Lauren Haley Morris, a senior journalism major, has been recognized for her talents in journalism at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. The Charlotte, North Carolina native has been nominated for five different media awards. Morris will be the student speaker at Klein College’s Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 8, at 9:30 a.m. in the Liacouras Center. 

At the graduation ceremony, she intends to speak about her time at Temple University as a student, complemented by her formative experiences in journalism and TUTV. She will also touch on navigating obstacles in her college career with resilience.  

Just four years ago, Morris chose Klein College because of the university’s optimal location and the opportunities a large media market could provide for her. 

“I came for the alumni base as well as the opportunities within the city,” she said. “Philly is the number five news market in the country, so being here and being able to go to local stations and being involved so early was a big plus for me.”  

She shared that she also wanted to be closer to family members who live in Boston. 

Morris got involved immediately after becoming a student at Klein College. In March 2023, she became an anchor for Update Now, Temple Update’s 90-second news brief. In September 2024, she got a position as an anchor for Temple Update’s main show. Morris was also a student vlogger for Temple University from August 2022 to July 2023. She created content for the university’s YouTube channel. 

“I wasn’t fully immersed in the school yet, so people got to watch me go through my freshman year and grow up,” she said.  

Morris stressed the importance of getting involved right away when starting at Klein College.  

“You’re going to find that there are things you like and things you don’t like,” she said. “It’s better to find those things out early, because once you find something you do like, you can nurture it and grow through it.” 

Klein College’s Global Opportunities (Klein GO) programs served as key experiences in her journey. Morris has been on four Klein GO trips, and her favorites include a trip to New Mexico and an excursion to New Hampshire, where she had the chance to report on the state’s primaries. 

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’s Emmy Awards recognize students who are outstanding in the field of video production. Morris won this award in the category Best Talent – News, Sports, Performer.  

Denise James, assistant professor of practice, said that winning this award was an important achievement for Morris. 

“It was confirmation that she is on a good path,” she said.  

Morris’s work was nominated for the Hearst National Journalism Awards—she placed eighth in the Features News Story category—and she was awarded the Trudy Haynes scholarship from CBS-3 Philadelphia, a scholarship for students pursuing careers in communications or journalism. 

“Trudy Haines was the first Black woman reporter in Philadelphia,” said James. “To be that, you have to be steadfast and create relationships.” 

“It speaks volumes about the kind of journalist she’s becoming,” she added. 

While Morris’s nominations and victories speak to her talent as a journalist, she shared that the accolades are not the most important part of her work. 

“At the end of the day, it’s not about the awards—it’s about the kind of work we are doing on campus,” said Morris. 

Ten days after graduation, Morris will start her new position as a multimedia reporter at 13 News Now in Norfolk, Virginia. 

“I’m super excited, but I’m also a little nervous because it’s coming so soon,” she said. 

Beyond her next position, Morris shared that she would like to do investigative or consumer reporting. However, she said that her main goal is to end up on Good Morning America. She is interested in the show’s wide range of coverage along with its fast-paced work environment. 

“I'm so grateful for all of the opportunities that Klein has given me over the past few years,” she said. “Klein is the launch pad for a lot of success.”