The Spectrum Audrey Niblo Award

The Spectrum Audrey Niblo Award for Excellence in Reporting and Writing

The Spectrum Audrey Niblo Award for Excellence in Reporting and Writing is to recognize students who use the voice of campus media to promote the ideals that Audrey expressed in her life. These include recognizing and speaking out against bullying and promoting positive alternatives that build self-esteem and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. The award will be given at the end of each academic year to one or more students who have identified, researched and published in print, online or video form substantive material that exposes the challenges that young people face today and the kinds of concrete steps that individuals, universities and communities can take in support of students. The award will be given based on the quality of content and the driving curiosity and hard work that goes into producing meaningful journalism on these topics.

Who is Audrey

The award was developed by Spectrum, the student-run campus newspaper, to honor the memory of Audrey, who passed away suddenly in May 2018 from a heart condition during her junior year at Sacred Heart. Audrey’s earlier life was marked by difficult times as she experienced extensive bullying in school. She addressed the issues head on, including by speaking out in her local media about what being bullied looks like and feels like. She went on to build an active college life as a staff writer for Spectrum and for Her Campus.  She was a beloved sister in Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity.  “Audrey found so much happiness at Sacred Heart, stating she felt that she had ‘finally made it’ shortly after starting there,” said John Niblo, Audrey’s father. “We believe the resources at Sacred Heart University make it the ideal place to carry on the mission that was expressed through her life.”