The award was established in honor of the organization’s founder Ruth Batchelor to encourage and support aspiring female film critics.
Ms. Cruz attends Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. She is studying journalism and television production and is on the path to receiving associate’s degrees in both fields. She has been writing for both of her college’s publications, SAC.Media and Substance Magazine, for two years, holding positions as arts and entertainment editor, pop culture editor, news editor, director of content, and editor-in-chief. She’s also received numerous awards for her writing from both the College Media Association and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. In the future, she aspires to continue her education and keep creating content for numerous publications before starting her own.
She will receive the $500 award at the 43rd annual LAFCA awards ceremony on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the InterContinental, Los Angeles.