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A team of 14 School of Communication and Media (SCM) students were recognized by the College Television Awards in Los Angeles on April 1 for the production of its New Orleans | Raging Storms Program.

The students spent one week in New Orleans to work on a 30-minute program that won in the News category. The students also won the Seymour Bricker Humanitarian Award that recognizes a project focused on humanitarian efforts. The program was among 132 entries from teams at 35 universities nationwide. Only 21 programs in seven categories received nominations.

�ճ����New Orleans | Raging Storms program was produced by a team of student journalists who traveled to New Orleans over spring break in 2022 to report on two issues important to their generation – Climate Change and Racial Injustice. The special report,��included stories about how the New Orleans and surrounding areas dealt with increasingly violent storms, environmental racism, crime, music, the tourist economy and gentrification. The project was part of a class led by Professor Steve McCarthy and Professor David Sanders. The students spent weeks in preproduction and had a full schedule of filming in Louisiana for one week. After overcoming , the students returned to campus and spent the rest of the semester screening, writing, and editing.

See the moment the team won the award and the acceptance speech:

Senior Journalism and Digital Media major Bernice Ndegwa who wrote and helped produce the program said, “This is only going to open even more doors for SCM and provide amazing experiences for everyone else, Receiving these awards, coupled with such an amazing weekend provided by the Television Academy Foundation, was the perfect  way to honor our work and the people we continue to do this work for.”

Givonna Boggans, who also produced and wrote the program said, “I am blessed to win an award alongside my peers and professors. The greatest lesson I have learned throughout this production is the power of listening. I listened even when no one thought I was listening, and through this decision I have absorbed intangible skills that influenced my research, character choices, and editing.” 

“This was an incredible and fun learning experience for all of us and one I will always cherish,” McCarthy said. “To be recognized by the College Television Awards demonstrates how dedicated our students are and the quality of work they produce. Professor Sanders and I are proud to of the entire team and excited that these awards will provide even more recognition for our students and program.”

Previously, the team also won a Silver Anthem Award in Sustainability, Environment & Climate, News & Journalism, Awareness & Media category for the same program.

Congratulations to the SCM team who collaborated on New Orleans | Raging Storms: 

• 
Solana Brol, Director, Producer, Writer 

• 
Emily Dolan, Director, Producer, Writer 

• 
Louis Biondolillo, Producer, Writer

• Givonna Boggans, Producer, Writer

• 
Michelle Coneo Fernandez, Producer, Writer 

• 
Ryan Breyta, Producer, Writer 

• 
Khan Hussain, Producer, Writer

• Talon Lauriello, Producer, Writer 

• 
Drew Mumich, Producer, Writer 

• 
Bernice Ndegwa, Producer, Writer 

• Keyshawn Reese, Producer, Writer 

• 
Gabby Taylor, Producer, Writer 

• 
Carter Winner, Producer, Writer 

• 
Kaya Maciak, Producer, Writer

About the School of Communication and Media:

Founded in 2012, the School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 1,700. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, communication and media studies, animation and visual effects, and an MA in public and organizational relations, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that include ,�� newspaper,�� Agency, the ,�� OTT streaming platform, and , as well as the , which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Recent national School recognitions include an Edward R. Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and two College Television Awards from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

About the College Television Awards:

The College Television Awards recognize excellence in student production. Administered by the Television Academy Foundation, the program has since grown to a nationwide competition that recognizes students working across program genres in multiple categories. Now, the College Television Awards include donor-supported categories such as the Seymour Bricker Humanitarian Award and the Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Award. These awards continue to spotlight talented storytellers interested in specialized fields in entertainment.

Media Contact: Keith Green, 973-655-3701 or greenk@montclair.edu