“Digital Drip,” a performance-based show produced by undergraduate students in COM 482: Studio Video Production II, received first place honors in the annual Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts.
BEA’s roots involve preparing college students to enter the business of radio and television, though members share a diversity of interests involving all aspects of telecommunications and electronic media. The Festival of the Arts is an international digital media and broadcast competition for faculty and students and this year received submissions from more than 300 participating schools and more than 1,450 annual entries worldwide. Winners will be recognized during the festival scheduled for April 24-25.
“This award reflects the creative drive and excellence of our students. I’ve been very fortunate to have students who really believe in what we do in the COM/Media Production courses and continually strive for excellence,” said David Pernell, senior lecturer. “The support we have received from the communication studies department and College of Arts and Sciences has been invaluable. We are able to provide students the opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art production facility and produce professional-level work.”
“Digital Drip” placed in the Student Video and Film Competition Studio category for an episode produced in April 2021 featuring local musician MoeSOS DC. The program is in its fourth season and is produced each spring semester.
The award-winning student team – Abby Winstead, Savannah Prince, and Matthew Stott – all graduated in May 2021. The episode’s production team members are Heather Cunningham, Mackenzie Fenn, Pia Ohnheiser, Matthew Stott, Savannah Prince, Dylan Williams, Abby Winstead and Ian Zeph.
“’Digital Drip’ started as this little show idea I thought had the potential to allow students to do great things,” said Pernell. “They have exceeded my expectations. I am always impressed with what they come up with.”
This is the fourth win in three years in the studio category, previously earning a third place and an Award of Excellence in 2021 and a first place in 2020.
“Many entries are from full-time, focused media programs,” said Rick Olsen, chair of the Department of Communication Studies. “We are not solely a media program, but support has allowed us to create a national reputation.”
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