The Goshen College broadcasting program once again entered student work for the annual National Broadcast Educators Association awards, and they were not disappointed.
Communications students working with the college’s radio station, 91.1 The Globe (WGCS) earned two awards, while students working with the video production company, FiveCore Media, will take home four video awards this year. Along with these awards, FiveCore won three ADDY Awards for digital advertising campaigns from the American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Michiana on February 25.
The Broadcast Educators Association awards receive upwards of 1,500 entries from more than 100 colleges and universities in the nation. Prizes will be awarded during the BEA annual convention and Festival of Media Arts on April 17-20 in Las Vegas.
On the film production side of the communication spectrum, the ADDY Awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Club competitions.
While Goshen’s broadcasting programs 91.1 The Globe and FiveCore media have been recognized for awards such as Best College Radio Station in the Nation, Indiana Radio School of the Year and Indiana Television School of the Year, this year’s competition provided the opportunity to earn recognition in some newer categories.
WGCS was named the runner up for the “Signature Station” award, which is the highest radio honor given by the BEA.
Along with station award, Victor Garcia, a senior communication major from Goshen, received third place for “On Air Personality.” Garcia is the current station manager for the Globe.
“The “Signature Station” award is a team effort, not just my own or Jason’s,” said Garcia. “It took the hard work of everyone we had to receive this award, and our versatile group was able to deliver in spades.”
Regarding his own third place award, Garcia attributes a lot of his success in radio broadcasting to the unique experience Goshen offers its students working on the air.
“I’ve had the opportunity to host my own show for almost three years,” he said. “To say you broadcast 10 hours a week, every week, for three years is by no means a small amount. That’s what gave me the edge.”
FiveCore Media also thrived in the BEA scene this year, winning the Award of Excellence for “Faculty Promotional Video” for their piece titled “Wooden Music—The Good of Goshen.”
Kyle Hufford, assistant professor of communication and FiveCore Media general manager; Jake Smucker, assistant producer; and Abby Deaton, a 2015 graduate, won this award for their work on a feature video for the Good of Goshen campaign that focused on the entrepreneurial atmosphere in Goshen.
Along with this award, a student-produced short film titled “Shh…” earned honorable mention in the “Student Narrative Video” category. The students involved in the production of this film include Elizabeth Derstine, a senior communication and English writing double major; David Leaman-Miller, a junior communication major; Jared Zook, a 2015 graduate; and Benson Hostetter, a 2015 Goshen graduate who directed the film.
A commercial spot titled “David’s Story—Goshen College Career Stories Campaign” earned honorable mention in the “Student Commercial Spot—Less Than 90 Seconds” category. The commercial was produced and edited by Jake Smucker and Abby Deaton.
The film “Festival of Carols 2014” earned honorable mention for “Student Studio Multicam Production” category. Elizabeth Derstine and Abby Deaton won this award for their work on this production.
Many students worked to make this production possible, with over 12 Communication Department students working on the live-to-tape Christmas program.
FiveCore Media earned a silver ADDY award and two bronze ADDY awards for their submitted digital advertising campaigns this past week. The production “Wooden Music— The Good of Goshen” won the silver ADDY for the “Internet Commercial: Single Spot” category.
While the production “Merry Lea Web Campaign” won a bronze ADDY for the “Online Film, Video & Sound Campaign” category, “Goshen College Adult & Graduate Programs” won a bronze ADDY for the category “Television: Local Campaign”.
Smucker reflected on the award results in a press release about the ADDY awards on the Goshen College website.
“Our students worked really hard this year to produce the quality and quantity of videos that we did,” he said. “But even so, we did not expect to win two bronze ADDYs and a silver ADDY. It’s very encouraging that we’re doing the right things at FiveCore Media.”
Garcia echoes similar aspects about the strength of Goshen’s broadcasting program. “To be the number two out of an incredible number of schools, especially considering our school size, says a lot about our program,” he said. “As for the broadcasting department, I think these achievements help show that we have a strong communication program here at Goshen.”
