindset. That’s what makes Anjo so deserving of the Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship. It’s not just her talent, but her deep sense of responsibility to the truth and to the communities she serves.”
Fantaroni credits her development to the support of Elon’s journalism faculty. She expressed deep appreciation for Kelly Furnas, Alex Luchsinger, Anthony Hatcher, Rich Landesberg, Lorraine Ahearn, and Balderas, noting their willingness to offer thoughtful feedback, encouragement, and hands-on guidance beyond the classroom. Whether discussing story ideas, reviewing show layouts, or simply checking in on students’ well-being, the faculty mentorship has shaped her growth as a storyteller and newsroom leader, she explained.
“The journalism faculty here at Elon care about their students. They want us to know how to produce work that informs the community, and they give us the opportunity to seek constructive feedback that make us better journalists.”
– Anjolina Fantaroni ’26
The Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship is named in honor of the longtime Washington, D.C., journalist and is one of the most prestigious student honors in the field. In addition to financial support, recipients receive a one-year membership to the National Press Club.
“Anjolina has already demonstrated a keen sense of visual storytelling and has covered heavy topics with grace and sensitivity,” said Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club, in a June 2 award release. “She is not afraid to put in the hard work to achieve her goals, and we’re thrilled to support her as she continues her broadcast journalism studies.”
This summer, Fantaroni is interning with CBS8 in San Diego, where she has already embraced the demands of morning television. Adjusting to a new time zone and a 4 a.m. newsroom shift, she is learning new production systems, shadowing producers, and contributing to live shows by writing VOSOTs. In the weeks ahead, she will take on additional responsibilities, including building rundowns and shadowing reporters during the evening shift.
She credits this opportunity to the support of several scholarships, including the D’Angelo Family Scholarship, Lieberman-Grant Internship Award, and Maguire Family Internship Endowment, in addition to the Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship. Together, these awards have helped offset relocation costs and provided financial support for her continued education and professional development.
“I would not have been able to accept this internship without this support,” she said.
