Vikki Vargas says her career taught her empathy and integrity. “I would meet people often at their lowest point in their lives. They lost a child, a spouse, a home, a job and yet they would want to share their story with me,” says Vargas, “and that was the benefit of connecting with people, hoping I could help them in some small way.”

The Radio TV News Association agreed Vargas left an impact on the industry, awarding her its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. She is also the winner of four TV Emmy’s.