John Quiñones, an Emmy-award winning journalist and ABC News veteran, will be honored with the Distinguished Journalist Award from DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence (CJIE). The award recognizes Quiñones' exceptional contributions to investigative journalism.

Quiñones, known for his work on shows like "Primetime Live," "Burning Questions," and "20/20," has received seven Emmys throughout his career. His dedication to his craft and his impactful reporting have set a high standard for excellence in journalism. Carol Marin, one of the co-directors of CJIE, describes Quiñones as "the embodiment of all that DePaul and our students stand for: persistence, passion, talent, and grace."

Starting his career as a radio news editor in Houston, Quiñones eventually moved to WBBM-TV in Chicago. Marin, who worked across the street at NBC Chicago, has been following Quiñones' career closely and admires his ability to stay grounded despite his success. Marin says, "I have been watching him all these years as he has risen, realizing he never once forgot where he came from."

During his 33-year tenure at ABC News, Quiñones covered a wide range of stories, including the Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen case, which led to the passing of the "I am Vanessa Guillen" bill. His reporting shed light on sexual assault and harassment in the military and contributed to stronger investigations into these issues. He also covered the 2010 Chilean mining accident, exposed nationwide insurance scams, and shared the heartwarming story of a young man reuniting with his birth mother in Colombia.

Quiñones joins a prestigious list of previous recipients of the Distinguished Journalist Award, including Judy Woodruff, anchor of "PBS News Hour," Bill Whitaker, correspondent for "60 Minutes," and Lester Holt, anchor of "NBC Nightly News." Quiñones expresses his humility and gratitude, saying, "I am incredibly honored and humbled. I am in awe of the distinguished journalists who have come before me, and it fills my heart with great humility and pride to join their ranks."

In addition to Quiñones, Rachel Hinton, a 2017 DePaul alumna, will be receiving the Distinguished Alumna award from CJIE. Hinton, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, has made significant contributions to the field since leaving DePaul. She worked at the Chicago Sun-Times for over four years, eventually becoming the chief political reporter. Hinton is currently an investigative reporter at Block Club Chicago.

According to Don Moseley, another co-director of CJIE, Hinton's talent and tenacity were evident from the moment they met. He says, "To do so [make her mark in journalism] in such rapid fashion speaks to her innate ability and her unrelenting tenacity." During her time at DePaul, Hinton was an editor for The DePaulia and won two Associated Collegiate Press awards for her work. She also served as the president of DePaul's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and was a peer writing tutor at the writing center. Hinton credits her time at DePaul as the foundation for her successful career, saying, "My classes and time at The DePaulia are the building blocks of my career."

Hinton's commitment to supporting current journalism students is one of the reasons she is being honored with the Distinguished Alumna award. Moseley expresses his gratitude, saying, "Rachel's talent at investigative reporting is matched by her willingness to help students follow in her footsteps." Hinton is excited to receive this honor and still be involved with the journalism department at DePaul, guiding and supporting the next generation of journalists.

The final award, the Distinguished Mentor award, will be presented to Marty Wilke. Wilke, who has over two decades of experience in television, has been instrumental in pushing journalists out of their comfort zones and making news more accessible. She was the first woman to be the general manager of WGN-TV and the president of WBBM-TV. Under her leadership, the Chicago television stations have become more connected to their community, resulting in increased viewership and revenue.

Wilke's commitment to mentorship is a guiding principle in her career. She has supported DePaul students by offering mentorship and funding scholarships, such as the Wilke Family Endowed Scholarship. She also started the Marty Wilke Student Media Journalism Fund, which provides stipends and grants for student journalists. Wilke expresses her honor at being recognized as a Distinguished Mentor, saying, "Mentoring has been a guiding principle in my role as a leader."

Newton Minow, the former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, was the first recipient of the Distinguished Mentor Award in 2022.

The awards will be presented at a luncheon on April 25, where Quiñones, Hinton, and Wilke will be celebrated for their outstanding contributions to journalism. These individuals exemplify the values of persistence, passion, talent, and grace that DePaul University and its Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence strive to instill in their students.