It’s just television, not rocket science – Alexis Vivanco
When Miami native and Journalism junior Alexis Vivanco learned he had been accepted into the University of Florida, he knew right away he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
“I wanted to come to UF because of its perfect blend of affordability and prestige,” he explained. “And of course I wanted to attend the best J-school in the country!”
Vivanco arrived at UF with big dreams of succeeding as the host of his own network TV show, or as a filmmaker, or perhaps as a sport/entertainment agent. He spent two years at UF exploring the different avenues available to him at CJC and finding ways to make those dreams a reality. He ended up taking courses in broadcasting, film and sports, eventually choosing to take the sports and media specialization track with the Department of Journalism.
Although he still has a way to go before graduation, Vivanco has a multitude of awards and achievements under his belt. He’s earned eleven Suncoast Emmy awards and a National Student Production Award, the equivalent of an Emmy for students. In 2023, while he was still a freshman, he also earned a National Academy of Arts and Sciences Suncoast Chapter Scholarship. During the spring 2026 semester, Vivanco accepted an internship offer with ABC News, joining a very small group of students to have interned at both CNN and ABC News.
While working on a personal project with his friend, Sebastian Broche, Vivanco got the chance to fly to San Jose to interview Oscar Arias, the former president of Costa Rica. His story focused on Arias’ role in helping to mediate conflicts in Central America; Arias won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
Vivanco’s proudest accomplishment was his experience at the Gators Men’s Basketball National Championships game. At just 19 years old, he served on WRUF’s coverage team for the event, interviewing players and coaches and providing play-by-play commentary.
Last year, Vivanco dipped his toes into the world of television with an internship at CNN, which took him to New York City to work on NewsNight with Abby Phillip. There, he met Joanna Suarez, a producer at CNN, who took him under her wing and became like a second mom to him. One night, during a particularly intense show, Vivanco started second-guessing himself and his abilities, but Suarez pulled him aside and told him: “It’s just television, not rocket science.”
“That stuck with me,” Vivanco said. “The beauty of our field is the ability to connect with communities and bring value into their lives. It’s a privilege to be in a space where we can exercise creativity, compassion and under standing toward the places we serve. At the end of the day, this is all fun for me, why wouldn’t I treat it as such? After all, it’s not rocket science.”
This profile was featured in the 2026 Dean’s Report.
Category: College News, Profiles, Student Profiles
Tagged: Dean’s Report 2026 Journalism Sports Media student experience
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