Five Towns College has announced its outstanding performance at the 2025 Press Club of Long Island (PCLI) Media Awards Dinner, held on June 5 at Fox Hollow in Woodbury, NY. Representing the college at this distinguished event were faculty members Professor and Department Chair Holli Haerr and Professor Brigette Boyle, and students Jeff Kramer, Fernando Gomez, and Daniel Garcia.

Competing among peer colleges and universities across Long Island and alongside leading professional news outlets, Five Towns College students received top honors in two of the event’s most competitive categories:

• Best College TV Broadcast (1st Place) was awarded to Promote the Vote 2024, produced in Prof. Haerr’s advanced broadcast classes. The program, which aired on The Record Online, featured a dynamic team of student journalists, including Daniel Garcia (producer), Jeff Kramer, Fernando Gomez, Stephen Cooney, Tyler McCready, Alexis Mack, Jena Chambers, Thomas DiSalvo, Madelyn Llanes, Sydney Mountain, Jose Rojas, Aaron Jones, Winter Petracca, and Anthony Deus.
• Best College TV Reporter (1st Place) went to senior Daniel Garcia, who earned the top honor for the second consecutive year. His compelling storytelling and on-camera reporting, including pieces like NYC’s Bryant Park Winter Village boasts holiday fun for all, continue to set a high standard in student journalism.

“I am extremely proud of our students for their wins in these two categories. I think it really shows the quality of work our Five Towns College Mass Communication students can do,” said Prof. Holli Haerr, Chair of the Mass Communication Department at Five Towns College. “This is the first year we’ve done serious election coverage, including Promote the Vote and our first ever live coverage on election night. Students Daniel Garcia and Jeff Kramer were interested in informing students about the issues, and I think it was great experience for all the students who worked on those projects.  I’m thankful for them for their leadership on this. I’m also excited that Daniel has won best college TV reporter for a second year in a row. His hard work and dedication have really paid off and can hopefully inspire other students as well.”

The Press Club of Long Island, a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists founded in 1974, is dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights, promoting ethical journalism, and fostering excellence in reporting across Long Island.

Five Towns College is honored to be recognized by such a respected organization and applauds its students and faculty for their creativity, commitment, and professional growth.

About Five Towns College: Located in Dix Hills on Long Island, Five Towns College has been educating creative students for over 50 years. Dedicated to musicians, artists, filmmakers, and performers, and scholars, the College offers hands-on programs led by industry professionals. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and other national organizations, Five Towns College prepares students for careers in music, business, multimedia, and the performing arts. Its graduates have gone on to succeed at top companies in the music, media, and film industries. For more information, visit www.ftc.edu