Rafael Anguiano

Uncomfortable behind the camera, Diana Castillo prefers to be in the spotlight, anchoring and reporting for LVTV 3. It was her interest in this facet of broadcast journalism that led to her recognition by the Good News Foundation, a non-profit organization led by five leading Los Angeles newswomen, who awarded her the prestigious Ruth Ashton Taylor Scholarship.

Alex Senyo
Staff Writer

Diana Castillo, a senior broadcasting major, received the very prestigious and high profile Rush Ashton Taylor Scholarship last Saturday.

The ceremony was held at exclusive Hanger 8 at the Santa Monica Airport and hosted by the Good News Foundation. Castillo was awarded $6,000 to further her studies for her exceptional work in broadcast journalism.

Additionally, at the stage presentation, she was lauded with high praise before the nearly 1,000 attendees from some of Los Angeles’ biggest names in television news.

The Good News Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by the women of Los Angeles television news, is dedicated to changing the lives of people in need and at risk in the greater Los Angeles area.

The event, held Oct. 4, was called the High Flying Fundraiser.

Awards included the Good News Makers of the Year, Good News Lifetime Achievement, Good New Grant and the Good Works Grant, as well as Castillo’s Ruth Ashton Taylor Scholarship.

Castillo, an Upland resident, said she was honored to receive a scholarship and one that offers so many connections.

“The doors are definitely opening for me,” Castillo said.” It doesn’t hurt knowing the top five reporters in L.A. They basically took me under their wing.”

Ruth Ashton Taylor was a broadcast journalist with a career spanning more than 50 years. Most notably, she was the first female newscaster on television in Los Angeles and the West Coast. She is known as an influential woman in the field.

“She’s just the best there is,” Castillo said.” I was able to sit next to her. Words can’t describe how I felt sitting next to her and talking to her.”

Pat Harvey, co-chair for the Good News Foundation and on-air anchor for Channel 9 news, gave the opening statement for Castillo, with Taylor standing alongside.

“She jumps out at us,” Harvey said. “You can tell she’s just not a journalist who wants to be in front of the camera. She is a female of substance, and if we’re going to pick our replacements, we might as well have a big hand in who takes our places.”

The noon event was full of Los Angeles’ best and most famous faces on television.

Tickets cost $150 with the proceeds going to charity. Wallis Annenberg, vice president of the Annenberg Foundation, underwrote the entire fundraising event. A keynote speech came from 93-year old Kirk Douglas, who also received a stage award.

The leading ladies of the foundation include Wendy Burch, former reporter at KABC and the founder/chair person of the Good News Foundation, Harvey, Christine Devine, on air anchor, Fox 11 News, Dorothy Lucey, host of Good Day LA, Fox 11 and Ana Garcia, on air anchor for Channel 4 News.

All were clad in red dresses at the event. A fashion show, presented by Cole Haan, was held.

NBC’s weatherman Fritz Coleman even stepped up to the catwalk to strut his stuff.

A high end silent auction and a live auction were held. Guests also received a gift bag at the end of the night.

“It was really high level,” said George Keeler, professor of journalism, at ULV. Keeler and his wife attended the event to honor Castillo’s achievement.

Michael Laponis, professor of communications, said he was proud to hear about Castillo’s accomplishment.

“Diana’s been very involved in lots of different ways and very proactive about her education and her career. She’s been able to really put her skills to work in covering local news stories, and I think it’s great she was honored with a scholarship to continue her studies,” Laponis said.

Castillo could not say enough about her afternoon and how thankful she was.

“Anyone you could think of was there—reporters, anchors, it was amazing. It was amazing just being there. I’ve been adopted into their family,” Castillo said.

Keeler said the one thing that should be taken away from this experience, not just for Castillo, but for all students, is the power of scholarships.

“Take the risk,” Keeler said. “Apply. The long and short is apply for scholarships and the recognition that comes with them.”

Castillo is the president of the ULV student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Her newly achieved scholarship is not the first in her academic career.

She has also won the Ruben Salazar Scholarship from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and as a student at Upland High School, received a scholarship from the Inland Chapter of CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California.

Castillo said the University of La Verne’s name was also recognized in a prestigious way at the event—up on the big screens and in the foundation’s magazine.

She said she won the competitive scholarship in a student pool that included many students from the University of Southern California and Pepperdine University.

“They mention the Univer­sity of La Verne,” Laponis said. “So right there, people hear the name of the school and see it in the context of a very skilled and capable broadcast journalism student. It’s definitely not only a good thing for Diana but also for the University and the communications department.”

Alex Senyo can be reached at alexander.senyo@laverne.edu.