Awards Recognize Programming Celebrating CUNY Alumni and City’s Diverse Communities
Two Awards for ‘CUNY Laureates’ and One Each for ‘Nueva York’ and ‘Asian American Life’ Bring the Station’s Total N.Y. Emmy Count to 53
CUNY TV earned four New York Emmy Awards this past weekend for programming that spotlights the achievements of illustrious university alumni and documents the range of experiences in New York’s diverse communities. The awards, presented on Oct. 10 at the New York Marriott Marquis, brought the total count of awards won to 53 for CUNY’s 24-hour educational television station, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.
“As CUNY’s public television station, CUNY TV extends the University’s mission beyond our classrooms, highlighting the people, perspectives and experiences that make our city unique,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “These awards underscore the vital role the station plays in shining a spotlight on New York’s diverse communities and inspiring voices.”
“CUNY Laureates,” a documentary series that highlights CUNY graduates who went on to receive major accolades, won two awards, while “Nueva York” and “Asian American Life” received one each. The winning programs were among 17 nominations that CUNY TV garnered in this year’s awards.
“CUNY TV’s four New York Emmy wins reflect its continued commitment to telling stories that resonate with New Yorkers,” said CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Maite Junco. “We congratulate the CUNY TV team on this recognition and thank them for their work in informing, educating and connecting communities across our city.”
“It is an honor to be recognized by our colleagues in the television industry with four New York Emmy Awards,” said CUNY TV Executive Director Chiqui Cartagena. “These awards underscore the dedication of our talented staff and our ongoing mission to showcase the people, issues and stories that shape New York City.”
“CUNY Laureates” won its awards for segments spotlighting Upton Sinclair, a City College alumnus whose legacy has shaped conversations about politics, labor and food safety for over a century; and Marvin Hamlisch, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Queens College before later achieving coveted EGOT status by winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony for his work as a composer and conductor.
The winning episode for “Nueva York,” titled “Weaving Stories, Building Community,” celebrates the many stories, traditions and experiences of New York’s Spanish-speaking communities shared by the groundbreaking program over two decades on the air. The episode featured a reunion of its producers and memorable behind-the-scenes moments.
“Asian American Life” won for “Chinatown’s Next Generation,” an episode that explores how a new generation of business owners is preserving Chinatown’s rich cultural heritage while bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to the historic neighborhood.
Below is the list of winners and recognized contributors:
Business/Consumer – Short or Long Form Content
Asian American Life: Chinatown’s Next Generation
- Maria Yip-Lord– Senior Producer
- Chiqui Cartagena– Executive Director
- Ernabel Demillo– Host & Correspondent
- Vivian Lee– Correspondent
- Susan Jhun– Correspondent
- Adam LaPalio– Videographer/Audio
Historical/Cultural – Short Form Content
CUNY Laureates: Upton Sinclair – Muckraker
- Petar Talijancic– Executive Producer, Writer, Editor
News Special/Documentary – Spanish
Nueva York: Weaving Stories, Building Community
- Diana Vargas– Producer
- Alex Lora-Cercos– Producer
- Wilson Reyes– Producer
- Gisela Sanders-Alcántara– Producer
- Melissa Garay– Editor
Nostalgia – Short Form Content
CUNY Laureates: Marvin Hamlisch – The Entertainer
- Joseph Montalbano– Producer/Writer/Editor
- Petar Talijancic– Executive Producer
- Burt Miller– Graphics
CUNY TV is the 24-hour, non-commercial television station of The City University of New York, dedicated to extending the University’s academic, cultural and intellectual life to the broader public. CUNY TV reaches over 7 million households in the New York metropolitan area and offers original, independent programming that reflects the diversity and complexity of the city. With a strong commitment to serving underserved and underrepresented communities – including Black, Asian and Hispanic audiences – the station produces a wide range of arts and culture, educational and public affairs shows in both English and Spanish.
