UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Four entries compiled by Penn State students — including the award for best newscast and the award for individual talent — earned top awards from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
The winners of college/student production awards were presented at a special event celebrating the 41th annual Mid-Atlantic Emmys on Saturday night in Lancaster. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter includes journalism professionals from organizations in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“The awards demonstrate the success of our students at the regional level and the breadth of opportunities in the Bellisario College and at Penn State,” said Steve Kraycik, an associate teaching professor and director of student television. “Our students are hardworking and talented. We’re proud that they’re getting honored for what they do, and we’re proud of the work they produce for our programs every day.”
Penn State’s honorees were:
- “In the Genes,” which won for arts and entertainment/cultural affairs production. Andy Smith produced the story as part of an international reporting class that traveled to Scotland. Smith is now studying international relations at graduate school in London.
- The award for news report went to Isabella Leahy, who covered on on-campus event that was cancelled because of security concerns. Leahy is a now a graduate student studying journalism at Columbia University. Noah works as producer at WTNH-TV in New Haven, Connecticut.
- AJ Sisson earned the award for talent – news, sports or performer. He is working as a reporter for WJCL-TV in Savannah, Georgia.
- The award for college/university newscast went to the March 31, 2023, edition of “Centre County Report.”
Two other CCR episodes and one episode of the sports highlights show “After the Whistle” were nominated in the top show category. Overall, Penn State student work was nominated in eight categories representing different types of media and covering several areas of journalism.