Broadcast students recognized at national convention
MVNU students received national recognition last month at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) intercollegiate branch convention in Nashville.
Upperclassmen in radio and video classes submitted projects this fall, and top projects were evaluated and entered into the iNRB contests.
This is the ninth consecutive year MVNU students have placed nationally in either radio or video.
Assistant Communication professor Dr. Dean Abbott said the success at iNRB year after year is significant because “we have seen that our students are able to create media products that earn the respect of professionals in the larger industry.”
Junior Wesley Boston placed first in the Radio Original Short Form Feature category for his drama “Justin and Randy’s Time Travel Adventure.”
Junior Annabelle Harray placed second in the Radio PSA/Commercial category for her 30-second PSA about summer UV ray protection.
Zach Ford, a senior broadcasting major, placed third in the Radio Imaging/Branding category for a 30-second promo for WNZR.TV.
Seniors Drew Chaltry and Andrew Yoder placed second in the TV/Video Field Production category for a piece on the Mount Vernon Salvation Army’s after-school programs.
Boston, Harray, Chaltry and three other students went to Nashville for the convention and awards ceremony.
While there, Harray and sophomore Jessica Wells teamed up to compete in the 24DA Challenge. The teams had 24 hours to produce three pieces for the sponsor Well2Win, a ministry-based fitness and wellness organization. Harray and Wells placed second out of six teams and received a cash prize.
During the four-day convention, students networked with media professionals and students from across the country. Top professionals also led seminars during the event.
Wells said the convention helped her learn how to get started in the industry and succeed while keeping her faith, and that “you should let your God-given gifts be your faith in the way you use them — Jesus didn’t come with a faith-based story, He came with a story for the world.”
Harray said her greatest takeaway from the conference came from speaker DeVon Franklin, former senior vice president of Columbia TriStar Pictures and currenty the president/CEO of Franklin Entertainment, a new production company working in conjunction with Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Franklin encouraged students to become masters of their craft.
“If our habits are not reflecting our goals, then our results will be zero. We have to be excellent at our craft, constantly learning and growing,” Franklin said.
Sophomore Emily Porter said the conference helped her reconnect her faith with her talents and skills and remind her that “God is working in the media; it is just behind the scenes.”