Westminster College Broadcast Communications Students and Television Station Receive Awards
Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2012
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College broadcast and digital communications students and Westminster's Cable Network (WCN) received several awards from College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) for projects featured on WCN.
"I'm so proud of our students for receiving these CBI awards," said Brad Weaver, communications studies lecturer. "It says so much about their talent and skill. They are the heart of Westminster Cable and Titan Radio. The students make it a joy to teach at Westminster and serve as an inspiration for their peers. This kind of recognition really shows why our students are placed so quickly after graduation."
"Spring Break with a Purpose" was named Best TV Special Broadcast. The video followed nearly 60 Westminster College students during spring break as they participated in three work trips in the Carolina's through Westminster's Chapter of Habitat for Humanity and Campus Ministries.
Students who worked on the project as reporters and producers include: Corey Benedict, Courtney Crown, Josh Dunn, Ashley Durham, Ryan Johnston, Connor Kobis, Joe Ligo and Hannah Paczkowski. Alyssa Hanna served as executive producer.
"Winning the CBI for ‘Spring Break with a Purpose' was a huge accomplishment," Durham said. "Not only did we justify ourselves as journalists, but we did it by showing the wonderful things Westminster does beyond its community, and that is just truly amazing."
"I am very proud of the ‘Spring Break with a Purpose' crew for sticking with the class and accepting the challenge of working when other students were on vacation," Weaver said.
"The Truth About Natural Gas Fracking in Lawrence and Mercer Counties" was named Best TV News Reporting. The video covered a meeting held at Wilmington High School by the activist group The Fracking Truth Alliance. The group held a panel discussion featuring professionals from various fields involved with natural gas drilling. The piece was researched, written, edited and produced by Ligo. Jessie Klousnitzer and Johnston assisted with interviews and filming.
"Titan Radio Never Stops" was named Best TV Promo. Ligo, the program director for the Westminster's student-run Titan Radio, came up with the concept and produced the video.
"This 30-second promo for Titan Radio features stop-motion animation made up of hundreds of still photographs," Ligo said. "After the success of the music video ‘Easy' for J.D. Eicher and the Goodnights, I wanted to try producing more stop-motion animation projects. The idea came to me in the radio station one day, so I decided to follow through with it. This promo was shot and edited in one morning."
"Get Out" was named Runner Up for Best Public Service Announcement. The video promoted the services offered by Titan Traverse, Westminster College's Adventure Education and Leadership Development program that includes a rope course, trust building and problem-solving activities, and a variety of wilderness based adventure activities. Ligo and Andrea Tice worked on this project.
Weaver's students said their accomplishments would not be possible without his support.
"Mr. Weaver challenges us constantly to get better at our profession," Corey Benedict said. "During the ‘Spring Break with a Purpose' trip, he helped us out getting the shots we needed and helped us put the documentary all together. It was a pleasure working with him."
The broadcast and digital communications program is one of the largest and fastest growing at Westminster College, offering students interested in radio and television an education with hands on experience, including: remote broadcasts of sports and other special events, in-studio production of news, magazine and interview shows, announcing and managing Titan Radio, special feature productions, and web and internet journalism on www.wcn247.com.
The objective of the broadcast and digital communications program is to prepare students for entry-level and subsequent management positions in digital media: radio, television, cable and a range of other organizations.
Contact Weaver at (724) 946-7238 or email for additional information.
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