New York Attorney General Letitia James and the City University of New York (CUNY) have announced the creation of the Ruschell Boone Scholarship, a memorial fund honoring the late Emmy-winning journalist Ruschell Boone, who was a native of Jamaica.
The scholarship will support West Indian students pursuing journalism degrees at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY or Baruch College, where Boone was an alumna. Boone passed away in 2023 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
The scholarship is backed by an initial $125,000 endowment pledged by the CUNY Board of Trustees and University supporters, aiming to help defray tuition and other college-related expenses for students.
“Ruschell Boone was a brilliant journalist who touched the lives of everyone she encountered,” said Attorney General Letitia James.
“Her understanding of this city, its communities, and its people truly made her a New York City treasure. She uplifted people whose stories were often overlooked, and always showed up during the tough and scary times because she knew her reporting brought comfort to this city. With this scholarship, Ruschell’s legacy lives on – empowering a future generation of journalists to embody her authenticity and compassion. I am so grateful to Chair Thompson and CUNY for providing this scholarship and honoring Ruschell in the most impactful way.”
CUNY Board of Trustees Chairperson William C. Thompson Jr. expressed pride in memorializing Boone through the scholarship. “We are proud to honor Ruschell Boone, continuing the principle she lived by, with this new scholarship in her name for CUNY students,” said Thompson. “We are appreciative to her fellow CUNY alumna, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, for having the idea to preserve Ruschell’s legacy in this meaningful way.”
Boone, a dedicated journalist
Boone, an Emmy award-winning journalist at Spectrum News NY1, was known for her dedication to telling the stories of New York’s diverse communities. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she immigrated to the Bronx at age 11 and discovered her passion for journalism as a student at Baruch College. Boone’s career spanned over two decades, including her work at CNBC, CNN, and eventually NY1, where she became beloved for her thoughtful and informative reporting.
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez highlighted Boone’s impact on journalism and mentorship. “She was an inspirational Baruch alumna who made it her mission to support those who came after her, and it is our honor to keep the memory of her dedication to mentorship alive with this scholarship,” said Rodríguez.
Boone’s reporting covered a wide range of major events, including the pandemic, Hurricane Sandy, and the 2016 Manhattan bombing. She was also the first journalist to interview Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez following her unexpected primary victory, an interview that quickly went viral. Over her career, Boone earned multiple accolades, including awards from the New York Association of Black Journalists, the New York Press Club, and a New York Emmy for her series “New York: Unfiltered.”
Donations to the Ruschell Boone Scholarship Fund can be made payable to the City University of New York and will be managed through a separate account at the CUNY Endowment Fund. Donations requiring a 501(c)(3) designation may be made to the Research Foundation of CUNY, where they will also be placed in a dedicated account.
