West Virginia State Students Finalists for National Broadcasting Society Awards

A trio of West Virginia State University (WVSU) students are finalists in a nationwide awards program sponsored by the National Broadcasting Society – Alpha Epsilon Rho.
WVSU Communications students James Olah, Bobbie Spry and Scotty White are all finalists in the national competition.
“I am so proud of our students. This group works so hard on and off campus,” said Kim Cobb, Assistant Professor for Communications and co-advisor to the WVSU Chapter of the National Broadcasting Society – Alpha Epsilon Rho. “We have three finalists and they should be so proud of their accomplishments but our whole chapter is responsible for our success. We are also up for the Community Service Chapter Award this year which speaks to the type of people we have here at WVSU.”
White, who brought home top honors at last year’s awards program in the Audio Features Category, is a finalist this year in the Video Drama Category for his short narrative film “Paid in Full.” Produced in Instructor Sam Holdren’s Filmmaking course, the film features WVSU graduate Jeff Honaker as well as current student Ethan Young.
Olah’s work is a finalist in the Audio Feature Category, which is WVSU’s second straight nomination in the category after a win last year. Called “The Hungarian Revolution,” the piece was produced for Cobb’s Introduction to Audio Production course.
Spry was nominated in the Video Feature Segment category for her piece “Embalming the Dead.” The piece was produced for Cobb and Assistant Professor Sherri Shafer’s Advanced Television Production course.
Winners will be announced March 15 at the NBS/AERHO National Convention at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel.
“These students and their unique works represent the broad abilities and expanding talents of all WVSU students,” said WVSU President Brian O. Hemphill. “On behalf of the entire State family, I wish James, Bobbie and Scotty good luck at the National Broadcasting Society’s National Convention, and we know they will represent West Virginia State University with pride.”
The WVSU chapter is comprised of both undergraduate and graduate students interested in media and communications.
Last year, the WVSU chapter was named the National Chapter of the Year by the organization. The award is the highest honor given by the National Broadcasting Society – Alpha Epsilon Rho. In addition, the WVSU also received the Motivated Chapter award for community service, membership growth, scholarship fundraising and on and off campus activities.
The National Broadcasting Society – Alpha Epsilon Rho, is a student and professional society with more than 85 chapters on college, university, community college and high school campuses. The Society had its beginning in the early 1940’s on the campus of Stephens College in Columbia, Miss. Over 30,000 individuals have been initiated into the society since its founding.