2021 NSPA Nominees
NOMINEES FOR 2021 NATIONAL
STUDENT PRODUCTION
AWARDS
ANNOUNCED
NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES October 18, 2021 – The Foundation of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 2021 National Student Production Awards. Nominees were selected from high school student entries across the country in 25 programming and craft categories.
“The future journalists, analysts, correspondents and entertainers of the next generation will be found among these talented young nominees represented here,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO, NATAS. “Highlighting their work and encouraging their pursuit of excellence is one of the primary mandates of our Foundation.”
“The Foundation of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is thrilled to honor the incredible work of these talented students,” said Danielle Mannion, Education Chair, NATAS. “The students faced extraordinary challenges and produced dynamic and compelling stories. We also wish to acknowledge the dedicated work of their teachers who supported these productions.”
This year’s submissions were successfully culled from over 2000 entries from the regional chapters of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Entries were judged by selected industry professionals and media academics.
Recipients will be announced in a ceremony in late November via a web stream produced by NATAS. Ceremony date will be announced on November 18, 2021. This and all NATAS ceremonies are available on NATAS’ dedicated viewing platform powered by Vimeo, available on the web at Watch.TheEmmys.TV and via The Emmys® apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV, Roku and Samsung TV (full list at apps.theemmys.tv).
ABOUT NATAS
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational, and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy® Awards for News & Documentary, Sports, and Daytime television programming, as well as achievements in television Technology & Engineering. NATAS membership consists of more than 18,000 broadcast and media professionals represented in 19 regional chapters across the United States Beyond awards, NATAS provides extensive educational programs through its Foundation, including regional and national scholarships and Student Production Awards.
CONTACTS:
Press NYC – Paul G. Pillitteri, ppillitteri@emmyonline.tv
Press LA – Harlan Boll, harlan@bhbpr.com
NATAS Education Chair – Danielle Mannion, studentawards@emmyonline.tv
Social Media
NATAS Website: http://TheEmmys.tv/
NATAS/National Student Production Awards Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natas_spa
Newscast
Colegio de Belen Noticiero, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School (Suncoast Chapter)
Ricardo Blanco, Juan Tejera
John Calderin, Advisor
BNN 2021, Buchanan High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Gabe Munro, Rylee Gonzales, Noah Robereto, Chris Pearce, Blaise Gonda, Nate Long, Canyon Vang, Caleb Pouliot, Michael Perez, Logan Garcia
Daniel Pierce, Advisor
The Rise, Doral Academy Preparatory (Suncoast Chapter)
Marcelo Villar-Ojito
Elayne Diaz, Advisor
GHS Insider, Germantown High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Alexa Morris, Kristin Blake, Madisyn Rix, Chelbi Talley
Leonid Mazor, Advisor
Election Day Broadcast, Oviedo High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Lukas Boaz, Lillian Wray, Tyler Kreusch, Devyn Cannata, Holly Archer, Kaylin Herbet, Brianna Binona, Delaney Warner
Kevin Patterson, Advisor
News Report – Serious News
Honoring Preston Point, Coppell High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Daphne Pham, Riley Wall, Amrin Haque
Irma Lazos-Kennedy, Advisor
LGBTQ History in the Classroom, Germantown High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Gilana Moody, Dunham Henderson
Leonid Mazor, Advisor
Shattered, Hillcrest High School (Mid-America Chapter)
William Wehmer, Emma Tracy
Dave Davis, Advisor
Teacher Rally, Richland Northeast High School (Southeast Chapter)
Caleb Daniels, Wade Fletcher
Andrew Chambers, Advisor
Broken Promises; A Hazardous History of Franklin Learning Center, WHYY Media Lab
(Mid-Atlantic Chapter)
Hannah Woodruff, Damein Williams, Justine Chan, Donte Cheatham, Lilly Lou, Josiah Martinez, Sanai Miller, Ace Ludwig, Cierra Duncan
Lisa Wilk, Advisor
News Report – Light News
From Tragedy to Hope – The Wilson Family, Cambridge High School (Southeast Chapter)
Aidan Miller
Hal Funderburk, Advisor
The Beekeeper, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Christopher Gomez, Adrian Botton, Nicolas Casanueva, Andrew Falconi, Joseph Gonzalez
Omar Delgado, Christina Insua, Advisors
From Delinquent to Dean, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Christopher Gomez, Joseph Gonzalez, Gianmarco Maestri, Neo Gaitan, Nicolas Casanueva,
Adrian Button, Juan Pablo Garcia-Casals
Omar Delgado, Christina Insua, Advisors
A Living Miracle, Prosper High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Cristina Folsom
Michael Hatch, Advisor
REDD’s Corner, Prosper High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Camron Silva
Michael Hatch, Advisor
Multimedia Journalist (MMJ) or Video Essay
Who Am I 2020, Alpharetta High School (Southeast Chapter)
Van Emberger
Tracy Misner, Advisor
Wrestling Under The Stars, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Lucas Figueroa
Omar Delgado, Christina Insua, Advisors
An Open Letter to the Class of 2020, Montverde Academy (Suncoast Chapter)
Molly Smith
Kimberly Brauman, Advisor
Unconventional Prom 2020: A Night to Remember, Northwestern High School
(Ohio Valley Chapter)
Gabrielle Limes
Lisa K. Boggess, Advisor
Voices of the Valley, Tamalpais High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Jessica Bukowski, Lily Travers, Aghalia Dorkin, Trevor Canton
Mike Goldstein, Mike Lavezzo, Sharilyn Scharf, Advisors
Non-Fiction – Short Form
Cells vs. Zombies: The Role of Cellular Senescence in the Human Body,
Amador Valley High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Nitya Ayyagari
Mani Vemulakonda, Advisor
Land of Opportunity – Stories from Janakpur, Nepal, Anacortes High School (Northwest Chapter)
Jacob Hoxie, Mason Bakke
Jim Thompson, Advisor
Gender Inequality, Carrollton High School (Southeast Chapter)
Kathryn Grubbs
Jon Maples, Advisor
Drive-In Movie Theater, Deerfield High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Simon Blaustein, Michael San Jose, Sam Brody-Goldberg
Brett Schwartz, Advisor
Inspired Artist Jason Raymond, Gahanna Lincoln High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Sophia Peck, Brittan Alexander
Mark Lowrie, Advisor
Non-Fiction – Long Form
Wired, Anderson High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Sarah Mahaney
Chad Weddle, Advisor
COVID-19: 1 Year Later, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Alexej Vargas, Cameron Bolin
Travis Sherman, Advisor
Feminism: The Fifth Wave, Montverde Academy (Suncoast Chapter)
Molly Smith
Kimberly Brauman, Advisor
Gasoline, St. Edward High School (Lower Great Lakes Chapter)
Brendan McIlwee, Cody Wagner, Ryan Steckle, Joseph Hirzel, Tim Sheehan, Brevyn Coleman,
Jayson Morris, Evan Wrightsman, Zachary Bell, Gavin Crocker, Jack Nagel, Jacob Winter
Lydia Munnell, Advisor
A Divided City – Documentary, The Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
Samantha Cohn, Jonas Du
Daniel Searl, Advisor
Public Affairs/Community Service
Dear Class of 2020, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
David Perez, Alexander Someillan
Omar Delgado, Christina Insua, Advisors
Ronald McDonald House Charities, Fort Hayes Career Center (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Madelyn Phelps, Youssef Hilale, Stella Fried, Xzayvier Brown Anderson
Julie Kindinger, Advisor
Signs of Suicide, Geneva High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Tessa Balc
Beni Enas, Advisor
Red Ribbon, Hoover High School (Lower Great Lakes Chapter)
Matt Kirely
Dani Wackerly, Tom Wilson, Advisors
Gillian’s Story | Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Saint Xavier High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Christian Beck
Brian Mitchell, Advisor
Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs
Soles by Sir, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Christopher Gomez, Adrian Botton, Joseph Gonzalez, Nicolas Casanueva, Neo Gaitan,
Emanuel Naccarato
Omar Delgado, Christina Insua, Advisors
Magicians in the Shutdown, Deerfield High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Jack Gordon, Simon Blaustein, Michael San Jose, Sam Brody-Goldberg
Brett Schwartz, Advisor
Diaspora: Voices of an Ever-Changing America, Gahanna Lincoln High School
(Ohio Valley Chapter)
Kierra Mullins, Azaria Jackson
Mark Lowrie, Advisor
Quibi: Best or Worst Timing?, Prosper High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Grant Johnson
Michael Hatch, Advisor
Kaleidoscope Artistry, SPOT 127 Youth Media Center (Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter)
Cara Brown
Rick Fowler, Advisor
Magazine Program
CHS Wired | Episode 6: Season 23 | 2/11/21, Cody High School (Northwest Chapter)
Tashi Mathuin, Raelyn Mong
Erika Quick, Advisor
Firebird TV News Magazine, Doral Academy Preparatory (Suncoast Chapter)
Marcelo Villar-Ojito
Elayne Diaz, Advisor
Falcon Vision: Season 1 Episode 6, John A. Ferguson Senior High School
Edward Franco, Jessica Balbin, Angelika Guerra, Navneet Chhabra, Alyssa Lopez, Rachel Velazco, Viamelys Salgado, Daniel Cortina
Nancy Ozon-Moreno, Alberto Martinez, Advisor
Wildcat Weekly, Neuqua Valley High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Sam Appelbaum, Dominick Liacone, Alexis Muoghalu, Lauren Verdun
John Gelsomino, Advisor
Stampede LIVE Home Edition Episode 1, Sunrise Mountain High School
(Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter)
Ryan Kraska, Kalini Aguon-Sewell, Lamley Andrews
Amy Nygard, Advisor
Music Video
Don’t Throw Out My Legos, Academy Of Arts, Careers and Technology
(San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Isabella Wolf
Robert Zorn, Advisor
Auld Lang Syne, Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Sylvie Keck, Logan Reid, Christian Strom, Will Stringfield, Pierce DuRard
Michael Ellson, Advisor
She’s the Only One, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Charles Fernandes
Drew Furtado, Advisor
Vas a Ganar, Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer (Suncoast Chapter)
Andrea Fonseca, Daniella Lopez, George Ebro, Gabriella Gonzalez, Ximena Hidalgo
Rebecca de Armas, Advisor
Winter Vibes, Sunrise Mountain High School (Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter)
Ryan Kraska, Kalini Aguon-Sewell
Amy Nygard, Advisor
Fiction – Short Form
Snowman Massacre, Delaware Area Career Center (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Hayden Reed
Wil Rowland, Advisor
Incursion, El Diamante High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Noah Lillywhite, Sam Zurek, Kai Willey
Ellie Hebert, Advisor
Performance Anxiety, Franklin High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Shaina Ocampo
Brad Clark, Advisor
Dear Future Self, Glenbrook South High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Kevyn Kerwin
Julie Benca, Advisor
Zinnias, Northampton HIgh School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Jasper Fletcher, Jonah Herman-Slaghekke
Jeromie Whalen, Advisor
Death of a Mediocre Human, Vancouver School of Arts & Academics (Northwest Chapter)
Nathan Keldsen, Ian MacDonald, Brooke Cruz, Natalie McNulty, Casey Akimseu-Arnold, Eleanor Winkley
Andrew Berhow, Advisor
Fiction – Long Form
Stories from the Dreamscape, Anderson High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Emily Ivanov
Chad Weddle, Advisor
The River’s Edge, Anderson High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Caitlin Walsh
Chad Weddle, Advisor
Disowned – short film, The Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
Andrew Stevens, Jonas Du, Patrick Nagy
Daniel Searl, Advisor
Sports Story or Segment
State Swim and Dive, Alpharetta High School (Southeast Chapter)
Van Emberger
Tracy Misner, Advisor
Missing Gahanna Bill, Gahanna Lincoln High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Audrey Paquette, Mia Sammons
Mark Lowrie, Advisor
The Fighter, Hillcrest High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Sophia Vaughn, Trevor Roy
Dave Davis, Advisor
A Spring without Sports, Plymouth South High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Matthew Doherty
Tami Degelder, Adam Smith, Evan McNamara, Advisors
Snowboarding Evolves, Port Angeles High School (Northwest Chapter)
Piper Jenson
Patric McInnis, Advisor
Balancing a Brooklyn Knucklehead, Prosper High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Cristina Folsom, Mason Mumy, Goel Yongo, Brenna Gibbons
Michael Hatch, Advisor
Raptor Sports Report, Ravenwood High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Brooks Taylor
Megan Sanchez, Advisor
Sports Program
DAF Media 2021 Winter Sports Preview, DAF Media (Boston/New England Chapter)
Ted Brennan, Peter McLean, Kate Demark, Braden Schenck, MacKenzie O’Shea, Cole Murphy,
Harrison Bell
Damian Andrew Dobrosielski, Advisor
The Lincoln Sports Zone, Gahanna Lincoln High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Audrey Paquette, Lily Sager, Javan Simmons, Kortney Grimm, Julu Grubich, Mia Sammons,
Brendan Phillips, Evan Henry, Josh Knuckles, Allison Shepard, Michael Benson
Mark Lowrie, Advisor
Titan Sports: Resilience, Glenbrook South High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Sophie Cotton, Jane Fitzgibbon, Michael Cunningham, George Sladoje
Julie Benca, Advisor
Wildcat Sports Network | Episode 69, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Samantha Lewandowski
Travis Sherman, Advisor
Live Sporting Event/Game
2020 CHSAA 5A Semi-Final: Cherry Creek vs. Pomona, Cherry Creek High School
(Mid-America Chapter)
Jonathan Varghese, Matthew Anderson
Benjamin Parris, Advisor
The Rivalry Continues: Darien vs. New Canaan, Girls Hockey Game, DAF Media
(Boston/New England Chapter)
Dylan DeRiso, Austin Platt, Braden Schenck, Cole Murphy, Jack Kelley, Adam Nelson, Ian Nicholas
Damian Andrew Dobrosielski, Advisor
Westminster-Lovett Football: Battle of Buckhead, The Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
James Solomon, Turner Cravens, David Goetze
Daniel Searl, Advisor
Public Service Announcement (PSA)
One Second, Brentwood High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Eliza Linney, Noah True, Stuart Beaton
Ronnie Adcock, Advisor
PSA Social Media, Dedham High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Hilen Miralda
Sue Scully-Rose, Advisor
Spread the Word: Inclusion, Gahanna Lincoln High School (Ohio Valley Chapter)
Trinity Nhem, Benjamin Brody
Mark Lowrie, Advisor
Pandemic Pandemonium, Glenbrook North High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Mariel Mudrik
Todd Rubin, Advisor
Just One Time, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Luke Perez, Ellen Fink, Samantha Lewandowski
Travis Sherman, Advisor
Commercial
Media + Publication Center Commercial, Christ Presbyterian Academy
(Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Sylvie Keck, Logan Reid, Will Stringfield, Pierce DuRard, Christian Strom, Brianne Cummings
Michael Ellson, Advisor
Lord of the Flies, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Charles Fernandes
Drew Furtado, Advisor
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Penn Trafford High School (Mid-Atlantic Chapter)
Khristian Miller, Austin Varner, Cody Sepe
Steve Vinton, Advisor
Innovation at Westminster, The Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
Jonas Du
Daniel Searl, Advisor
Steam Club, Whitney High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Alicia Chiang, Michaela Oh
Ben Barnholdt, Advisor
Animation/Graphics/Special Effects
Perch, Allatoona High School (Southeast Chapter)
Logan Magaw
Raef Williams, Advisor
Time Tower, Ballard High School (Northwest Chapter)
Nathan Laha
Steven Bradford, Advisor
Drift Kings, Cypress Bay High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Luis Rodriguez
Taiwo Cummings, Advisor
Beasts in the Orange clouds, El Diamante High School
(San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Mario Landeros
Ellie Hebert, Advisor
ILEA, West Broward High School/West Broward TV (Suncoast Chapter)
Andrea Guzman
Vidal (Chuck) Rivera, Jodi Tesser, Advisor
Travis and Max Animation Sample, William G. Enloe High School (Nashville/Mid-South Chapter)
Travis Turner, Max Hammer
Bill Notarnicola, Advisor
Audio/Sound
Notes, Buchanan High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Noah Roberto, Chris Pearce
Daniel Pearce, Advisor
Abuela’s Cafe, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Carson Gonzalez
Omar Delgado, Rafael Diaz, Advisors
Ryan Kraska – Audio Reel, Sunrise Mountain High School (Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter)
Ryan Kraska
Amy Nygard, Advisor
Marked – A Short Film, The Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
Patrick Nagy
Daniel Searl, Advisor
ILEA, West Broward High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Ethan Cates
Vidal (Chuck) Rivera, Jodi Tesser, Advisors
Director
Abuela’s Cafe, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Andrew Ordieres
Omar Delgado, Rafael Diaz, Advisor
Coppell Rewind, Coppell High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Robert Bizacky
Irma Lazos-Kennedy, Advisor
Charles Fernandes-Director Reel, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Charles Fernandes
Drew Furtado, Advisor
LATE! a silent film, Mt. Carmel High School (Chicago/Midwest Chapter)
Noah Sanchez
Tony DiFilippo, Advisor
Kalini Aguon-Sewell – Director Reel, Sunrise Mountain High School
(Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter)
Kalini Aguon-Sewell
Amy Nygard, Advisor
Marked – A Short Film, The Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
Samantha Cohn
Daniel Searl, Advisor
Editor
Coppell Rewind, Coppell High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Sandesh Bharthur
Irma Lazos-Kennedy, Advisor
Charles Fernandes-Editor Reel, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Charles Fernandes
Drew Furtado, Advisor
Mirage, Moanalua High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Sara Brekke
Mark Ikenaga, Advisor
Marked – a short film, The Westminster Schools (Southeast Chapter)
Jonas Du
Daniel Searl, Advisor
ILEA, West Broward High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Genesis Ibarra
Vidal (Chuck) Rivera, Jodi Tesser, Advisors
Photographer
OverNight, Alpharetta High School (Southeast Chapter)
Van Emberger
Tracy Misner, Advisor
Who’s Sorry Now, Buchanan High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Noah Roberto
Daniel Pearce, Advisor
Charles Fernandes-Photography Reel, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Charles Fernandes
Drew Furtado, Advisor
Samantha Lewandowski | Photographer, Har-Ber High School (Mid-America Chapter)
Samantha Lewandowski
Travis Sherman, Advisor
Mirage, Moanalua High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Sara Brekke, Khloe Ringor
Mark Ikenaga, Advisor
Talent – New or Sports
Christopher Gomez Talent Reel, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Christopher Gomez
Omar Delgado, Christina Insua, Advisors
Marcelo Villar-Ojito Composite Reel, Doral Academy Preparatory (Suncoast Chapter)
Marcelo Villar-Ojito
Elayne Diaz, Advisor
Grant Johnson Demo Reel, Prosper High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Grant Johnson
Michael Hatch, Advisor
Maggie Hale Demo Reel, Prosper High School (Lone Star Chapter)
Maggie Hale
Michael Hatch, Advisor
Ryan Kraska – Talent, Sunrise Mountain High School (Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter)
Ryan Kraska
Amy Nygard, Advisor
Talent – Performer
She’s the Only One, Fairhaven High School (Boston/New England Chapter)
Evan Pina, Jr.
Drew Furtado, Advisor
Oz’s Eyes, Pierce County High School (Southeast Chapter)
Jaeden Lincoln
John DuPont, Advisor
ILEA, West Broward High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Noelle Ramsay
Vidal (Chuck) Rivera, Jodi Tesser, Advisors
Writer
Cells vs. Zombies: The Role of Cellular Senescence in the Human Body,
Amador Valley High School (San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Nitya Ayyagari
Mani Vemulakonda, Advisor
Abuela’s Cafe, Christopher Columbus High School (Suncoast Chapter)
Julen Herrerias
Rafael Diaz, Daniella Rodriguez, Advisors
Dear Friend, Garfield High School (Northwest Chapter)
|Ryan Marie Aiken
Jacques Pugh, Advisor
Oz’s Eyes, Pierce County High School (Southeast Chapter)
Camden Jewell
John DuPont, Advisor
Hello Kitty, Goodbye Innocence, Tamalpais High School
(San Francisco/Northern California Chapter)
Jessica Bukowski
Mike Goldstein, Mike Lavezzo, Sharilyn Scharf, Advisors
