Paul Watson, Campus Carrier Editor-in-Chief
Viking Fusion won College Media Association Pinnacle Awards at the 92nd Annual National Student Media Convention in New Orleans.
This national honor in the category of “Best TV Promo and PSA” was awarded for a short promotional video. University of Hawaii and the University of South Dakota were finalists in this category.
Senior Mary Claire Stewart received “Best Audio Slideshow”, another Pinnacle Award, for “The Treves Family: An Uncommon Story.”
“I am excited and honored to represent Berry with this award,” said Stewart, according to the Berry Office of Public Relations. “I have to give credit to the entire team of faculty and students, because this project was really a team effort, and I couldn’t have done this without them. I never imagined the work we did would get such recognition. I’m so thankful that here at Berry we are given unique and meaningful opportunities for hands-on learning and experience.”
Along with these awards, Viking Fusion was also named one of the country’s “50 Best Student Press Websites,” according to College Media Matters. Other schools on the list included: New York University, San Diego State University, Duke University, as well as many others.
Fusion advisor Steven Hames said these awards can be credited to the staff.
“It’s part of the continual growth of Fusion and the students,” Hames said. “We haven’t changed our philosophy.”
The Fusion staff headed to San Antonio, Tex. on Wednesday to attend the National Student Electronic Media Convention, where they have been nominated for three more awards.
Episode four of the television web series “Going Up,” produced by 2013 alumnus Nathan Sutton and junior Glenn Garrido-Olivar, was nominated for “Best Vodcast- Television.” Episode five was nominated for “Best General Entertainment Program- Television.” The video “Roll Call,” which was produced, directed and edited by senior Josy Roman, was nominated for “Best Vodcast-Television.”
Garrido-Olivar said he did not expect this kind of recognition.
“I didn’t expect it to get picked up because it was a show about two people in an elevator,” Garrido-Olivar said.
Fusion executive director Michael Baldvins said there are a few factors that went into the recognition Fusion is receiving.
“I think it is a combination of a tradition of hard work and dedication from this year’s staff and the last that has come to be recognized,” Baldvins said.