Legacy in the Making
For Vanesa Hoxha, 2025 was all about leaving her mark. A Loyola senior with deep Chicago roots, Vanesa knew she wanted her final year to be unforgettable—and it was.
With six productions recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Chicago/Midwest Chapter—including a Crystal Pillar win for her Talent Reel—and three nominated by the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA), Vanesa didn’t just participate in student journalism. She helped define it.
Vanesa Hoxha records a segment for her broadcast show inside the School of Communication’s Convergence Studio.
Her work ranged from hard news to human interest storytelling, each piece grounded in purpose and place. One project that stood out most for her was Know Your Rights Movement, a documentary-style segment filmed in Pilsen that spotlighted grassroots efforts to educate immigrants on their legal protections. The piece, deeply informed by Vanesa’s desire to create light amid darkness, stood out as a career highlight. "It was probably one of my favorite pieces that I’ve produced and wrote at Loyola."
"It was probably one of my favorite pieces that I’ve done at Loyola," Vanesa said. "I wanted something that was going to be Chicago-centric because I grew up here. I want to stay here, I want to work here. So that show was kind of like me talking directly to my city."
She also reported for UpClose Immigration, another Pilsen-based segment exploring immigrant experiences, and anchored Windy City Watch, a student-run broadcast focused on delivering timely, Chicago-first news—a rare shift from the university’s sports-heavy media landscape. Vanesa took pride in helping launch the program and steering it toward coverage that reflected the real-life issues of her city.
Vanesa Hoxha gathers ideas for her next story while journaling in the courtyard outside Loyola Chicago’s Water Tower Campus.
Against All Odds was another passion piece—a profile of a young athlete navigating life with a rare illness. Found through TikTok and reported through sheer initiative, it revealed Vanesa's instincts as a self-starting journalist who cares as much about people as she does reporting.
There’s a throughline in all her work: drive, heart, and a fierce pride for the city that raised her.
"I want to keep telling stories here,” she said. “This city has shaped me, and now I kind of get to shape it back."
Vanesa credits much of her drive to mentors like the late Professor Hood, who first encouraged her to enter the talent reel category. Vanesa now carries that torch forward.
“Winning the talent category feels like more than an achievement… it feels like a moment Professor Hood would smile at. I know she’d be proud — and that means everything to me.” It’s a victory Vanesa doesn’t see as hers alone, but one deeply rooted in the legacy of those who came before her.
Story by Destiny Woods • Photos by Paige Lynn • Dec., 2, 2025
Legacy in the Making: Vanesa Hoxha's Chicago Storytelling Journey
Her work ranged from hard news to human interest storytelling, each piece grounded in purpose and place. One project that stood out most for her was Know Your Rights Movement, a documentary-style segment filmed in Pilsen that spotlighted grassroots efforts to educate immigrants on their legal protections. The piece, deeply informed by Vanesa’s desire to create light amid darkness, stood out as a career highlight. "It was probably one of my favorite pieces that I’ve produced and wrote at Loyola."
"It was probably one of my favorite pieces that I’ve done at Loyola," Vanesa said. "I wanted something that was going to be Chicago-centric because I grew up here. I want to stay here, I want to work here. So that show was kind of like me talking directly to my city."
She also reported for UpClose Immigration, another Pilsen-based segment exploring immigrant experiences, and anchored Windy City Watch, a student-run broadcast focused on delivering timely, Chicago-first news—a rare shift from the university’s sports-heavy media landscape. Vanesa took pride in helping launch the program and steering it toward coverage that reflected the real-life issues of her city.
Against All Odds was another passion piece—a profile of a young athlete navigating life with a rare illness. Found through TikTok and reported through sheer initiative, it revealed Vanesa's instincts as a self-starting journalist who cares as much about people as she does reporting.
There’s a throughline in all her work: drive, heart, and a fierce pride for the city that raised her.
"I want to keep telling stories here,” she said. “This city has shaped me, and now I kind of get to shape it back."
Vanesa credits much of her drive to mentors like the late Professor Hood, who first encouraged her to enter the talent reel category. Vanesa now carries that torch forward.
“Winning the talent category feels like more than an achievement… it feels like a moment Professor Hood would smile at. I know she’d be proud — and that means everything to me.” It’s a victory Vanesa doesn’t see as hers alone, but one deeply rooted in the legacy of those who came before her.