Sophia Cardona ’26 and Kaia Wright ’25 were recognized by the Society for Professional Journalists for their work with The Flagler College Gargoyle. The awards were presented on Aug. 29 in Fort Lauderdale.
Cardona was recognized for her story, “As Immigrants Grow Fearful Over Their Safety, Health Concerns Escalate,” which examined how fear surrounding immigration enforcement has affected immigrants’ willingness to seek health care. Through interviews with immigrants, health care providers, and advocates, Cardona explored how uncertainty surrounding immigration policy can create barriers to medical care and contribute to broader concerns about health and safety.
The recognition adds to a standout year for Cardona, who graduated from Flagler in May with a degree in Digital Media Production and Journalism and a minor in Strategic Communication. During her time at Flagler, she developed a passion for reporting on underrepresented issues and was selected as one of 32 students nationwide for the 2026 Pulitzer Center Campus Consortium Reporting Fellowship. Her fellowship project focused on Cuba’s aging population and the challenges facing older adults.
“This award means more than recognition of my work. To me, it means that people are paying attention to important issues such as immigration and the impacts ICE raids have on human beings,” Cardona said. “I feel a huge sense of responsibility anytime someone talks to me about their struggles or their fears. These conversations are not easy, but they are incredibly important to show the reality behind headlines and statistics.”
For Cardona, that responsibility is ultimately about making sure the people at the center of her reporting feel seen and heard.
“I am very honored to have received this award, but the best reward is when those that I interview say things like, ‘Thank you for telling my story,’ or ‘Thank you for caring.’ Those comments reassure that the work I am doing is honest and necessary,” Cardona said.
Wright, a member of Flagler’s Class of 2025, was named a finalist for “Uncovering Historic Black Cemeteries in West St. Augustine.” Her reporting examined the neglect and erasure of historic Black cemeteries in St. Augustine, including the Pinehurst and San Sebastian cemeteries, while highlighting efforts to preserve and recognize these important sites.
“As a journalist, I believe it is our job to shine light on stories that so often go untold. I am honored to receive this award and hope that it continues to bring to life the untold stories of my community and encourage others to do the same,” Wright said.
For Wright, the impact of the story has extended far beyond its publication, shaping her experience throughout college and into the beginning of her career.
“This one story has led me through college, my first internship, and my career. I will forever be grateful to the people who not just let me tell their story, but inspired me every step of the way,” Wright said.
For The Gargoyle, the two finalists add to a successful year of student journalism. The publication earned a total of seven awards for the 2025-26 academic year, further highlighting the depth and impact of Flagler’s student-produced journalism.
Together, Cardona and Wright’s work reflects the power of student journalism to amplify underrepresented voices and uncover stories that matter to the communities Flagler students call home.
“Both Sophia and Kaia were incredibly talented journalists who are already finding success in professional media. They’ve always focused on underreported stories, and I’m most proud of the fact that they won awards for covering something as important as race and underrepresented communities,” said Brian Thompson, director of publications and faculty adviser to The Flagler College Gargoyle.
