Fisher Student Receives Tom Hope Scholar Award

Kydian Suarez, a senior at St. John Fisher University, was among seven area college students recognized by the Rochester Association for Film Arts and Sciences (RAFAS).

During a ceremony on Tuesday, April 8, Suarez and her peers received Tom Hope Media Scholar Awards in recognition of their outstanding commitment to media production. The award is named in honor of the late Rochester media icon Tom Hope, a nationally recognized pioneer in the use of film and video, who was named a Remarkable Rochesterian by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle in 2021.

In addition to the awards, the event formally welcomed the students into the media profession. Jessica Savage, president and CEO of Dixon Schwabl + CO, served as the keynote speaker.

Suarez is a media and communication major, with minors in television and film studies, languages, and interdisciplinary arts. During her time at Fisher, she has immersed herself in media arts as an active member of Cardinal TV and a news and opinion contributor for the Cardinal Courier. She also served as a public relations writing intern with the Office of Marketing and Communications. Additionally, she has contributed to several video productions throughout her coursework and was a member of a student-led team that produced a video documentary for the mixed media art exhibit, “Urban Alchemy,” held at the Patricia O'Keefe Ross Gallery in spring 2024.