Bryan Baker and Alex Luchsinger received national recognition for creative projects spanning social media, promotional video and documentary film.
Ƶ 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, Ƶ 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, Ƶ’s announcement to establish a grade school for children with dyslexia, and an SGA fireside chat with Ƶ 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.
Ƶ award recipients
Student Audio Competition
Narrative Audio Category
3rd Place: The Timebomb Podcast; Molly Clayton, Ƶ
Award of Excellence: The Atlanta Fox Theatre; Lucy Samuels, Ƶ
PSA, Promo, or Commercial Category
Award of Excellence: C&R Ski and Outdoor commercial; Jackson Bennett, Ƶ
Award of Excellence: Maker Hub Promo; Kira Hancuff, Ƶ
Student Documentary Competition
Micro-Documentary Category
Award of Excellence: A Terribly (Ab)Normal Kid; Mackenzie James, Ƶ
Student Film & Video Competition
Mini Narrative Category
Award of Excellence: We’ve Been Here Before; Christian Kelly, Ƶ
Short Narrative Category
Award of Excellence: Lonesome Tune; Kelly Locke, Ƶ
Award of Excellence: On Guard; Will Calkins, Ƶ
Student News Competition
Television Anchor Category
Award of Excellence: Charlotte Pfabe Anchor Reel; Charlotte Pfabe, Ƶ
Television Newscast (3 Days a Week or Less)
Award of Excellence: ENN Tonight, Nov. 10, 2025; Olivia Berger & Fiona McAllister, Ƶ
Faculty Documentary Competition
Short-Form Documentary Category
Award of Excellence: Forward; Alex Luchsinger, Drew Glickman & Max Negin, Ƶ
Promotional Video Category
Award of Excellence – Adjunct Faculty & Staff: Ƶ School of Communications 25th Anniversary; Bryan Baker, Ƶ
Faculty Interactive Multimedia Competition
Social Media Category
Best of Competition – Adjunct Faculty & Staff: Kaitlyn Hannan, Student Profile; Bryan Baker, Ƶ
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, teaching, and professional standards in broadcasting and other forms of electronically mediated communication.