For those who think the Emmys only happen in Los Angeles and involve the big shots of cable television, think again.
Ball State University has been nominated for a record 16 regional Emmys at the Sept. 18 awards show in Cleveland. Last year, the university received 10 Emmy nominations.
Unlike the Emmys that take place every fall in Los Angeles, the regional Emmys honor the local television programs, news casts and student entries in the northeastern Ohio and Pennsylvania areas as well as Indianaoplis, Bloomington, Fort Wayne and Muncie.
Nancy Carlson, chairwoman of the Ball State telecommunications department, said setting a school record for Emmy nominations shows the kind of support the program has in terms of technology as well as the great mentoring students recieve from faculty.
"I couldn't be more proud," Carlson said. "It's so amazing that Ball State holds the record for nominations. Our faculty is teaching students how to make great stories, stories that are equal to commercial television quality. "
In its first year of operation, Newslink Indiana, which is funded through a grant from Lily Endowment Inc., received an Emmy nomination for technical achievement.
From a public relations standpoint, this WHAT IS THIS? NEWSLINK GETTING AN AWARD? THE RECORD? elevates Ball State's standing in the Cleveland region, Carlson said.
"This allows us to tell students in Ohio about our reciprical admissions program," Carlson said. "It will help make those counties aware of our program and could actually help with admissions."
Tony Kubek, a senior from Lansing, Ill., has two films nominated for the awards.
One of the films is a documentary about a janitor at Ball State who raises birds in his spare time, and the other, which Kubek collaborated with Kenneth Loechner, is a public service announcement for Smoke Free Indiana.
Kubek said he entered his films after a professor urged him, saying they would most likely be nominated.
"I wasn't expecting to get nominated, but I figured why not," Kubek said. "It isn't something that happens every day."
Although many universities do submit films to be nominated, they are also competing against news and other local television productions from professionals who have been in the business for 30 to 40 years, Kubek said.
"It's an honor to be nominated," Kubek said after waiting nearly seven months to find out whether his films would make the cut.
Graduate students Terry Marsh, Arne Ahrens and Kerstin Krieg; seniors Jill Siebert and Kubek; juniors Kenneth Loechner and Jeff Cooney; and graduate Jaron Henrie-McCrea are also up for awards.
The nominated programs appeared on WIPB-TV, Ball State's Public Broadcasting System station, last year.
A group of faculty, staff, students from the telecommunications department and parents will attend the Emmys. Student nominees will travel to the awards ceremony from as far away as Los Angeles and Germany, Carlson said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
