Journalism student earns 2026 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement
When Israel Cardona Hernandez moved from Mexico to the United States during his final semester of high school, he left behind family, friends and the familiarity of home. The loneliness he experienced eventually helped him discover how he wanted to serve others: through radio journalism.
“Radio, in particular, holds a unique power,” Cardona Hernandez said. “It is the most intimate form of mass communication, a constant companion that makes people feel less alone.”
Radio was a steady presence throughout Cardona Hernandez’s childhood, but his personal experiences gave the medium a deeper purpose. His parents divorced when he began middle school, and he struggled to express the sadness and resentment he felt. Over time, he learned communication could be a source of healing and connection.
Moving to the United States presented another challenge. Separated from family and friends, Cardona Hernandez initially struggled with loneliness. He eventually found a sense of community through his aunt and uncle’s church and developed a faith that continues to guide his work and service.
The COVID-19 pandemic also pushed him beyond his comfort zone. He met people online, exercised and learned new skills, experiences that helped him become more confident expressing himself.
“The teenage version of myself who once struggled to communicate can now express ideas, emotions and truths through a medium that reaches others with authenticity,” Cardona Hernandez said.
On Sept. 21, the California State University announced Cardona Hernandez was selected as one of 22 students (one from each CSU campus) to receive the 2026 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement and will receive a $8,000 scholarship.
Established in 1984, the CSU Trustees’ Award is the university system’s highest recognition of student achievement. It recognizes students for academic excellence, personal accomplishment, community service and resilience in the face of hardship.
Cardona Hernandez and the other honorees will be recognized during the CSU Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
A first-generation college student at Fresno State, Cardona Hernandez is a junior majoring in media, communications and journalism with an emphasis in broadcast journalism. He has maintained a 3.97 GPA while gaining experience in English- and Spanish-language journalism across the Central Valley.
Cardona Hernandez hosted two programs for Radio Bilingüe, a Latino public radio network serving Spanish-speaking audiences. He also produced three 30-minute programs for Fresno State Focus Radio and contributed content to Fresno State Radio.
In 2025, a simple email asking about internship opportunities led him to KVPR, the NPR affiliate serving the Central Valley. He reported for the station’s broadcast and digital platforms, producing on-air reports, feature-length audio stories and web articles. His performance during the internship earned him a part-time reporting position while he continues his studies.
Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado, KVPR news director, said Cardona Hernandez’s language skills and cultural knowledge have strengthened the newsroom’s reporting and helped it build trust with the community.
“His researching abilities, his confidence in dealing with sources on the phone or in the field, and his extremely positive and professional attitude in the newsroom are all good characteristics for someone his age and for someone at his level in college,” Rodriguez Delgado said in a letter of recommendation.
Cardona Hernandez has also worked as a Spanish editor and reporter for The Rampage, Fresno City College’s student newspaper, and as a Spanish translator for a published book project. In 2025, he received Fresno City College’s Dean’s Medallion Award and placed second in video soft news reporting in a Journalism Association of Community Colleges competition.
Hanayo Oya, an assistant professor in Fresno State’s Department of Media, Communications and Journalism, has seen Cardona Hernandez pair strong reporting instincts with ethical judgment and an ability to connect with audiences.
“He listens closely and then translates what he learns into clear, audience-centered storytelling,” Oya said in a letter of recommendation. “He is also genuinely unafraid to speak up when something doesn’t add up, an essential habit in a time when misinformation and oversimplified narratives can spread quickly.”
Beyond journalism, Cardona Hernandez volunteers with Iglesia NorthPointe en Español. During the past three years, he has served in children’s ministry, welcomed visitors and supported the church’s sound, graphics and groundskeeping operations.
Cardona Hernandez plans to become the first person in his family to earn a college degree and expects to graduate from Fresno State in 2027. He then plans to pursue an MBA to strengthen his leadership and business skills. He hopes to continue serving the Central Valley as a journalist, using his voice to help listeners feel informed, represented and less alone.
“Because of the loneliness I once felt after arriving in the United States, I now want to use my voice to make others feel accompanied — not just by a radio host, but by a friend,” Cardona Hernandez said.
