Cronkite students win 13 Rocky Mountain Emmy Student Production Awards
Cronkite students attending the Rocky Mountain Southwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Student Production Awards. Photo courtesy the Cronkite School/ASU
Students at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication led the field in the prestigious Rocky Mountain Southwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Student Production Awards, announced Sept. 6. Recognized for their outstanding media work in a dozen categories, Cronkite students earned 13 wins — more than any other college or university.
Nominated 41 times across 15 categories, Cronkite students scored wins in reporting, writing, sports program, magazine program and more. After sweeping the nominations in the “College Talent — News or Sports” category, two students, Max Williams and Lauren Avenatti, each won awards. Also among the winners: Blake Niemann, now a multimedia journalist at Fox 10 Phoenix, who walked away with two awards.
“Watching one student receive an award of this caliber is really gratifying. Hearing the Cronkite name called out over and over for recognition is really humbling and overwhelming,” said Allysa Adams, assistant teaching professor and Cronkite News managing editor. “Our students’ talent never ceases to amaze me.”
The Rocky Mountain Southwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honors the art and science of professionals and students working in television with regional Emmy Awards and Student Production Awards. It covers the regions of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and southeastern California.
Cronkite School student winners
- College Hard News Report: "Voices From Panama" — Leah Phillips.
- College Feature News Report: "Grand Champion Family" — Blake Niemann.
- College Nonfiction Short Form: "Us Against U(ranium)" — Kanoa Joseph Kalaulani McNicoll Jacang, Samantha Mooth and Karen Bartunek.
- College Public Affairs/Community Service: "Gen Z Voters" — Denzen Cortez.
- College Interview/Discussion: "Sit-down with ASU’s Kenny Dillingham" — Devon Henderson.
- College Magazine Program: "Arizona: A Shifting Landscape" — Carlisa Poirier, Cristina Robles-Ruiz and Alexandra Zurborg.
- College Sports Story: "Playing Through Adversity" — Blake Niemann.
- College Sports Program: Cronkite Sports Live Season 22 — Ronan Heykoop, Justin Carter, Ryan Sykora, Luke Galindo, Justin Lacertosa and Gabby Chernoff.
- College Promotional Video: "Truitt Robinson ASU Hype Video" — Truitt Robinson.
- College Photographer: "The Glove Lab" — Andres Armenta.
- College Talent — News or Sports: "The Best of Max Williams" — Max Williams; "The Best of Lauren Avenatti" — Lauren Avenatti.
- College Writer: "Draft Day Journey" — Max Zepeda.
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