July 22, 2025 – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) recently presented its first-ever Ñ Award for Excellence in Education Journalism to Jessica Harkay, education reporter for The Connecticut Mirror. The new award, created with support from the College Board, was presented during the 2025 NAHJ Conference & Expo in Chicago.
Harkay’s winning story, This Hartford Public High School grad can’t read. Here’s how it happened, chronicles the experience of Aleysha Ortiz, a Puerto Rican student who graduated with honors and enrolled in college—despite never learning to read or write. By memorizing lectures and adapting in extraordinary ways, Ortiz revealed both her own resilience and the structural failures of the Hartford school system.
“This story really shows the importance of diversity and representation,” Harkay said in a thank-you video shown at the Ñ Awards luncheon. “ I was able to tell this story because my source saw a little bit of herself in me, and I saw a little bit of myself in her and that really developed the trust to be open and vulnerable and be willing to tell that story … and know the impact it could have on our community.”
The other two finalists for the 2025 Education Journalism Ñ Award were:
Kavitha Cardoza, for A superintendent made big gains with English learners. His success may have been his downfall, published by The Hechinger Report and palabra.
Tara García Mathewson, for California banned bilingual education for almost 20 years. It still hasn’t recovered, published by CalMatters.
Together, the three finalists tackled urgent issues at the intersection of education, language, and equity—from the dismantling of bilingual programs to the challenges of leading change in multilingual districts. Watch the Education Award finalists highlight reel
“We’re honored to support the journalists who are making a real impact through their storytelling,” said Priscilla Rodriguez, Senior Vice President for College Readiness Assessments at the College Board, which sponsored the new award. “We wanted to recognize journalism that goes beyond headlines—stories that offer depth, insight, and humanity to the realities of Latino communities. And that is exactly what this story provided.”
The Ñ Awards, presented annually by NAHJ, celebrate outstanding journalism that brings depth, context, and cultural understanding to Latino issues and communities. This year’s ceremony featured 12 awards across categories including investigative, student, audio, and visual journalism.
About NAHJ
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States, dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ works to increase the number of Latinos in newsrooms and to promote fair, accurate, and inclusive coverage of Latino communities.
For more information, visit NAHJ.org or follow us on X @NAHJ.
Press contact: Andrew Sherry, press@nahj.org, (315)954-7571