SHU Alumni Bring Home 2023 Emmy Awards

Recipients thank professors for preparing them for award-winning careers

The 2024 award season is here and eight Sacred Heart University alumni of the School of Communication, Media & the Arts (SCMA) are polishing their 2023 Emmy Awards for their work in sports broadcasting. They are a testament to SHU’s ability to prepare students for successful careers.

Five of the alumni won Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Studio Show—Daily for their work on ESPN’s SportsCenter. Among them is Miranda Branco ’20, a video editor who graduated from the SCMA sports communication & media (SCM) program.

“Words can hardly express the overwhelming emotions that came with receiving this award,” said Branco. “I am filled with gratitude. The journey to this moment was arduous, and I don’t take a day for granted. The SCM ’20 cohort holds a special place in my heart. We navigated through the challenges of the beginning of the pandemic, emerging more resilient. The invaluable support of my SCM professors and the enduring friendships I made during that time made me grow.”

Camila Cayere Diaz ’20, an SCM graduate with a concentration in sports broadcasting, won the same award for her work as stage manager for ESPN’s nightly sports program. “The opportunities and the doors that Sacred Heart and SCM opened for me were key to my success. I continue to use the skills I learned there every day in my career,” said Cayere Diaz.

Brianna DiMaggio, a 2019 SCM graduate, received the award for her role as SportsCenter associate producer. “It’s humbling to be recognized on such a large scale, regardless of winning or losing,” said DiMaggio. “The team of people who work on SportsCenter is unmatched, and I’m extremely grateful to be a part of it. I’ve dreamt of this for so long and have worked extremely hard, so I don’t take a moment for granted.

DiMaggio also received an Emmy in 2019 for her work at the MLB Network.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without Sacred Heart and the SCM program,” DiMaggio continued. “Learning from industry professionals in the classroom and out in the field gave me all the tools I needed to jump-start my career. The opportunities are endless, and the staff is there to guide you every step of the way. They want you to succeed, and it shows.”

Cody Jones ’19, also an SCM graduate, walked away with his second Emmy for Outstanding Studio Show—Daily. The SportsCenter content associate said, “It’s been extremely humbling to be a part of two Emmy Awards. It serves as a great reminder of how fortunate I am to work in this field and to produce content alongside countless talented individuals at ESPN.

“I owe so much of my career success to the sports communication and media graduate program at Sacred Heart. Professors [Brian] Thorne and [Paul] Pabst, Dr. [Andrew] Miller and others taught me many of the skills I use at ESPN. The SCM grad program at SHU is, without a doubt, one of the best in the country, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.”

Jack Sullivan ’19, MA ’21 also won the Outstanding Studio Show—Daily award as a SportsCenter content associate. Sullivan majored in communication as an undergraduate student before earning his master’s degree in sports communication & media.

“It felt rewarding receiving an Emmy. Our show is like a well-oiled machine: so many people contribute to make it what it is, and it’s amazing to see what types of content we can produce nightly,” said Sullivan.

“SHU prepared me for these moments,” Sullivan added. “The SCMA and sports communication & media program offered opportunities and internships that relate to what I do each day at ESPN. Professors cared about my future; they’d push me to be better every chance they had, and it sparked a love for production. I didn’t need a spark for loving sports since that has always been my passion. There is a laundry list of people to thank—SHU professors and alumni who have helped me get to this position.”

One alumnus landed an Emmy in the Best Studio Show—Daily category for his SportsCenter work: Eric Diaz ’14, a show producer who earned his master’s degree in communication from SHU.

NBC Sports and WISN: Outstanding Live Special and Outstanding Craft

Victoria Balarezo ’19, MA ’20 won her Emmy Award for work as an associate producer at NBC Sports. A graduate of the SCM master’s program, she won in the Outstanding Live Special category for coverage of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games.

Dario Melendez ’08, who majored in media studies at SHU and is the sports director at WISN in Milwaukee, WI, won his Emmy for Outstanding Crafts Achievement as On-Camera Talent—Sports Anchor.

“It’s a really proud moment for me. It was my third Emmy but my first in an individual category. Plus, I was up against some extremely talented fellow sports journalists. It’s an honor to have received this award,” Melendez said.

“I could never have accomplished any of the amazing things I’ve been able to do in my career without Sacred Heart,” he continued. “When I was there, we didn’t have a fancy studio or all the cool gizmos and gadgets the students have today. But we had amazing professors who cared and invested in us—who wanted to see us succeed. I owe everything to them and the University.”

Brian Thorne ’05, instructor in the SCM graduate program and SHU’s resident Emmy winner with two awards to his name, knows first-hand how his students feel. “I could not be happier for our SHU alumni who received Emmy Awards this year,” said Thorne. “It is a testament to their abilities and work ethic. In any profession, is wonderful to be recognized for your achievements. However, the thrill of winning your first Emmy is unmatched in my experience. When you receive that specialized case, with that pristine golden Emmy Award inside, it is a moment that these young men and women will never forget. The growing number of Emmy-Award-winning alumni that we have speaks volumes about the quality of instruction at this university and the commitment to excellence by my colleagues at Sacred Heart.”

Andrew Miller, communication studies department chair, said the numerous awards are proof that SHU has become a national leader in sports communication education. “We are tremendously proud of our alumni’s achievements and their successful careers in the sports media industry,” Miller said.

Pictured, from left, are Miranda Branco, Camila Cayere Diaz, Brianna DiMaggio, Jack Sullivan, Cody Jones and Dario Melendez.