What began as a joke – a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department – spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of “Crime & Parody,” a new documentary co-produced by Elon graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

At its center, “Crime & Parody” follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds – eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court – the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film’s narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

“’Crime & Parody’ is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,” said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. “You’ll laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.”

The film’s balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more – a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

“This felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,” they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at Elon, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at Elon. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting “Children of the Underground,” a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The Elon graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche’s documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking – and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

“Crime & Parody” has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man’s arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.

A team of School of Communications students has earned national recognition in the 2026 Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) , receiving an honorable mention for its campaign implementation and overall deliverables.

The Bateman Competition is PRSSA’s premier national case study competition, challenging �þ��� student teams to design and execute a public relations campaign for a real-world client. This year’s competition featured 46 entries from students representing universities across the country, with 11 teams earning honorable mention distinction. A full list of honored institutions appears below.

Elon’s team developed and implemented a strategic communications campaign for ACCESS Newswire, a media monitoring and news distribution service. The research and planning for the campaign began in January. The campaign implementation, conducted from February to March, focused on tactics to promote the company’s new educational program and platform, which provides professors free access so students can gain hands-on experience with press release distribution, media pitching, sentiment analysis and media coverage tracking.

The Elon student team included Hannah Parker ’26 (account manager), Sydney Griffith ’29, Brooke Menzock ’26, Sandy Orozco-Rosaldo ’28, Taylor Radney ’28 and Grace Wizel ’28. Karen Lindsey, assistant professor of strategic communications, served as the team’s faculty adviser and applauded the students’ efforts.

“Our Elon Bateman team spent countless hours in the evenings and on weekends to research, plan and implement the campaign,” she said. “From writing a series of thought leadership articles for Substack to facilitating faculty focus groups on and off campus, they created a meaningful campaign that challenged them.

“I’m incredibly proud of how they balanced the demands of their regular coursework with dedication to this competition. The experience produced the kind of work for their professional portfolios that employers want to see.”

The competition’s three finalists will present their campaigns to the national PRSSA board and ACCESS Newswire representatives on May 7 to determine the winner.

Bateman Case Study Competition

Finalists:
Montclair State University
Texas State University AdvoCats
Texas State University StarCats

Honorable Mentions:
Brigham Young University – Navy Team
California State University, Long Beach
�þ���
High Point University
Kent State University Gold
Louisiana State University
Loyola University New Orleans
University of Florida CommuniGATORS
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Oklahoma Gaylord College
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

In December, as Anderson presented the agency’s Gold Bear Award – a peer-driven recognition celebrating employees who best represent the company’s culture and values – he lauded Young’s willingness to take on “massive responsibilities,” commending her ability to “effortlessly power through high-pressure projects.”

“She’s the person everyone turns to for answers and support, uplifting every team she touches and quietly cleaning up problems that aren’t even hers to solve,” Anderson told audience members.

As he concluded and Young’s name flashed across the massive screen behind him, the room erupted in applause – a moment captured in a video Young shared on her LinkedIn page.

The award capped off a standout year for Young, who serves as an assistant producer at TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the global network of agencies responsible for one of the world’s most iconic brands, Apple. Her year included work on major Apple-related projects such as the Mac for �þ��� campaign, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Dua Lipa’s “Shot on iPhone” tour and Apple TV rebranding efforts.

Reflecting on that work, Young said the experience has been both challenging and rewarding.

“I am so incredibly grateful for these experiences and the amazing, incredibly talented teams behind them,” she said, noting how meaningful it was to be part of such high-profile, creatively ambitious work.

Young’s path to TBWA\Media Arts Lab began at Elon, where a DEI in Hollywood class helped shape her professional direction. Encouraged by former Elon faculty members J. McMerty and Rachel Ramist, she applied for and landed an internship with the Television Academy. That experience, along with her participation in the Elon in LA program, led her to move to Los Angeles after graduation. Once on the West Coast, she first worked as a personal assistant, then as a production coordinator at a social media marketing company.

As Young began thinking about her next step, a recruiter from TBWA\Media Arts Lab contacted her about a production coordinator role in the agency’s broadcast production department. During interviews, she learned that her internships – especially with the Television Academy and RadicalMedia – helped her stand out. She was offered the position and later moved into her current role, where she supports lead producers to ensure projects run smoothly from start to finish.

As part of her work, Young organizes security plans, tracks creative assets, coordinates meetings with production companies, and supports communication among producers in editorial, finishing and mix. Her goal, she said, is to make sure every project has what it needs to succeed.

Working at a global creative agency has reshaped how Young views storytelling. She said she was surprised by how much care goes into even the shortest pieces of content. Creative teams analyze work frame by frame, fixing even the smallest details before releasing it into the world. Seeing that process firsthand has made her more aware of the thought, precision and responsibility behind creative work.

When she learned she had received the Gold Bear Award, Young said she felt grateful more than anything else. “I consider myself lucky to work with the teams I have,” she said. “The whole production team is a bunch of rockstars, not to mention our creative department and account teams. To be recognized by them makes me feel like I am doing something right.”

As she reflects on her journey from Elon to one of the world’s most influential creative agencies, Young emphasizes the importance of attitude, effort and openness to opportunity. Her advice to current Elon students is simple: say yes often and show that you are willing to work. Some of the best projects, she said, come from teams who are fully committed to making something great – and who bring a positive attitude, even when things get stressful.

“What I’ve found in internships and entry-level roles is that folks who show that they are passionate and team-oriented seem to do well,” Young said. “When I first started at MAL, the people who stood out to me, who had clearly left their mark on the agency, were those who were team players, focused on supporting others and achieving the best final result.”

Elon News Network earned 11 awards during the National College Media Conference hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press in San Francisco, March 5-7.

The awards contest included hundreds of entries from college media outlets from across the country. Below is a list of the Elon winners.

• Finalist – Online Pacemaker | Staff |
• 2nd Place – Best of Show Broadcast | “ENN Tonight” |
• 2nd Place – Best of Show Newspaper | The Pendulum |
• 4th Place – Best of Show Digital Newsletter | Elon News Network Weekly Newsletter |
• 6th Place – Best of Show Website |
• 6th Place – Best of Show News Story | Lilly Molina and Charlotte Pfabe |
• 10th Place – Best of Show Sports Story | Benjamin Berfield |
• 8th Place – Best of Show Feature Story | Charlotte Pfabe |
• 6th Place – Best of Show Newspaper Design | Sarah T. Moore |
• 7th Place – Best of Show Broadcast News Story | Anjolina Fantaroni | “
• 10th Place – Best of Show Broadcast Sports Story | Monika Jurevicius | “

Elon students attending the National College Media Convention conference included Evan Cooper ’28, Trista Panagakos ’28, Megan Walsh ’28 and Nolan Williams ’28. They were accompanied by Kelly Furnas, senior lecturer in journalism and ENN adviser.

ENN is a student-run news organization covering �þ��� and the broader Alamance County community. It includes The Pendulum newspaper, “ENN Tonight” broadcast, elonnewsnetwork.com website, as well as social media accounts, podcasts and newsletters. regardless of their experience level, major or year in school.

The School of Communications community gathered March 5 in Snow Family Grand Atrium for the third annual Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence, an interactive event highlighting projects and initiatives advancing inclusive storytelling and media practice.

The program featured table conversations where attendees moved throughout the space to engage with students, faculty and staff about ongoing initiatives and projects.

Take a closer look at our Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence with our .

Assistant Dean Vanessa Bravo opened the event by emphasizing that inclusive excellence remains a core priority within the School of Communications and across �þ���.

“Inclusive excellence is deeply important to us,” Bravo said. “These values have always mattered and will continue to matter.”

Throughout the program, attendees explored a range of subjects, including work by student organizations, projects from Live Oak Communications — the school’s student-run communications agency — student journalism and research efforts, faculty scholarship and coursework connected to the university’s Advancing Equity Requirement.

Other discussions focused on topics such as women in sports, student research featured in academic journals, and projects examining how communications and media can amplify diverse voices and perspectives.

Bravo said the event helped the school community better understand the breadth of inclusive excellence initiatives taking place across the School of Communications.

“This is a great opportunity to learn about the many diversity-, equity- and inclusion-related efforts happening throughout the School of Communications,” she said. “From student organizations and faculty research to journalism projects and alumni work, these efforts demonstrate how our community is engaging these issues in meaningful ways.”

“The discussions highlighted how quickly the communications landscape is evolving — and why questions of equity and representation remain central to that change,” said Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and chair of the Inclusive Excellence Committee. “Our students, faculty and alumni are actively examining how media systems shape who is represented and whose voices are heard.”

Bravo thanked the faculty members who organized the event through the school’s Inclusive Excellence Committee, including Ahearn, Young Do Kim, Sydney Nicolla, and Lee Bush, as well as the students, faculty and staff who hosted conversations during the program.

More than 130 students gathered in Snow Family Grand Atrium on March 3 for the Communications and Sport Management Meet & Greet, an event designed to connect Elon students with industry professionals, internship opportunities and career insights.

Hosted in partnership with the Student Professional Development Center and the School of Communications, the event brought together employers from across the communications and sport industries. Representatives from organizations including APCO, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Carolina Core FC, SportsMEDIA Technology and the Burlington Sock Puppets met with students interested in exploring career paths and building their professional networks.

For photos of the Meet & Greet, visit our .

A defining feature of this year’s event was the strong presence of Elon alumni, who participated both in person and virtually to mentor current students and share insights from their professional journeys.

Alumni representatives included Shanna Van Beek ’12 of APCO and Laker Figueroa ’25 of the Burlington Sock Puppets, who attended in person, as well as Jack Taylor ’21 of Golin, Catherine Nester ’22 of The Walt Disney Company, Lexie Flood ’21 of Edelman, Luke LeSourd ’13 of NFL Films and Elena Kyriakos ’18 of NBC Universal, who joined virtually to connect with students.

Ryan Taube, associate director of corporate and employer relations for the School of Communications, said the event’s alumni participation added a meaningful dimension.

“What made this year special is the number of fantastic alumni who participated,” Taube said. “Our alumni always want to give back to current students, and this networking opportunity provided them a chance to speak about their current roles and how Elon prepared them to be successful in a competitive job market.”

In total, 138 students attended the event, engaging in one-on-one conversations with employers about internships, entry-level roles and career preparation. The event was coordinated with support from Ross Wade, Amber Moser, Alison Doherty, Kameryn Taylor and Taube.

Participating organizations – In-Person

APCO
Burlington Sock Puppets
�þ��� Greensboro
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.
Carolina Core FC
�þ��� – Athletic Department
�þ��� – Isabella Cannon Global Education Center
�þ��� – Office of Alumni Engagement
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
SportsMEDIA Technology (SMT)

Participating organizations – Virtual

Columbus Blue Jackets
Edelman
NBC Universal
Golin
NFL Films
The Walt Disney Company

The event, scheduled from 4:20 to 5:30 p.m., will feature a dynamic speed-rotation format, allowing attendees to engage in a variety of discussions in 15-minute intervals. Faculty, staff, students and alumni will lead conversations exploring how their work advances access, representation and belonging in the communications and sport fields.

This year’s table topics reflect the breadth of the school’s work – from health literacy and neuroinclusive communication to religious diversity, brand activism, student journalism and the influence of algorithms on movie audiences. Other sessions will spotlight �þ��� research, alumni leadership and student-driven initiatives that aim to build a more connected and representative community.

“Reaching underrepresented people is the through-line for so much of our work in the School of Communications,” said Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and chair of the Inclusive Excellence Committee. “These presenters demonstrate how dynamic our field is, and how tapped in Elon students, faculty and alumni are to these changing systems and the ways they impact equity in communications.”

Complimentary beverages and snacks will be provided.

For more information, contact Ahearn at lahearn@elon.edu.

Table Topic Discussions and Presenters

1. Engaging All Audiences Through Neuroinclusive Communication Practices
   James Holsinger, Executive Director, Koenigsberger Learning Center
2. Live Oak Communications: Rooted In Community
   Hal Vincent, Associate Teaching Professor, Strategic Communications
   
3. Understanding is Power: What is Health Literacy and Why Does it Matter?
   Julie Lellis, Professor, Strategic Communications
4. The Politics of Play: Race, Gender, and Power in Sport
   Lindsay Pieper, Assistant Professor, Sport Management
5. Diversity in the Age of Algorithms
   Sowjanya Kudva, Assistant Professor, Cinema and Television Arts
6. Exploring Religion in a Diverse �þ��� Community
   Anthony Hatcher, Professor, Journalism & Max Negin, Assistant Professor, Cinema and Television Arts
7. Faces of the Future: Undergrad Research on the Cutting Edge
   Maddie Bauman ’26 & Halli Harwood ’26
8. Friend or Faux: The Role of Authenticity in Brand Activism and Advocacy
   Shanetta Pendleton, Assistant Professor, Strategic Communications
9. Alumni Spotlight: A Journalistic Voice for Justice and Clarity
   Robin Adams Cheeley ’81
10. Unity in Communications: A Student Initiative to Build Diverse Community
11. International Student Spotlight: Navigating Across Cultures
    Ethan Wu ’27 & Bernardo Vargas-Lopez ’26
12. Student journalists: Challenging Inequity in the Real World
    Estella Hoye ’27 & Cassie Weymouth ’26

Live sports may be the last true mass audience in media – and the future of how fans watch them is rapidly changing. That was the focus of the 2026 Sport Management Symposium, where award-winning sports writer and broadcaster Seth Davis headlined a conversation about the evolving business of live sports.

Held Feb. 25, in Turner Theatre, the annual symposium explored how live sports continue to adjust across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms – and what those changes mean for leagues, networks and fans. Davis joined the symposium virtually after a blizzard in the Northeast disrupted his broadcast schedule.

.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Assistant Professor Bill Squadron, Davis offered students an unfiltered look at how disruption – from digital media to NIL to legalized sports betting – is transforming the industry.

Davis reflected on two major inflection points that transformed sports media during his career: the rise of the internet and the advent of the iPhone and social media. He described how legacy media companies were slow to adapt to digital distribution models, fundamentally altering the economics of journalism. Yet despite rapid technological change – and the emergence of artificial intelligence – Davis emphasized that the fundamentals of storytelling endure.

“There is still an appetite, particularly in the world of sports, for compelling programming and good storytelling,” he said.

He also addressed the growing challenge of misinformation and AI-generated content, noting that journalism has never been more important as audiences navigate an increasingly fragmented information ecosystem.

Turning to college athletics, Davis described the NIL and transfer portal era as a “mass disruption,” shaped by long-standing legal vulnerabilities in the NCAA model. He discussed how expanded athlete compensation and annual free agency have made programs more transactional, complicating roster stability and culture-building while also increasing athletes’ earning power and freedom.

Davis also addressed the normalization of legalized sports betting and its impact on media coverage. Once referenced subtly during broadcasts, betting lines and odds are now openly discussed, creating new revenue streams while raising new ethical and regulatory questions for leagues and media companies alike.

Throughout the conversation, Davis returned to a central theme for students preparing to enter the industry: adaptability matters, but strong reporting is essential. In a media landscape crowded with podcasts and commentary, he urged aspiring professionals to focus on credibility and expertise.

“Become a good reporter, become an expert, develop your sources, develop your traction in the space, and you got a chance to stand out and move forward,” Davis said.

The symposium continued with two expert panels that examined the industry from league, network and technology perspectives.

The first panel, “League TV Rights Strategy in a Shifting Media Landscape,” featured Tyler McBride of the Atlantic Coast Conference, sports media consultant John Kosner and Sports Business Journal reporter Austin Karp. The discussion centered on the delicate balance leagues must strike between revenue and reach as traditional cable subscriptions decline and streaming platforms multiply.

The panelists emphasized that media rights negotiations are no longer solely about dollars. Exposure, demographic reach and production quality now play critical roles in determining the right partner.

Framing live sports as the industry’s last true mass audience driver, Kosner made the stakes clear: “You can’t be in the advertising business going forward, if you’re not big in sports,” he said.

The group also examined the growing influence of technology companies in the sports rights marketplace. While legacy networks once relied heavily on subscriber bundles, streaming platforms operate under different economic models, with advertising and global scale driving long-term strategy. Panelists noted that must-have properties – such as the NFL, NBA and major college football – continue to command escalating fees, while mid-tier and regional properties face growing pressure in an increasingly selective marketplace.

The second panel, “Tech Companies, Streaming and Sports Content,” shifted the focus to distribution, content creation and the changing nature of sports media careers. Media executive and journalist Michele Steele, former Amazon Prime Video sports strategy executive Michael Morris and Elon alumnus Alex Day ’16 shared perspectives from traditional broadcast, streaming and digital-first content environments.

Panelists explored how streaming platforms and social media have lowered barriers to entry while simultaneously increasing competition. Steele described the ongoing shift away from linear television, noting that sports remain one of the few forms of content that consistently drive live audiences. Morris provided insight into how tech companies evaluate sports rights as part of broader entertainment and advertising strategies.

Day, a rising voice in New York sports media, offered a firsthand account of building a career at the intersection of social media, brand partnerships and live sports coverage, explaining that content creators are increasingly operating as independent media brands.

“There’s not a great barrier to entry right now, so you have to come up with some creative ideas to do it a little bit differently, get people engaged,” Day said, encouraging students to differentiate themselves in a crowded digital landscape.

The documentary takes viewers inside Christman’s journey as she searches for healing through medical treatment, physical training and surf therapy, showing both the heavy moments and the hope that carry her forward. Along the way, the film connects with military, LGBTQ+ and cancer communities through a story rooted in perseverance and purpose. In related news, “Forward” was recently recognized in the 2026 BEA Festival of Media Arts.

For Luchsinger, the film’s reception at the South Carolina festival underscored the responsibility he felt in telling Christman’s story.

“As a Marine, you’re taught to serve something bigger than yourself, and that mindset stays with me as a filmmaker,” Luchsinger said. “This film isn’t about me telling a story – it’s about honoring Ashley’s courage and telling her family’s story with care. To have audiences connect with that and choose ‘Forward’ means a great deal, especially within a film community that values stories of service, resilience and hope.”

That commitment to care extended to the film’s entire creative team. Luchsinger worked closely with Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts Max Negin and cinematographer Drew Glickman to bring Christman’s story to the screen. The journalism professor spent more than a year documenting her experience, building trust with Christman and her family to ensure the story was told with authenticity and compassion.

Christman accepted the award in Beaufort on Luchsinger’s behalf and shared how deeply the film – and the festival experience – resonated with her and her family. To view her acceptance speech, .

“This week has been an emotional wave that leaves me almost at a loss for words,” Christman said. “There’s something powerful about experiencing the full spectrum of life – the heartbreak, the joy, the laughter, the tears. To feel all of that through the work of the artists and filmmakers in this room has been incredibly moving.”

She also praised Luchsinger’s approach to telling her story with empathy. “(Alex) bore witness to our story – my family’s story – with such love and compassion, and that means so much to us,” Christman said.

Christman also reflected on how the project began and why she felt compelled to share her story. She explained that the film grew out of Luchsinger’s interest in exploring the healing power of the ocean, shaped in part by his own experience transitioning from military service. Through connections with the Jimmy Miller Foundation, Luchsinger was introduced to Christman and her family, laying the groundwork for the documentary.

“I also want to say thank you to Drew Glickman — an amazing videographer, incredibly talented — who felt like part of our family while capturing our life,” she said.

The film’s impact was felt throughout the festival, including during the presentation of the Audience Choice Award by Barry Wilson, a longtime festival supporter. In his award introduction, Wilson reflected on the festival’s role as a place “where stories are honored, artists are celebrated, and our community comes together.”

“To the filmmakers here today, thank you for trusting this stage with your work,” he said. “Your creativity gives this festival its heart, and today, one film captured the hearts of the audience in a special way.”

That one film was “Forward.”

About the Beaufort International Film Festival

The Beaufort International Film Festival is an annual film event held in Beaufort, South Carolina, typically each February. Founded in 2007 and produced by the nonprofit Beaufort Film Society, the festival screens independent feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation and screenplays from around the world. The festival brings filmmakers and audiences together through screenings, educational forums and community events, and is recognized as one of the fastest-growing film festivals in the Southeast.

�þ��� students and faculty captured 13 awards in the , an international competition recognizing excellence in digital media and broadcasting. The honors included 10 student awards and three faculty/staff awards, selected from more than 2,250 entries representing over 300 colleges and universities across categories such as audio, film and video, documentary, news and interactive multimedia.

The school’s top student finish came from , a cinema and television arts B.F.A. major, who placed third in the Narrative Audio category for “.” The project explores the roots and history of NASCAR in rural North Carolina and was recognized for its storytelling and production quality.

Additionally, Elon News Network’s “ENN Tonight” program earned an Award of Excellence in the Television Newscast (3 Days a Week or Less) category for its , featuring coverage of SNAP benefits, Elon’s announcement to establish a grade school for children with dyslexia, and an SGA fireside chat with Elon President Connie Book.

Faculty honors followed, led by Bryan Baker, director of technology, operations and multimedia projects, who earned two awards in the faculty/staff competitions. Baker received an Award of Excellence in the Promotional Video category for the School of Communications’ , a nearly seven-minute retrospective produced as part of the school’s Homecoming celebration. He also earned Best of Competition in the Social Media category for a , which was shared on the school’s Instagram page on June 23, 2025.

The awards also included recognition for “Forward,” a short-form documentary by Alex Luchsinger, associate professor of journalism. The film documents U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Ashley Christman’s battle with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer and her determination to live for her wife and young son, and continue serving in the Marine Corps. The film highlights resilience across military, LGBTQ+ and cancer communities, offering a powerful portrait of perseverance and hope. Luchsinger worked closely with Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts Max Negin and cinematographer Drew Glickman. The film is scheduled to be shown at the in late February.

Elon award recipients

Student Audio Competition

Narrative Audio Category
3rd Place: The Timebomb Podcast; Molly Clayton, �þ���
Award of Excellence: The Atlanta Fox Theatre; Lucy Samuels, �þ���

PSA, Promo, or Commercial Category
Award of Excellence: C&R Ski and Outdoor commercial; Jackson Bennett, �þ���
Award of Excellence: Maker Hub Promo; Kira Hancuff, �þ���

Student Documentary Competition

Micro-Documentary Category
Award of Excellence: A Terribly (Ab)Normal Kid; Mackenzie James, �þ���

Student Film & Video Competition

Mini Narrative Category
Award of Excellence: We’ve Been Here Before; Christian Kelly, �þ���

Short Narrative Category
Award of Excellence: Lonesome Tune; Kelly Locke, �þ���
Award of Excellence: On Guard; Will Calkins, �þ���

Student News Competition

Television Anchor Category
Award of Excellence: Charlotte Pfabe Anchor Reel; Charlotte Pfabe, �þ���

Television Newscast (3 Days a Week or Less)
Award of Excellence: ENN Tonight, Nov. 10, 2025; Olivia Berger & Fiona McAllister, �þ���

Faculty Documentary Competition

Short-Form Documentary Category
Award of Excellence: Forward; Alex Luchsinger, Drew Glickman & Max Negin, �þ���

Promotional Video Category
Award of Excellence – Adjunct Faculty & Staff: �þ��� School of Communications 25th Anniversary; Bryan Baker, �þ���

Faculty Interactive Multimedia Competition

Social Media Category
Best of Competition – Adjunct Faculty & Staff: Kaitlyn Hannan, Student Profile; Bryan Baker, �þ���

About the Festival of Media Arts:

The is an international refereed exhibition of faculty creative activities and a national showcase for student work. The festival provides a venue for exhibition of winning submissions, including recognition of project authors, through showcase and awards sessions held during BEA’s annual convention in Las Vegas. The festival seeks to enhance and extend creative activities, �þ���, and professional standards in broadcasting and other forms of electronically mediated communication.