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Screen Savvy: UNCW Students, Employees Earn Telly Awards

UNCW's Department of Communication Studies, Distance Education and eLearning and Media Production teams are among the recipients of this year's Telly Awards, the world's largest honor for video and television across all screens.

Two student teams in the Department of Communication Studies’ digital creativity and production courses were recipients of Bronze Awards. Building a Brand: KBSWIM placed in the “Social Video General – Student” category. The video examines how Kenzie Bongiorno, owner and designer of KBSWIM, a sustainable swimwear and apparel brand, built her brand. The creative team included Alex Katsouridis '23 and seniors Morgan Conley and Anthony Woodruff.

The “Digital Drip” episode Luke Pratapas ft. Hunny Glaze placed in the “General Online” category. “Digital Drip” is an ongoing series that features local musicians, dancers and other performing artists. The series has received multiple Telly awards and other recognitions in the past. William Matthews '23 and senior Thaddaeus Friedline produced this year’s award-winning episode.

"We are always honored when our students receive outside recognition for their efforts in our courses," said Dr. Rick Olsen, communication studies department chair. "It is helpful to our students to have that reminder that they are doing real things and are learning transferable skills, including collaboration, problem-solving and confidence with technology."

The Office of Distance Education and eLearning was a Silver Award winner in the “Series – Online” category for its Pediatric Comfy Care Clinic project, a virtual advanced practice nursing clinic developed by Dr. April Braswell in a pediatric doctoral course in the UNCW School of Nursing program. The clinic was designed as a series of rigorous pediatric case studies for family nurse practitioner students. The creative team included Jack Horn, Distance Education and eLearning video producer, and Brittany Denning, instructional designer.

"I enjoyed working with Brittany Denning and Dr. April Braswell on this project," said Horn. "It was different from most of the videos we produce, so early on, I could see them winning an award with all the imaginative work Dr. Braswell has put into these videos."

UNCW Student Research & Mentorship: Hatteras National Seashore, a production by the Office of University Relations' Media Production team, won gold in the “General – Non-broadcast” category. The video follows a group of students conducting research on a small beach-nesting bird in Cape Hatteras in collaboration with the National Park Service.

"This award-winning video by Senior Video Producer Bradley Pearce showcases the phenomenal, applied learning opportunities UNCW provides for our students," said Jesse Bradley, media production director.

This year's Telly Awards received more than 13,000 entries from across the globe. Winners include some of the most prominent global brands and companies such as Netflix, MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks, HBO, Disney Parks, and the Golden State Warriors. 


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