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WT Communication Students, Faculty Honored with 19 National Broadcasting Society Awards, Including Chapter of the Year
Contact: Dr. Michael McFarland, 806-651-2797, mmcfarland@wtamu.edu
CANYON, Texas—Communication students and faculty in the West Texas A&M University chapter of the National Broadcasting Society won 19 awards during the annual National Electronic Media Association/NBS-AERho conference.
WT was recognized with three awards within the NBS-AERho Association Awards and was one of three winners named as national Chapter of the Year. Rachel Widder, the president of WT’s NBS chapter, was selected as the Alpha Epsilon Rho Member of the Year. Freshman Jordan Conde earned Student Member of the Year, Honorable Mention. (Full list of winners below.)
“Being recognized at a national level for the time and effort I put into NBS is extremely rewarding and humbling,” Widder said.
WT student work submitted for the 58th Annual National Undergraduate Student Electronic Media Competition earned five Grand Prizes, two Special Recognition Honorable Mentions, and eight Honorable Mentions. Dr. Mike McFarland also won first place in the professional competition within the drama/musical category.
Sophia Britto of Amarillo won three awards including a special recognition honorable mention in the videography/cinematography category for her entry “Busy Bees.”
“The best way to produce any kind of content is to simply have fun with it,” Britto said. “At the end of the day, it’s important that you’re proud of your work, you enjoyed doing it, and you learned something.”
Jordan Conde of Dumas shares a grand prize with Britto and five others for “Best Zoom NBS Chapter Meeting.” Conde also brought home three honorable mentions.
“I believe whole heartedly in being involved and committing yourself to what you believe in. I am inspired by who I aspire to be,” Conde said.
Winners were announced at the 58th annual convention March 26-28 which was held virtually because of COVID-19.
WT’s mission is accomplished by offering intellectually challenging, critically reflective and regionally responsive academic programs that provide students keen insight and vocational vitality, as laid out in the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
About the WTAMU Department of Communication
The WTAMU Department of Communication houses two undergraduate programs: Communication Studies and Media Communication, with three areas of emphasis in each program as well as the option to seek teacher certification in speech or journalism. The master’s program offers two areas of emphasis: one in Communication and one in Media Management. Both can be completed online. For more information on the department, please visit wtamu.edu/academics/college-fine-arts-humanities/department-communication/index.html.
About West Texas A&M University
WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. With enrollment of more than 10,000, WT offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 40 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 15 men’s and women’s athletics programs.
WTAMU NBS Awards
NBS Chapter of the Year – West Texas A&M University
Student Member of the Year, Honorable Mention – Jordan Conde (Dumas)
Alpha Epsilon Rho Member of the Year – Rachel Widder (Galveston)
WTAMU NBS Professional Production Award
Drama/Musical “Me & Ricky” Dr. Michael McFarland
WTAMU NBS Student Grand Prizes
Category Title Winner(s)/Hometown
Audio Promo “Walkman Online” Jordan Unfred (Lubbock)
Audio Studio or Live “WTAMU Choir” Rachel Widder (Galveston)
Performance Segment
Video Comedy Segment “Welcome to the JBK” Jordan Unfred (Lubbock)
Ashley Venable (Baltimore)
Graphic Design/Animation “WALT” Jordan Unfred (Lubbock)
Best Zoom Chapter Meeting “WTAMU NBS” Rachel Widder (Galveston)
Ashley Venable (Baltimore)
Jordan Conde (Dumas)
Sophia Britto (Amarillo)
Jeanine Fabbri (Canadian)
Elizabeth Ragan (Houston)
Karee Belmares (Turkey)
WTAMU NBS Honorable Mention
*Denotes Special Recognition
Video News Package “The Hero” Corrin Davis (Amarillo)
*Video Instructional/Corporate/ “First Gen Promo” Rachel Widder (Galveston)
Promotional Production Ashley Venable (Baltimore)
Jordan Conde (Dumas)
Sophia Britto (Amarillo)
Jeanine Fabbri (Canadian)
Elizabeth Ragan (Houston)
Karree Belmares (Turkey)
Video Sports Segment “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” WTTV Sports One
Video Sports Segment “Nothing Basic” WTTV Sports One
Video Program Opener “Falling into Dance: Stream Intro” Jordan Unfred (Lubbock)
*Videography/ “Busy Bees” Sophia Britto (Amarillo)
Cinematography
Drama Program Script “Farewell, Hope. Farewell, Fear.” Jamie Abbott (Canyon)
Drama Program Script “The Feast” Jordan Conde (Dumas)
Student Academic Paper “The Media Narrative in Jamie Abbott (Canyon)
The Dark Knight Rises: An
Application of Media Theory”
Production During a “Video Announcements” Jordan Conde (Dumas)
Pandemic
—WTAMU—