2026 Presidents Medallion
Vanesa Hoxha Earns the President’s Medallion, One Story at a Time
If you had told Vanesa Hoxha during her freshman year that she would one day receive the President’s Medallion Award for the School of Communication, she probably would have smiled and called it a dream.
She still remembers sitting in her UVID 101 class, scrolling through Loyola’s website and stumbling across the award. “Wow… imagine earning that one day. Imagine how proud my parents would be if I was the one to receive it.” At the time, it felt far away. Prestigious. Almost untouchable. But what drew her in was not just the recognition. It was the criteria: Leadership. Scholarship. Service.
Those three words were not new to Vanesa. They were values she had already been living.
Starting Her Story
As a Multimedia Journalism major, Vanesa quickly found her rhythm in spaces that allowed her to elevate others. Through Rambler Sports Locker, she focused on telling human-centered stories. In student organizations, she built community. In the classroom, she asked thoughtful questions and stepped into conversations that connected global issues to local lives. Whether she was moderating a live discussion in the Convergence Studio or emceeing a campus event, she showed up prepared and grounded.
At the heart of it all is a simple belief. “I believe knowledge carries responsibility.” For Vanesa, journalism is not about spotlight. It is about service. It is about making truth accessible. It is about using your voice in ways that build bridges rather than walls.
A Journey of Growth at Loyola
She describes Loyola as a place where reflection, purpose, and identity all came together. Over time, she grew more confident not just as a communicator, but as a leader. “I know my freshman year self would be extremely proud of the woman I’ve become.”
That growth is exactly what the President’s Medallion Award recognizes. Not perfection. Not performance. But character. Consistency. The way someone shows up for their community.
Vanesa has never chased visibility for its own sake. She has focused on impact. And in doing so, she has become the kind of leader others look up to.
This year, the School of Communication proudly celebrates Vanesa Hoxha as its President’s Medallion Award recipient. And somewhere, that freshman version of Vanesa is smiling.
If you had told Vanesa Hoxha during her freshman year that she would one day receive the President’s Medallion Award for the School of Communication, she probably would have smiled and called it a dream.
She still remembers sitting in her UVID 101 class, scrolling through Loyola’s website and stumbling across the award. “Wow… imagine earning that one day. Imagine how proud my parents would be if I was the one to receive it.” At the time, it felt far away. Prestigious. Almost untouchable. But what drew her in was not just the recognition. It was the criteria: Leadership. Scholarship. Service.
Those three words were not new to Vanesa. They were values she had already been living.
As a Multimedia Journalism major, Vanesa quickly found her rhythm in spaces that allowed her to elevate others. Through Rambler Sports Locker, she focused on telling human-centered stories. In student organizations, she built community. In the classroom, she asked thoughtful questions and stepped into conversations that connected global issues to local lives. Whether she was moderating a live discussion in the Convergence Studio or emceeing a campus event, she showed up prepared and grounded.
At the heart of it all is a simple belief. “I believe knowledge carries responsibility.” For Vanesa, journalism is not about spotlight. It is about service. It is about making truth accessible. It is about using your voice in ways that build bridges rather than walls.
She describes Loyola as a place where reflection, purpose, and identity all came together. Over time, she grew more confident not just as a communicator, but as a leader. “I know my freshman year self would be extremely proud of the woman I’ve become.”
That growth is exactly what the President’s Medallion Award recognizes. Not perfection. Not performance. But character. Consistency. The way someone shows up for their community.
Vanesa has never chased visibility for its own sake. She has focused on impact. And in doing so, she has become the kind of leader others look up to.
This year, the School of Communication proudly celebrates Vanesa Hoxha as its President’s Medallion Award recipient. And somewhere, that freshman version of Vanesa is smiling.