Alumnus, journalist, pageant queen, philanthropist
Sydney Hernandez, a 2015 Javelina graduate, has lived her life by embracing the quote, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Sydney has become a well-known reporter in the Rio Grande Valley, founded her own non-profit and created a scholarship to assist aspiring communication and journalism majors with financial hardships while in their college career. Additionally, Sydney is a queen.
One of her most recent accomplishments was competing on the path to compete for Miss Texas International locally in the Rio Grande Valley. She competed in Arlington, Texas, in early March and was crowned Miss Texas International 2023.
“I wanted to go to represent the Valley. I think to be able to put into perspective and be that change that a Hispanic from the Valley can make it,” Hernandez said. “I just wanted to put the Valley on the map, and it went a lot further than anticipated.”
She previously held the title of Miss Rio Grande Valley International 2023. During that period, she wore the sash across her chest with a mindset to contribute to her community through service and the donation of her time wherever it was needed, a task she is familiar with thanks to her profession.
Sydney knew that to be able to compete at a state level pageant, she must have community service, be a well-known member of her community and have a strong social media presence, no problem since all those qualifications are just a normal part of her life.
As soon as college graduation concluded, she went straight into the communication industry and took a job in Waco, Texas, at KWKT- FOX 44 News for two years. She is originally from Palm View, Texas, so when she got a job offer from the Rio Grande Valley, she took it. In January 2017, Sydney began working at Channel 23 News in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) close to her roots.
“She fits the mold of what this business needs. She is positive, passionate, collected, driven and ultimately I am really proud to work with her,” CBS 4 News Rio Grande Valley News Producer Kayla Peterman said.
Sydney began working as the evening news anchor at CBS 4 News in the RGV in 2022. During her time at CBS 4 she has been an Emmy nominee three times. The work that was nominated showcased her border coverage that told the story of Border Patrol agents and the migrant perspective. That story also won the 2019 Texas Associated Press award for Specialty in Beat Reporting.
“Other people get to see the reality of the border and that is what is important to me,” Hernandez said. “The work that these men and women do is no joke, and I was able to show that and people noticed because it was awarded.”
Sydney has worked in her spare time to create platforms for change in her community. The Sydney Hernandez Foundation was founded in 2021 with the objective to give back to aspiring communication/journalism students through the creation of a scholarship program.
Sydney is the chief executive officer of The Sydney Hernandez Foundation Scholarship. She raises funds to award three scholarships to journalism students studying at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley.
Sydney is also the founder of her own non-profit organization, Sydney’s Soldiers, which was founded in 2021. She created this non-profit with the mindset to make an impact in the lives of men and women who serve to protect our country. Sydney ships care packages overseas to provide necessary essentials for the soldiers while on duty.
“Knowing that she had done her research [spoke to the former Miss Texas] and talked to the other contestants and queens was something that really stood out,” Texas International Pageant Current Owner and Executive Director Joyce Morrison said. “She has a great social media presence and a good presence in her community, so those were both just another thing that stood out to us that made her a good representative.”
Sydney also won the Best Fitness Award and Best Fun Fashion.
In her spare time, Sydney is an avid 5k,10k, half marathon and marathon runner. Sydney plans to continue her work in the communication industry and helping her community through community service efforts.
Sydney will represent the State of Texas as Miss Texas International by competing at the national pageant in Kingsport, Tenn., in July.
Sydney ecstatic wearing her newly awarded crown 
Sydney interviewed former U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott at the first portion of the border wall built in McAllen, Texas. 
Sydney cleaned headstone of Moises Sanchez, a fallen Marine Corp, Veteran and DPS Trooper. 
Sydney in front of a food bank truck. 
Sydney after participating in the McAllen Marathon. 
Sydney behind the news desk. 
Sydney’s first photo once the pageant concluded as Miss Texas International 2023. 
Sydney on signing day as the newly crowned Miss Texas International 2023.