In the early 1980s, the environment was right for Hoda Kotb at Fort Hunt High School in Mount Vernon. Kotb started off on the right foot to becoming a world-wide sensation in broadcast journalism and is now one of USA Today's “Women of the Year.” She’s joining “61 women across the country using their voices and determination to push for change and equality, and even joy,” the recognition said.

She built a career on thinking positively and it is continuing to pave the way for success, urging women to be their own advocates and fight for themselves.

It all started in 1982, when Kotb graduated from Fort Hunt High School, which was converted into Carl Sandburg Middle School. Kotb went on to Virginia Tech University where she got a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. She was a local reporter in New Orleans, and Fort Myers, Florida, and then the Today show with Kathie Lee Gifford between 2008 and 2019. She was the co-anchor of NBC News' TODAY and the co-host of TODAY's fourth hour, alongside Jenna Bush Hager.

That’s behind her now and she’s raising two daughters even though she’s over 60, another step she’s proud of.

Amongst the 2025 Women of the Year, Kotb is there with Eleanor Holmes Norton from D.C., astronaut Kellie Gerardi, Veteran advocate Sen. Tammy Duckworth, (D-Illinois) and Sabrina Burress in Virginia who is the founder and executive director of ARROW, an organization that helps provide mental healthcare for people without insurance. These are just a few of the Women that make a difference on the list.

In addition to her journalism career, Kotb is a cancer survivor, and has taken on several initiatives to raise awareness in that area too. Her awards include a 2016 Gracie Award for Outstanding Host in Entertainment/Information for her radio show, “The Hoda Show on SiriusXM,” and a Gracie Award for Outstanding Host in News/Non-fiction and a Webby Award in 2015. In 2008 she won the Alfred I. du Pont – Columbia University award, a Peabody Award in 2006 for a Dateline NBC report, and several Daytime Emmys as part of TODAY’s recognition as the best morning news program, the Today show information said.

She made such an impression in Fort Hunt that in 2018 a bunch of fellow FH grads took a road trip and hung out in front of the studio in NYC where Hoda was filming the Today show. Read the Gazette story here. https://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2023/may/04/fort-hunt-alums-cheered-fellow-grad-outside-30-roc/