"Thanks to the one-on-one attention and guidance I received from the professors at RCC, I learned about the transfer programs and scholarships available to me."

With a self-imposed bedtime of 8:00 p.m., Lisa Reyes ’96 regularly misses parties and her favorite T.V. shows. But as anchor/reporter at News 14 Carolina, she must report to work at 4:30 a.m. in order to greet the audience she has grown to love. "I like the idea of people waking up to me and learning what's happening first thing in the morning while they get ready for work, or get their kids ready for school."

Graduating North Rockland High School, RCC was not in her original plans. "I was one of those kids who thought I was ready to leave home, but in fact, I wasn't." After a semester at another college, she returned home to figure out what she really wanted to do. RCC seemed the best option for her. "Going here helped me grow up and focus on my career goals. Thanks to the one-on-one attention and guidance I received here from the professors, I learned about the transfer programs and scholarships available to me." Her long-time interest in media's role in world affairs attracted her to New York University's journalism program, where she transferred with a scholarship.

After graduating magna cum laude from NYU with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism, Reyes took a job at a Time Warner affiliate as a news assistant and segment producer. Her reporting career began at KBIM in Roswell, New Mexico where her coverage of wildfires earned her an award for Best Breaking News from the New Mexico Associated Press.

Since then, Reyes has fired a WWII howitzer, sat in a tank at an anti- terrorist training camp, and interviewed celebrities like Mariah Carey, Bruce Willis and Taye Diggs on the red carpet. In her free time, when she’s not busy flying around in police choppers, she indulges in her love of cooking, especially Puerto Rican fair, and dancing, winning first place in a local celebrity salsa contest.

Reyes, a proud Puerto Rican, covers stories facing the growing Hispanic community. She worked closely with police to break a story about prostitution houses popping up in East Charlotte. After a fatal drunk driving accident, Lisa spoke with the accused man in Spanish as he asked the family for forgiveness. "Every once in a while I get to be a part of history or justice being served, and that's very fulfilling."

Janice Goldstein ’83, Coordinator, Multi-Media Production Center, received this note from Reyes: "I have to tell you if it wasn't for you and Robert Delaney nurturing and guiding me in the right direction, I wouldn't have had the courage to apply to NYU. I know Delaney passed away a few years ago and I never did get to thank him for everything he did. I wanted to make sure you knew how valuable my education at RCC was, especially on the production side."

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