Acceptance Remarks by Grace L. Sawyer as the Inaugural Recipient of The Keith B. Jones Award for Excellence in Political Journalism

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release | May 5, 2026

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Acceptance Remarks by Grace L. Sawyer as the Inaugural Recipient of
The Keith B. Jones Award for Excellence in Political Journalism

James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

12:29 P.M. EDT

MISS SAWYER: Good. [LAUGHS]

Well, first of all, I would like to thank you all so much for being here today. I am a very hard person to surprise, and you all did an amazing job. So thank you so much for that.

Um, I just want to start out by saying that this position is one that I will remember having for the rest of my professional career and my personal life. I think that as a young journalist, I am at the forefront of so many major and life-changing events in our country. And it has been an honor and a privilege to be able to shape how people get to understand and see those events.

My education here at James Madison University has not failed me, not once. The SMAD department here is phenomenal. They give you a great idea of what it's like to actually be working in media, be working in politics. So I want to say a huge shout out to my professors, a huge thank you to all my mentors here.

Um, a huge thank you to all my friends and family. My boyfriend who came today, I'm so happy to have you all here, and I'm so honored that you all thought that this was such a special use of your time.

Um, Yeah, I'm so privileged to be standing up here talking to you all today, and I think that this is a combination of a lot of people believing in me, and a lot of hard work, and a lot of people reminding me that even if I don't feel like I'm ready, I wouldn't be in the room if I'm not. So I want to say thank you so much. to all of you. And I promise that I will keep all of you in my heart and all of your advice in my head as I move forward into my professional career.

END
12:31 P.M. EDT