Alumna Nicole Alarcon is becoming no stranger to success at award shows, having added a New York Emmy to her list of impressive honors in her young career.

Alarcon, a Media Studies graduate and Mercy class of 2022, was part of a News 12 team that won on Oct. 11 in the Arts/Entertainment-News (no production time limit) category for the story, Threaded Journey. She shared the Emmy with her news team of Frank Bruce and Sara Gibek.

“I feel incredibly honored to have won my first Emmy Award doing what I love most: storytelling! A passion that first took shape at The Impact News, the news publication that prepared me for my very first job in journalism and ultimately led to this award and many others,” she said.

“Carlos Bautista Biernnay grew up in a time of darkness where art was his only escape,” she wrote in the article.

 Biernnay, a Chilean artist who lives in Newport, was born under Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. He challenges his memories, and rediscovers them, by honoring his mother, grandmother, and the women of his community by making art, threading, and weaving. He describes being an artist as “jumping into a pool with no water,” but that sensation motivates him to create every day.

“Stories like Carlo’s are incredibly important,” she said. “Diversity in local news matters…now more than ever,” she wrote on her LinkedIn.

As an undergraduate at Mercy while writing for The Impact, she won two New York Press Association awards. She took second place in two categories, column writing and editorial writing.

Alarcon has never stopped being a voice for the voiceless. She categorizes herself as a journalist with a knack for reporting on the underrepresented voices and societal issues in the region, with her goal of crafting stories that inform, inspire, and drive change.

“While the future of local news feels uncertain, we must fight to preserve these stories, support our local news staff, and most importantly, uplift those who report with passion.”

After Alarcon graduated from Mercy in 2022, she spent a few months freelancing before landing a full-time position as a real-time editor at News 12. Two years later, she was promoted to Digital Content Producer.

From September 2020 to May 2022, she was a staff writer for the Mercy University news publication, The Impact, where she served as the Associate Editor and wrote a column titled Planeta Borboleta.

“I’m also deeply grateful for the unwavering support and guidance I received throughout my journalism studies at Mercy. I especially want to thank my professor and mentor, Michael Perrota, and the entire Communication and Arts Department for their invaluable mentorship,” said. “I’m proud to share this achievement with the Maverick community.”

Perrota was thrilled when he heard about the award victory that Friday night. But he was not surprised.

“She is one of the most talented storytellers I have been fortunate enough to have in a classroom. She had a desire to succeed from day one. And she rose fast because she understands the importance of preparation and hard work.”

He said he remembers her deep diving into message boards, chat rooms and documents while she was a student at in his classes. “She put forth the extra effort for everything she ever did. And now the fruits of her labor are paying off.”

Six months ago, Alarcon won her first professional award. She received top honors at the Gracies Awards in the Interview Feature Category for Local News with her story of “You Stand, I Sit.” It tells the inspiring story of 12-year-old Aydin Artis and his journey navigating life with spina bifida. It also highlights how his mother, Michelle Artis, became the author of a children’s book titled I’m Different, based on Aydin’s life and experiences.

She was inspired to write the book after noticing how people often stared at Aydin in public. Her goal was to turn those curious stares into opportunities for understanding and connection. What she didn’t expect was that the journey would become a heartfelt project and a bonding experience with her son.

The Annual Gracie Awards are presented by The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and are named after the late radio host, Gracie Allen. For more than 40 years, the organization has recognized outstanding work created by women on topics about women.