Nicholls’ Department of Mass Communications celebrated two students winning the New Orleans Association of Black Journalists $5,000 scholarships at the second annual Jazz Brunch on Saturday.

The ceremony took place at the Cannery of New Orleans, featuring great atmosphere, food and a chance to win auctioned prizes.

Sydney Hubbard, La Pirogue editor, and Shamar Moses, KNSU TV station manager, won the scholarship to help fund their college careers and storytelling.

Hubbard expressed gratitute toward the organization for its generosity and to Chris Singleton, Colonel Media Group advisor, for his guidance.

“I am so grateful to NOABJ for this award and for the opportunity,” Hubbard said. “I’m so happy to have Chris Singleton as a professor. I could not have done it without his letter of recommendation and his advice.”

Moses shared how he felt the moment he received the awarded scholarship.

“It felt good,” Moses said. “The fact that my hard work and dedication were recognized was heartfelt, to say the least. This group (NOABJ) is a sign that as black journalists we are no longer coming but we are here now.”

All attendees experienced networking with the industry at the event, as well as meeting other legends who were honored by NOABJ. 

Those who were honored at this jazz brunch for the Legacy Awards were Furnell Chatman, Will Sutton, Andre Trevigne and Sabrina Wilson. 

They also awarded “Unsung Hero” to Willie Wilson, who was the first African American news photographer at WWL-TV.