FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Diana Torralvo
April 28, 2015 Bellevue Communications (215) 893-4287 dtorralvo@bellevuepr.com
LOCAL High School Students recognized for ACHIEVEMENTS IN BROADCAST NEWS and TELEVISION PRODUCTION
More than 140 students from around the region attend 13th annual award ceremony
PHILADELPHIA – On Tuesday, April 28th, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented 12 awards to local high school students in the region who are pursuing a career in media and journalism. Now in its 13th year, the awards are intended to recognize outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements by high school students. More than 140 students from more than a dozen high schools throughout the Greater Philadelphia region attended the event held at Neumann University in Aston, PA.
“We are delighted to recognize the work of these individuals who represent the future of broadcast journalism,” said Tara Faccenda, Executive Director of NATAS. “It’s amazing to see the growth of the student awards program in our region as well. This year we received 126 entries from 25 different high schools – more than double the number of entries from last year. The level of competition is a true testament to the tremendous talent that these students display.”
Awards were presented to the students by local media professionals. The awards were given to those with achievements in television in 10 categories, including Newscast—Trently Prize, News: General Assignment Report, Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs, Music Video, Long Form—Fiction, Long Form—Non-Fiction, Sports, Public Service-Young Producer’s Award, Talent, and Writing. All entries were received online and judged by both college educators and media professionals from the Mid-Atlantic region.
The Jerry Trently Prize, a $1,000 award given to the high school that wins the Newscast category, was awarded to Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon. Named in honor of the award-winning, former photojournalist and news director at WHP-TV in Harrisburg, Trently passed away in 2006 after a courageous battle with brain cancer.
This year’s student television awards program also recognized the recipient of the Young Producer’s Award honoring entries in the PSA category, which awards a $1,500 cash prize. This year’s prize was awarded to Taylor Fontana of Washington Township High School in Gloucester County, N.J. Fontana served as the producer for the entry titled, “But, I Can’t,” a public service announcement which focused on the dangers associated with texting and driving. All nominees receive individualized Academy certificates and each winning entry received a crystal award, engraved with the school information. A complete list of recipients can be found online at https://www.natasmid-atlantic.org/scholarship.php.
| CATEGORY / RECIPIENT(S) | SCHOOL | LOCATION |
| NEWSCAST:
“The Connection: Falcoween Edition” |
Cedar Crest High School |
Lebanon, PA (Lebanon Co.)
|
| NEWS: GENERAL ASSIGNMENT
“A Touchdown to Remember” |
Dallastown Area High School
|
Dallastown, PA (York Co.)
|
| ARTS & ENT./CULTURAL AFFAIRS
“Why?” |
Washington Township High School |
Sewell, NJ (Gloucester Co.) |
| MUSIC VIDEO (2 recipients)
“My Rebirth…Creatively”
“Dog Days” |
Upper Dublin High School
Conestoga High School
|
Fort Washington, PA (Montgomery Co.) Berwyn, PA (Chester Co.) |
| LONG FORM – FICTION
“Connect”
|
Springfield Township High School
|
Erdenheim, PA (Montgomery Co.) |
| LONG FORM – NON-FICTION
“Drug of Choice”
|
Cedar Crest High School |
Lebanon, PA (Lebanon Co.) |
| SPORTS (2 recipients)
“TWP Gymnastics”
“Bouncing Back” |
Washington Township High School
North Penn High School
|
Sewell, NJ (Gloucester Co.)
Lansdale, PA (Montgomery Co.) |
| PUBLIC SERVICE (PSA)
“But, I Can’t” |
Washington Township High School |
Sewell, NJ (Gloucester Co.) |
| TALENT
“Gretchen Hopkirk (Reel)” |
Hempfield High School |
Landisville, PA (Lancaster Co.) |
| WRITING
“P-Way State of Mind” |
Piscataway High School |
Piscataway, NJ (Middlesex Co.) |
About NATAS Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic NATAS is a non-profit, professional association with 650 members in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware representing more than 32 television stations, numerous cable companies and programmers, as well as independent producers, production facilities and educational institutions. Please visit the website, www.natasmid-atlantic.org, for information about membership benefits and programs.
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