Skip to content

2017 NSPA Nominees

article-nspa-2019-nominees

Tom Bergeron to Host October 3rd Award Presentation at Emerson College in Los Angeles, CA

New York, NY, Tuesday, September 12th, 2017 – The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences today announced the nominees for The 2017 National Student Production Awards.  Nominees were selected from high school student entries across the country in 23 programming and craft categories. The awards presentation will be live-streamed from the Los Angeles campus of Emerson College on Tuesday, October 3rd at noon, PDT and will be hosted by television personality, Tom Bergeron, star and host of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Viewing of the presentation can be seen at the following:

Student Production Awards Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NATASSPA
Student Production Awards Twitter: https://twitter.com/NATASSPA
NATAS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEmmys

Over 200 young professionals, culled from 19 regional chapters of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, were successfully narrowed down from a record breaking 1,500 entries, by judges selected from industry professionals to university professors, to advance to the national competition.

“The future of television is being passed on to these outstanding students who will one day become the leaders of innovation and programming for our industry in the 21st century,” said Bob Mauro, President & CEO, NATAS.

“The breadth and scope of the work created by these talented students continues to surprise and amaze us as we look to the future of this great industry,” said, NATAS Education Chair, Danielle Mannion.  “We are very grateful to the hundreds of industry professionals who judged and critiqued these exceptional student productions and look forward to an exciting event hosted by Tom Bergeron at Emerson College’s west coast campus.”

Categories and nominees will be announced with pre-recorded messages from television personalities from across the industry prior to the announcement of honorees by Tom Bergeron. The honorees will receive a NATAS certificate and a crystal pillar award, emblazoned with the world famous EMMY® logo for their school.

The live-stream will be produced by David Michaels, NATAS SVP, Daytime, and Education Chair, Danielle Mannion with Nic Duggar, TNDV, directing. NATAS would like to thank and acknowledge their Sponsors, Warner Chappell Production Music (http://www.warnerchappellpm.com/), Nic Duggar, owner of TNDV (http://www.tndv.com/) and Emerson College (www.emerson.edu/) for its facility and participation in making these awards possible.

 

About The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Award for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime Entertainment, Daytime Creative Arts & Entertainment, Public & Community Service, and Technology & Engineering. NATAS membership consists of over 15,000 broadcast and media professionals represented in 19 regional chapters across the country. Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including Regional Student Television and its Student Award for Excellence for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships, publications, and major activities for both industry professionals and the viewing public. For more information, please visit the website at www.theemmys.tv.

NATAS Social Media:
NATAS Website: http://emmyonline.org/
NATAS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEmmys

Student Production Awards Social Media:
Student Awards Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NATASSPA
Student Awards Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NATASSPA
Student Awards Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natas_spa
Student Awards SnapChat: @NATASSPA

CONTACTS:
NATAS Contact:
Paul G. Pillitteri / SVP, Communications
ppillitteri@emmyonline.tv

NATAS PR LA/Social Media Contacts:
Harlan Boll
h.boll@dcpublicity.com or 626-296-3757

Lisa England
lisa@lkepr.com

 

Danielle Mannion,
NATAS Education Chair
studentawards@emmyonline.tv or 978-793-3400

 

NOMINEES FOR THE NATIONAL STUDENT PRODUCTION AWARDS 

 

Newscast

The Buzz TV, Fort Mill High School (Southeast Chapter)
Zoe Cruz, Julian Masters
Karin McKerney, Advisor

WBHS 9 Dec. 16 Newscast, Brentwood High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Rachel Ault, Morgan Yoder, Stephanie Steele, Reed Smith, Ryan Tyler, Katie Hart, Jack Burke, Matthew Willoughby
Ronnie Adcock, Advisor

Plymouth North School Newscast, Plymouth North High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Dan Riley
Michelle Terry, Advisor

BNN, Buchanan News Network, Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA (San Francisco / Northern California Chapter)
Sergio Chavez, Camryn Dietz, Taylor Wolfe, Sarah Forbis, Ryan Kish, Arianna Norvelle, Lauren Redmond, Rei Bioco, Lance Lamborn, Tristan Stulce, Bransen Pass
Daniel Pearce, Advisor

CPTV , Crown Point High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Reece Grapenthien, Drew Zimmerman, Mitch Bolda, Kyle Gilson, Evan Holland
Brent Barber, Chris Gloff, Advisor

 

General Assignment – Serious News

A Whole New World, Hillcrest High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Josh Horned, Rachel Pfeifer
Dave Davis, Advisor

Active Shooter Drill, Barrington High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Alex Gaul, Ben Pokorny
Jeff Doles, Advisor

Desegregation at GHS, Germantown High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Deborah Noel, Andreas Wiliams, Wolfgang Stoltz
Leonid Mazor, Advisor

Domestic Abuse, Davison High School (Michigan Chapter)
Alesia Paxton, Bailey Talaska
Randy Scott, Advisor

Cruising Over Cancer, Parkland High School (Mid-Atlantic Chapter)
Mary Dalton, Graham Burrell
Dave Thomas, Advisor

 

General Assignment – Light News

Charlie’s Path, Christopher Columbus HS, CCNN Live (Suncoast Chapter)
Christopher Ahrendt, Christopher Vazquez, Anthony Martinez, Antonio Castellanos
Christina Insua, Omar Delgado, Advisor

Music as Medicine, WCTV19 Whitney High School, Rocklin, CA (San Francisco / Northern California)
Sarah Murphy, Savannah Hill
Ben Barnholdt, Advisor

Cole Bryant Named Student Coach, KCBY-TV Coppell High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Kiley Wecker, Nick Wilson
Irma Lazos-Kennedy, Advisor

Special Education, Central High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Emily Beach, Emma Steingraber
Josh Cantrell, Advisor

Immigration, Plymouth North High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Michelle Terry, Advisor

 

Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs

Backstreet Community Arts, Central Education Center (Southeast Chapter)
Skylar Nicholson, Katarina Sibley
Michael Britt, Advisor

Dominican Republic Mission Trip, Burnsville High School (Upper Midwest Chapter)?
Scott Tinkham
Tyler Krebs, Advisor

Storytellers, Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, San Francisco, CA (San Francisco / Northern California Chapter)
Ethan Bresnick, Avidan Novogrodsky-Godt, Theo Haber
Scott Berhardt, Advisor

Jacob’s Story, Springdale District TV (Mid-America Chapter)
Max Roeder, Esdras Valdez
Trent Jones, Advisor

Annie, Franklin High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Jacob Ferguson
Keri  Thompson, Advisor

 

Music Video

Chatta Who, Alpharetta High School (Southeast Chapter)
Michael Masi, Eric Traugott, Kyle Monahan
Tracy Misner, Advisor

Be Free, William G. Enloe High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Lauryn Bledsoe, Owen Tadych, Robert Smith, Spencer Rouse, Eneko Zubizarreta, Evan Davenport
Bill Notarnicola, Advisor

Music Video, Athens TV – Troy Athens High School (Michigan Chapter)
Alana Richardson, Claire Davis, Eleri Watkins
Adam Burns, Advisor

Another Day of Sun, Middleborough High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Leanne Robinson
Adam Pelletier, Advisor

One Minute to Midnight, Delaware Area Career Center (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Connor McGovern, Nate Martin, Aidan Garling, Jeff Butcher, Jake Marzluf, Rachel Wyatt
Josh Gallagan, Advisor

 

Short Form – Fiction

Evol, Mesquite ISD Technology Excellence Center (Lone Star Chapter)
Alex Ramirez
Shonda Tindall, Advisor

Aliens Without a Planet, Dekalb School of the Arts (Southeast Chapter)
Giovanni Tortorici
Frank Mastrogiacomo, Advisor

Comeback, Ballard High School (Northwest Chapter)
Skala Leake, Avery Davis, Aaron Miller, Cameron Miller
Matt Lawrence, Advisor

A Case of Depression, Lexington High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Tian Xu
Mary Pappas, Advisor

Oregano, Olentangy Orange High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Jake Metzger, Garrett Dahn, Samuel DeCillis, Dominic Fleshman
Brian Nicola, Advisor

 

Short Form – Non-Fiction

The Luc Show, Bemidji High School (Upper Midwest Chapter)
Luc Berard
Bryan Hammitt, Advisor

Dear Meghan, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Michael Sargent, Jeffrey Szynal
Drew Furtado, Advisor

Becoming Callie, Homewood-Flossmoor High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Jane Wenckus
Mark Ciesielski, Advisor

Courage Award Noah McLaughlin, Summit High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Morgan Haymer
Patrick Nichols, Advisor

Perpetual Peace, NW Documentary (Northwest Chapter)
Alexa Block, Cheyenne Kelly, Kara Fosso
Sam Gaty, Advisor

 

Long Form – Fiction

Resisting Rest, Roswell High School (Southeast Chapter)
Griffin Larson
Lisa Kennedy, Advisor

The Studio, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
STAFF
Travis Sherman, Advisor

Captive, Taunton High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Kyle Fisk, Dan DeAndrade, Logan Nunes, Niko Natsis, Brandon Wolfe
Steven Jacques, Advisor

Supertramp, Franklin High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Jacob Ferguson, Bryson Sams, Porter Edwards, Dante Cameron, Ryan Coke, Brandon Kelly, Jack Durham, Cole Winton
Keri Thompson, Advisor

Out of Nothing, Delaware Area Career Center (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Nate Martin, Jake Marzluf, Jeff Butcher, Connor McGovern, Andrew Chope, Garrett Varanelli
Josh Gallagan, Advisor

 

Long Form – Non-Fiction

9066, Ballard High School (Northwest Chapter)
Maya Konz, Kajsa Woolford, Nolan Baker, Bailey Wall
Matt Lawrence, Advisor

Project Shield, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School (Suncoast Chapter)
Andres Dones
Johnny Calderin, Advisor

Proof of Life: A documentary, Christopher Columbus HS, CCNN Live (Suncoast Chapter)
Christopher Ahrendt, Antonio Castellanos, Alejandro Basalo, Christopher Vazquez, Anthony Martinez, Danyel DeVilliers, Jose Fernandez
Christina Insua, Omar Delgado, Advisor

Jerrad, Burnsville High School (Upper Midwest Chapter)
Scott Tinkham, Jerrad Solberg
Tyler Krebs, Advisor

Cuba. The Story of My Father, PCTV – Pine Crest School (Suncoast Chapter)
Isabella Faife
Dave Burgess, Advisor

 

Sports

This is Ultimate, East Chapel Hill High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Jack Phillips
Karen Sanders, Advisor

Bemidji Boys Basketball 2016-2017, Bemidji High School (Upper Midwest Chapter)
Cody Roder, Jace Peterson, Nick Harrom
Bryan Hammitt, Advisor

Moto Max, WAHS News, American Heritage School (Suncoast Chapter)
Sophia Donskoi, Sophia Donskoi, Sophia Donskoi
Maria Molina, Advisor

Barrington vs. Conant, Barrington High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Sean Dolan, Casey Larson
Jeff Doles, Advisor

The Season: Oxford Football – Episode Six, Oxford High School (Southeast Chapter)
Merrick McCool, Andrew Gardner, Eli Hartnett
Diala Chaney, Advisor

 

Sports-Live Event

Wildcat Sports Network: Har-ber vs. Springdale, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Staff
Travis Sherman, Advisor

Webster City vs Humboldt Wrestling, Webster City High School (Upper Midwest Chapter)
Erin Bahrenfuss, Tyler Geopfert, Luke Bergeson, John Brandt, Jacob Nilles, Jacqueline Faust
Mark Murphy, Advisor

CPTV Media Live Basketball Broadcast, Crown Point High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Drew Zimmerman, Evan Holland, Nick Morgan, Kyle Gilson, Reece Grapenthien
Brent Barber, Chris Gloff, Advisors

Staples Boys Varsity Basketball Live, Staples High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Cooper Boardman, Jack Caldwell
Justin Nadal, Advisor

Westminster Live Sports – Savannah vs. Westminster, the Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
Bennett Porson, William Turton, The WCAT Crew
Daniel Searl, Advisor

 

Sports Program

Red Devil Post Game , Germantown High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Kennedy Harris, Maggie Lathem, Ryan Coleman, Adam Sapp, Tate Jakobi, Naya Foster, Deborah Noel, Andreas Williams
Leonid Mazor, Advisor

King Phillip Sports Network, King Phillip Regional High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Jaron May, Izzy Agricola, Christina Hathaway, Tyler Mann, Tim Crowley
Jodi Greenleaf, Advisor

Wildcat Sports Network: Tribute to Kyler Williams, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Staff
Travis Sherman, Advisor

The Season: Girls’ Soccer, Oxford High School (Southeast Chapter)
Merrick McCool, Andrew Gardner, Eli Hartnett
Diala Chaney, Advisor

 

Public Service (PSAs)

You See, King Career Center (Northwest Chapter)
Ryan Tester, Slade Hallett, Michael Johnson
MacKenzie Banbury, Advisor

Gun Safety, Brentwood High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Christian Gilliam, JJ Blanton, Katie Hart, Morgan Yoder, Ryan Tyler
Ronnie Adcock, Advisor

Dear Diary, Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Sr High (Suncoast Chapter)
Evan Scolnick, Angelyn Escalona, Danielle Link
Charles Lampard, Advisor

”You Can Make a Difference” Suicide Prevention, Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA  (San Francisco / Northern California Chapter)
Sergio Chavez
Daniel Pearce, Advisor

Don’t Smoke Your Dreams Away, Springdale HS Bulldog TV (Mid-America Chapter)
Staff
Rachelle Moore, Advisor

 

Public Affairs/Community Service

Enloe Charity Ball, William G. Enloe High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Luke Buxton, Addy Holmes
Bill Notarnicola, Advisor

Identity Project, Lake Park Audubon High School (Upper Midwest Chapter)
Tatum Polman, Alisha Ware
Laureen Svobodny, Kathryn Anderson, Advisor

Razzle Dazzle, St Edward High School (Lower Great Lakes Chapter)
Adam Issa
Nicholas Kuhar, Advisor

Heroin: Lorain County’s Epidemic, Marion L. Steele High School (Lower Great Lakes Chapter)
Jacob Kelley, Michael Rakar, Ben Zahorec, Reed Dobo
Mark L. Lowrie, Advisor

TEDxLFHS , Lake Forest High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Bailey Lawrence
Steve Douglass, Advisor

 

Commercial

Workplace Etiquette Video, Metro Tech High School (Rocky Mountain/Southwest Chapter)
Natalie Torres, Cande Duran, Ashley Salazar
Bob Marquis, Advisor

MLG Chicago, Lake Forest High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Bailey Lawrence
Steve Douglass, Advisor

Upson Lee NJROTC, Upson Lee High (Southeast Chapter)
Kailil Kendrick
Jim Jarvis, Advisor

Marburn Recruitment Video, Delaware Area Career Center (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Connor McGovern
Josh Gallagan, Advisor

Nashoba News Chieftain Press-Nike Student Commercial, Nashoba Regional High School (Boston/New England)
Ashley Cormier, Lea Markham
Jacquie Carter, Advisor

 

Animation/Graphics/Special Effects

William Putty VFXREEL, Ravenwood High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
William Putty
Shane Shoemake, Advisor

I’m Happy, CTV North Suburbs (Upper Midwest Chapter)
Jim Belden, Elli Bernhagen, Eric Bernhagen, Amelie Elmquist, Arthur Larson-Burda, Alaina Sandau, Martin Wilkens
Jordan Lee Thompson, Sarah Olander, Advisor

I Miss You, Franklin High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Dara Khampane
Gail DeClark, Advisor

Skinner’s Box, Concord Carlisle Regional High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Ben Tull
Joseph Bodenrader, Advisor

Caged Bird, Franklin High School, Elk Grove, CA (San Francisco / Northern California Chapter)
Holly Cheng
Brad Clark, Advisor

 

Audio/Sound

Comeback, Ballard High School (Northwest Chapter)
Avery Davis
Matt Lawrence, Advisor

Welcome Back To School, School District of Lee County (Suncoast Chapter)
Vince Marcucci
Kyle Gilbert, Advisor

Word of the Week:  Cacophony, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Kelsey Pereira
Drew Furtado, Advisor

WCAT Sound Stage – Owen Ladner – Across the Universe, The Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
Alex Bean, Andrew Shackelford
Daniel Searl, Advisor

A Way Back, Moanalua High School, Honolulu, HI (San Francisco / Northern California Chapter)
Camryn Tabiolo
Mark Ikenaga, Advisor

 

Director

Supertramp, Franklin High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Jacob Ferguson
Keri  Thompson, Advisor

Transit, Waubonsie Valley High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Vicram Chatterjee
Brian Wiencek, Advisor

Jarod Clark Director Reel, Royal Oak High School (Michigan Chapter)
Jarod Clark
Mike Conrad, Advisor

Sketchy, Pinkerton Academy (Boston/New England Chapter)
Taylor Rae Lancaster
Christopher Lord, Advisor

Merrick McCool, Andrew Gardner, Oxford High School (Southeast Chapter)
Merrick McCool, Andrew Gardner
Diala Chaney, Advisor

 

Editor

Project Eclipse, Taunton High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Kevin Fisk
Steven Jacques, Advisor

Sydney Miller, Fort Mill High School (Southeast Chapter)
Sydney Miller
Karin McKerney, Advisor

Personal Essay, The Academy of Integrated Humanities and New Media, Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley, CA (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Keldon Duane-McGlashan
Mike Goldstein, Mike Lavezzo, Sharilyn Scharf, Advisor

Max Roeder Editing Composite, Springdale District TV (Mid-America Chapter)
Max Roeder
Trent Jones, Advisor

Esdras Valdez Editing Composite, Springdale District TV (Mid-America Chapter)
Esdras Valdez
Trent Jones, Advisor

 

Photographer

A Spring Break in Orange Beach, AL, Harrison High School (Southeast Chapter)
Hunter Reynolds, Mark Schisler
Bill Phelps, Advisor

Bags, King Career Center (Northwest Chapter)
Ryan Tester
MacKenzie Banbury, Advisor

Ramey Tyler – Photographer, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Ramey Tyler
Travis Sherman, Advisor

Nicholas Conklin Cinematography Reel, Franklin High School, Elk Grove, CA (San Francisco / Northern California Chapter)
Nicholas Conklin
Brad Clark, Dawn Williams, Advisor

Supertramp, Franklin High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Jacob Ferguson
Keri  Thompson, Advisor

 

Talent

Gonzalo Londoño Talent Demo Reel, Christopher Columbus HS/ CCNN Live (Suncoast Chapter)
Gonzalo Londoño
Christina Insua, Omar Delgado, Advisor

Skylar Nicholson Composite, Central Education Center (Southeast Chapter)
Skylar Nicholson
Michael Britt, Advisor

Thalles Nunes Talent Reel, Plymouth North High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Thalles Nunes
Michelle Terry, Advisor

Sarah Murphy Talent Reel, WCTV19 – Whitney High School, Rocklin, CA (San Francisco / Northern California Chapter)
Sarah Murphy
Ben Barnholdt, Advisor

Amanda Thattanakham Talent Composite, Springdale District TV (Mid-America Chapter)
Amanda Thattanak
Trent Jones, Advisor

 

Video Essay (Single Camera Only)  

Females in Aerospace, South Mountain High School (Rocky Mountain/Southwest Chapter)
Amanda Salameh
Heather Jancoski, Advisor

Greasy Luck, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Sean Flynn
Drew Furtado, Advisor

We’re making our dreams happen…, Rockford High School (Michigan Chapter)
Ilene Gould
Kris DeYoung, Advisor

Magic Wheelchairs, Mountain View High School (Southeast Chapter)
Kevin Sanchez
Kolinda Scialabba, Advisor

Stepping into Tradition, Hillcrest High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Emily Peebles
Dave Davis, Advisor

 

Writing

Comeback, Ballard High School (Northwest Chapter)
Skala Leake
Matt Lawrence, Advisor

The Three Steps, Moanalua High School, Honolulu, HI (San Francisco / Northern California Chapter)
Logan Mauricio, Kainoa Ferguson
Mark Ikenaga, Advisor

The Studio, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Jamison Weillenman
Travis Sherman, Advisor

LISTEN!, Dearborn High School (Michigan Chapter)
Madison Murdoch
Kurt Doelle, Advisor

Supertramp, Franklin High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Jacob Ferguson
Keri  Thompson, Advisor