Rogers State University students and recent graduates received awards for their outstanding work in radio, scriptwriting and television during the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association student award competition in April.
“Our students demonstrate their gifts and talent in this competition. Our communication faculty bring years of real-world experience to the classroom,” Lee Williams, assistant professor in the department of communications, said. “Each year our program gets stronger and our students get stronger. We build each other.”
OBEA holds the annual competition for undergraduate students enrolled at its member institutions across the state. Each entry is judged and critiqued by local media professionals.
In the radio category, senior Hannah Gray and recent graduate Tucker Hopper placed third in the radio personality and talent reel category for their spot “Swoon City.” Junior Evan Wallace placed second in the promotional spot category for her spot “Friday Rap Up Promo.”
In the script writing category, senior Seif Drywater placed second for “Mercury in Retrograde” and alumnus Cade Thomas placed third for the script “Ribbon.” In the television category, alumna Kenna Stimson placed third for the documentary “Nana.”
“It is a great feeling when students take the skills they have picked up in classes and use them to create something tangible,” RSU Radio General Manager Tip Crowley said. “These six students have been recognized for their exceptional work out of many students from across the state. It goes to show how outstanding RSU communications students are.”
In addition to the OBEA awards, RSU student work was accepted into the Bare Bones Film Festival. Senior Modupe Airehrour wrote, shot and produced a documentary on Black Wall Street, the thriving business district destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Thomas’ capstone project, “Ribbon,” was also accepted into the festival. Additionally, Thomas was a featured speaker at the Kansas City Film Festival where he discussed the yearlong production.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently approved restructured degree options within the Department of Communications at RSU. A Bachelor of Arts in Communications includes options in strategic communication, broadcasting and new media, and communication arts.
The Student Broadcasting Association at Rogers State University is focused on preparing the next generation of broadcast professionals. For more information, visit www.rsu.edu/communications.