Ball State University's telecommunications program has entered into the spotlight once again, winning three Emmy Awards Saturday.
A student-produced public service announcement, WIPB-TV crafts and "Connections Live" student television show earned the awards at the 36th annual award ceremony held at Cleveland State University. The awards were sponsored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Senior Emily Boone, productions major, was interviewing a gun shop owner for her feature story producing class in the Department of Telecommunications. The gun that the owner was handling accidentally, and quite unexpectedly, went off during the interview. The accident sparked the idea for the Emmy-winning public service announcement on gun safety, titled "Even Experts Make Mistakes," James Shasky, producer and instructor of telecommunications, said.
Also involved in the project was Anthony Kubek, a 2005 Ball State graduate. The public service announcement ran on WIPB-TV.
"Connections Live," a combination news and talk show, also received an Emmy for overall quality programming last season in the magazine format programs category. "Connections Live," now called "Connections," has won Emmys during five of the nine seasons the show has been on the air.
"This is the second consecutive season that 'Connections' has won a professional Emmy, which means that we have beat out actual professionals at WFYI for awards," Rick Babusiak, senior producer at "Connections," said. Rick Babusiak was the director during last season's show.
"Connections," a 30-minute entertainment magazine program that airs live and features pre-recorded segments, will air weekly beginning Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. on WIPB-TV channel 49.
Shasky said about 200 fresh men enter the telecommunications program each year, and he offers three free Saturday morning classes to those interested. Of the 200, only a handful show up. It is that dedication that contributes to the success of "Connections Live," Shasky said.
"It's a better show," he said.
WIPB-TV also won an Emmy in the area of crafts.
"Crafts category are for directing, lighting, sound, writing...everything except producing," Shasky said.
Jaron Henrie-McCrea, who graduated in May, was the producer of WIPB-TV and "Connections Live" and also directed crafts for WIPB-TV. He received a Student Academy Award last year for "Knock Knock," a high-definition romantic comedy. Henrie-McCrea was the first Ball State student to receive the award and was one of two finalists in the alternative storytelling category in the 32nd annual Student Academy Awards competition.
Telecommunications students, staff, faculty and alumni received 43 regional Emmy nominations since 2000 and earned 18 statuettes in the past four years.
Shasky said he believes the success of the telecommunications program is due entirely to talented students who are not afraid to take chances and risks.
"I have taught at UCLA, and make no mistake, those students are bright and talented, but their aim is to make money," Shasky said. "The students here are more inventive and creative and are not afraid to fail big time, which of course is the best way to learn."
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