June 2,2021

Welcome and Congratulations to our

FOX61 Student News Nominees

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 History of FOX61 Student News
The FOX61 Student News is more than 25 years old, but it has had some
changes over the years.

Originally called FOX61 Kids News, we auditioned students all over

the state to record introductions to news stories. Eventually, the program
evolved into having students produce their own stories. Those stories were
aired during programming for young people in the morning and afternoons.

In the mid-1990s, along with corporate sponsors, we started awarding

scholarships to students and money for video equipment to the schools
who produced the best story during the school year. The award ceremony
drew students, teachers and family members from around the state for an
exciting afternoon.

Along with the award program, FOX61 staff would visit schools to talk
about careers in journalism, and to provide feedback to the student’s sto-
ries.

During the late 2000s, the program moved online, offering schools a
chance to show their work to anyone who could access the web.

Many students have taken part in the program over the years. Some
have used the experience to help them with public speaking and presen-
tation skills, while others have gone on to successful careers in broadcast
journalism. Will Ripley and Jessica Schneider both appeared in stories from
Manchester High School and are now reporting for CNN. Will as an Interna-
tional Correspondent based at the network’s Hong Kong bureau and Jes-
sica as a justice correspondent based in Washington, D.C. Dion Lim, from
Haddam-Killingworth High School, now works as an anchor at ABC 7 KGO
in San Francisco. Marcus Harun, from Hamden High School, now works as
a producer for MSNBC in New York.

We are proud to show the students’ stories and help their education with
this unique program.

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Watch FOX61
Student News Stories
Friday & Saturday at 7am
FOX1 Student News Stories air Friday during 7am, 5pm, 10pm hours
and on Saturday during the 7am hour, and on fox61.com/studentnews

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 Awards Ceremony Agenda

Welcome Remarks
Celebratory Messages From Invited Guests
Awards Announced
Closing Remarks

Our FOX61 Student News

Commi ttee Members
• Eileen Armas, Director of Sales
• Rob Croce, Account Executive
• Chelsea Deziel, Executive Assistant to the General Manager
• Mike Evans, Digital Sales Manager
• Trish Hesslein, Community Marketing Manager
• Freddie Matthis, Assistant Chief Photographer, News
• Barbarajean Marshall, Account Executive
• Michelle Mulligan, Local Sales Manager
• Bill Murphy, Manager, Promotions and Creative Services
• Allison Peters, Commercial Producer
• Janet Robinson, Local Sales Manager
• Doug Stewart, Producer, Digital News Content

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 Our FOX61 Student News 2021 Judges
• Eileen Armas
Director of Sales

• Rob Croce
Senior Account Executive

• Mike Evans
Digital Sales Manager

• Barbarajean Marshall
Senior Account Executive

• Keith McGilvery
Morning News Anchor

• Freddie Matthis
Assistant Chief Photographer, News

• Doug Stewart
Producer, Digital News Content

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 Erika Arias
Anchor
Erika Arias is an Emmy-award nominated anchor for FOX61,
anchoring The FOX61 Morning News weekdays from 7am to
11am. Erika joined FOX61 in 2009, and anchored the 10pm
and 11pm newscasts before joining Connecticut’s only “All
Local All Morning” news team.

Erika got her big break into television news at WPRI-TV in Providence, R.I. After
just a few months on the job, Erika found herself covering one the biggest breaking
news stories in New England: the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I. After
reporting live through the night of the blaze, Erika was the only local reporter to inter-
view a nightclub survivor, live from inside the hospital. Erika received an Emmy award
for her part in the station’s news coverage.

Erika then moved west to the bright lights of Las Vegas, where she covered the
capture of “the Ohio sniper,” the Ted Binion murder re-trial and the Bellagio blackout.
While in Las Vegas, Erika also interviewed several celebrities like Robert Redford,
Nikki Hilton, Anna Nicole Smith and Kobe Bryant. In “Sin City,” Erika also had the
opportunity to appear on the big screen, in the movie “Miss Congeniality 2: Armed &
Fabulous”. The role wasn’t much of a stretch though, as she portrayed a local news
anchor.

Then came another move, this time further west to Southern California. Erika
took a break from the news biz — but she couldn’t stay away completely. In Los
Angeles, Erika was a freelance correspondent for the Fox News Channel, where she
reported on entertainment events, including “American Idol.” She provided coverage,
interviews and live reports for FOX stations across the country, including Chicago,
Atlanta, Boston and Washington D.C.

In 2010, Erika was nominated for a New England Emmy award for news anchor-
ing.

She graduated cum laude from Northeastern University in Boston and is a mem-
ber of the Asian American Journalists Association and the National Association of
Hispanic Journalists. Although she was born in Stoneham, Mass. and raised mostly
in California, Erika has strong ties to Connecticut. Her father was born and raised in
the Hartford area, so she spent many summers as a child here visiting her grand-
parents. She’s happy to be living close to her parents and extended family in Central
Connecticut.

In her free time, Erika likes to cook, do Pilates and loves to just relax at home with
her family and friends.

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 Keith McGilvery
Anchor
Keith McGilvery is an anchor for the FOX61 Morning
News weekdays from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Prior to coming to FOX61 Keith worked at WCAX-

TV, the CBS affiliate in Burlington, Vermont. At WCAX
Keith co-anchored the Channel 3 News at 11 and co-hosted the station’s
daily talk show, “The :30.” The assignment had him doing everything from
interviewing politicians and musicians to cooking, learning Jiu-Jitsu and train-
ing for a road race. Keith also reported for the Channel 3 News at 5 and 6.

Keith’s career started at WVIR/NBC29 in Charlottesville, Virginia where he

worked as a general assignment reporter. Keith earned a master’s degree in
journalism from Emerson College. He received a bachelor’s degree in politi-
cal science and communications from Fordham University where he served
as student body president. While in New York City he interned with ABC’s
Good Morning America, 20/20 and Primetime Live.

Keith is the recipient of the Fordham College Alumni Award, recognizing

academic excellence as well as his work with the Special Olympics and other
community groups. He also received the Radio-Television News Directors
Foundation’s Abe Schechter Scholarship for his work as a young journalist
and was named a “Rising Star” by Vermont Business Magazine.

Keith loves to travel. He has backpacked across five continents and enjoys
speaking with students about his adventures. If you have a story idea or com-
munity event Keith should know about, send him an email at kmcgilvery@
fox61.com.

Keith is originally from the Boston area.

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 Participating Schools
• ACES Whitney Academy, Hamden • E. Lyme High School, E. Lyme
• Adele Clark School, Hartford • Ellington High School, Ellington
• A. I. Prince High School, Hartford • Foran High School, Milford
• AITE High School, Stamford • Global Communications Academy, Hartford
• Amer. School for the Deaf, W. Hartford • Greater Hartford Acad. of the Arts, Hartford
• Ansonia High School, Ansonia • Guilford High School, Guilford
• Ansonia Middle School, Ansonia • Haddam-Killingworth High School, Higganum
• Baldwin Middle School, Canterbury • Hall High School, W. Hartford
• Berlin High School, Berlin • Hammarskjold Middle School, Wallingford
• Bethel Middle School, Bethel • Hartford High School, Hartford
• Bristol Eastern High School, Bristol • Hartford Public Library, Hartford
• Bristow Middle School, W. Hartford • Howell Cheney Tech, Manchester
• Buckeley High School, Hartford • Illing Middle School, Manchester
• Burns Latino Studies Academy, Hartford • Irving A. Robbins Middle School, Farmington
• Capital Prep Magnet School, Hartford • Irving School, Derby
• Chase Collegiate, Waterbury • J.M. Wright Tech High School, Stamford
• Charter Oak Int Academy, W. Hartford • Jackson Middle School, New London
• Cheshire High School, Cheshire • John F. Kennedy High School, Waterbury
• Conard High School, W. Hartford • John Wallace Middle School, Newington
• Cromwell High School, Cromwell • Johnston Middle School, Colchester
• Cromwell Middle School, Cromwell • Jonathan Law High School, Milford
• Crosby High School, Waterbury • Joseph Melillo Middle School, E. Haven
• CT River Academy, E. Hartford • Journalism and Media Arts Academy, Hartford
• Danbury High School, Danbury • Kellogg Middle School, Newington
• Daniel Hand High School, Madison • Killingly High School, Killingly
• Dodd Middle School, Cheshire • King Philip Middle School, W. Hartford
• DL&AM Middle School, Waterford • Kinsella School of Performing Arts, Hartford
• E. Granby Middle School, E. Granby • Lewis Mills High School, Burlington
• E. Hampton High School, E. Hampton • Lincoln Middle School, Meriden
• E. Hampton Middle School, E. Hampton • Madison Arts Barn, Madison
• E. Haven Academy, E. Haven • Manchester High School, Manchester
• E. Haven High School, E. Haven • Masuk High School, Monroe

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 Participating Schools
• Mercy High School, Middletown • Simsbury High School, Simsbury
• Middlebrook Middle School, Trumbull • Slade Middle School, New Britain
• Middlebrook Middle School, Wilton • Smalley Elementary School, New Britain
• Middletown High School, Middletown • South Windsor High School, S. Windsor
• Mountain Laurel Sudbury, New Britain • Southington High School, Southington
• Mystic Middle School, Mystic • St. Bernard School, Uncasville
• Nathan Hale High School, Moodus • St. Christopher School, E. Hartford
• Nathan Hale Middle School, Coventry • St. Rita’s School, Hamden
• Nathan Hale Ray High School, E. Haddam • Stonington High School, Pawcatuck
• Nathan Hale Ray Mid School, E. Haddam • Suffield High School, Suffield
• New Canaan High School, New Canaan • Suffield Middle School, Suffield
• Nonnewaug High School, Woodbury • Terryville High School, Terryville
• North Branford High School, N. Branford • The Morgan School, Clinton
• Norwich Free Academy, Norwich • Thomaston Center School, Thomaston
• Northwestern Reg. #7 Middle School, Winsted • Thomaston High School, Thomaston
• Northwestern Reg. #17 Middle, Barkhamsted • Torrington Middle School, Torrington
• Notre Dame High School, W. Haven • Vernon Center Middle School, Vernon
• Orville Platt High School, Meriden • Vernon High School, Vernon
• ParaDYM Academy, New Britain • Vinal Tech High School, Middletown
• Parish Hill High School, Chaplin • W.F. Kaynor Tech. High School, Waterbury
• Parish Middle School, Chaplin • Waterford High School, Waterford
• Plainville Middle School, Plainville • West Haven High School, W. Haven
• Pomperaug High School, Southbury • West Shore Middle School, Milford
• Pulaski Middle School, New Britain • Westbrook High School, Westbrook
• Reg. #1 School, Falls Village • Weston Public Schools, Weston
• Reg. District #4 High School, Deep River • Wethersfield High School, Wethersfield
• Reg. District #4 Middle School, Chester • Wilby High School, Waterbury
• Reg. District #4 Middle School, Deep River • Wilton High School, Wilton
• Reggio Magnet School of the Arts, Avon • Winthrop Middle School, Deep River
• Rippowam Middle School, Stamford • Wolcott High School, Wolcott
• Sedgwick Middle School, W. Hartford • Woodbury Middle School, Woodbury
• Shelton Intermediate School, Shelton • Woodland Reg. High, Beacon Falls
• Shelton High School, Shelton • Woodstock Academy, Woodstock
• Shepaug High School, Washington Depot

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 Student News Nominations
Category: Feature News Award
Presented by: Erika Arias & Keith McGilvery,
FOX61 Morning News Anchors

• ACES Whitney Academy – Hamden, CT

New Bookstore Includes People of All Abilities
Dyllan Siegmund, Dylan Sutter

• Suffield High School – Suffield, CT

Suffield Agriscience Gives Boost to Gardening
Craig Gnatek, Tristan Skrorupski, Brennen Yourous

• Suffield Middle School – Suffield, CT

Women Take Flight
Claire Halasi-Kun

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 Student News Nominations
Category: Big Y’s Locally Grown Award
Presented by: Morgan Spencer, Manager of Marketing Services,
Big Y Foods, Inc.

• Norwich Free Academy - Norwich, CT

Community Coming Together Through Puzzle Pieces
Sam Frawley, Glendon Dawson

• Suffield High School – Suffield, CT

Small Businesses, Big Problem
Madeline Snell, Amelie Skerla

• ACES Whitney Academy – Hamden, CT

New Bookstore Includes People of All Abilities
Dyllan Siegmund, Dylan Sutter

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 Student News Nominations
Category: Community Events Award
Presented by: Erika Arias & Keith McGilvery,
FOX61 Morning News Anchors

• Norwich Free Academy - Norwich, CT

Black History Month Town Hall
Karen Lau

• Manchester High School - Manchester, CT

Power Up Manchester
Kathleen Regan, Carolyn Miner

• Cromwell High School - Milford, CT

Jonathan Law Race & Equity Committee
Angel Santiago, Lucas Greifzu

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 Student News Nominations
Category: CT Creative Futures Award
Presented by: Kolton Harris, Associate, CT Office of The Arts

• ACES Whitney Academy – Hamden, CT

Silver Spiral Creations is Pretty Handmade Jewelry
Richard Alexander, Manuel Cosme, Marialyz Rivera

• Bertram F. Dodd Middle School – Cheshire, CT

Playhouse Sees Bright Future
Peter Carson

• Shelton Intermediate School – Shelton, CT

Center Stage Community Theatre
Daniella Berry, Olivia Jansen, Padin Larkin, Marissa Manzo,
Ethan Oko

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 Student News Nominations
Category: CHESLA Education Award
Presented by: Natalia Rozio, Scholarship Coordinator &
Portfolio Administrative Assistant, CHESLA

• Cromwell High School - Cromwell, CT

The College Decision
Sara Gostkowski

• Irving A. Robbins Middle School – Farmington, CT

Searching for Your Engineers
Caleb Evans, Brooke Tomkiewicz, Jane Guay, Peter Mok

• ACES Whitney Academy – Hamden, CT

New Bookstore Includes People of All Abilities
Dyllan Siegmund, Dylan Sutter

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 Student News Nominations
Category: Hard News Award
Presented by: Erika Arias & Keith McGilvery,
FOX61 Morning News Anchors

• Norwich Free Academy - Norwich, CT

Community Coming Together Through Puzzle Pieces
Sam Frawley, Glendon Dawson

• Suffield Middle School - Shelton, CT

Sewage Setback at The River
Lauren Knowles

• Norwich Free Academy - Norwich, CT

Black History Month Town Hall
Karen Lau

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FOX61 Student News Reminders
Remember you can always watch FOX61 Student News stories
live during our morning, evening, and nightly news every Friday,
as well as our Saturday morning news. FOX61 Student News can
always be watched on our FOX61 news app and FOX61 News
Facebook page.

How can you and your school be a part of FOX61 Student News?
It’s as simple as emailing us at [email protected] and
telling us your name, town, and school name. We can set up an
account along with instructions to navigate your way to becoming
a FOX61 Student News member.

Teacher Workshop
Teachers can join our workshop this fall (date to be determined,
and we will observe safety protocols) and receive professional
guidance by the FOX61 News staff. During our workshop, teachers
can learn industry standards such as planning your story, shooting,
editing, writing, fact checking, reporting, as well as how to send us
your finished stories so they can air on our live broadcast. To sign
up for our workshop, please email us at [email protected].
Please remember to add your name, title, school, and how many
people you wish to attend the workshop. During the school year, we
will provide teachers with online tools, resources, and webinars.

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