Honors & Awards

My poem, "Genesis," was among the winners of Vellichor Literary's June Poetry Contest based on the Fleetwood Mac lyrics from "Silver Springs" --- "time cast a spell on you, but you won't forget me." It's now featured in their Ariadne's Thread I anthology.

I was awarded 3rd place in OC Press Club's Best Arts/Culture Story, Sponsored Content category for my article underwritten by Journalism Arts Initiative in the Signal Tribune titled, "Going for Baroque: Gonzalo X. Ruiz balances deep commitments to his family and his music."

Chapman University sponsored me to spend a week at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony. There, I stayed in a cottage amongst the Temecula scenery and continued writing my children's novel.

At Cal State University Long Beach's annual JPR conference, the department awarded me with the Professional Promise in Journalism Award.

At Cal State University Long Beach's annual JPR conference, the department awarded me with the Staff Member of the Year award for my efforts as DIG Magazine's Online Editor.

Beach TV News ranked 3rd place out of all the broadcast news programs in the nation, beating out other acclaimed journalism programs like USC.

DIG Magazine wins ACP's prestigious Pacemaker award at fall national media convention.

My poem "-Russia Is-" was nominated for OyeDrum Magazine's Best of the Net awards.

At Cal State University Long Beach's annual JPR conference, the department awarded me with the Journalism Endowed Scholarship.

At Cal State University Long Beach's annual JPR conference, the department inducted me into KTA because I ranked in the top 10% of my class.