Wayne State Communication students win big in Vegas at Broadcast Education Association convention
Wayne State University Department of Communication students and faculty were recipients of multiple awards during the most recent Broadcast Education Association (BEA) convention in Las Vegas.
The College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts was well-represented at the annual event held in April, which offers workshops, panels, and networking opportunities designed to cultivate the next generation of film and media professionals. BEA is conducted in tandem with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, which is one of the largest film and media events in the world.
“The College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and the Department of Communication are very proud of our recognition at BEA 2024,” said Assistant Professor Paul Echeverria. “Our students have achieved a high level of success and solidified our standing as one of the top film and media programs in the country. We look forward to continued success on the national stage."
Highlighting the convention is the BEA Festival of Media Arts awards ceremony, which recognizes outstanding achievements in film, media, and broadcasting education.
In the Faculty Interactive Media and Emerging Technologies Competition, Echeverria and students from COM 1610 were awarded Best of Competition in the Mixed Category. The awarded project, titled “Chronologies,” exhibited 3D models, AI images and personal narratives within a virtual reality gallery space.
Students who displayed work in the gallery include Juliana Ashrifeh; Sophia Babbit; Jacob Bloom; Tyler Bobbitt; Alexis Brown; Jamal Carter; Rose Chalmers; Thearin Dawson; Angie Gupta; Tony Hines II; Ridaa Khan; Brian Martin; Faye Pinho; Faith Stanley; Vonn Taylor; Ryleigh Ward; Milsa Wheeler; and Rachael Williams.
In the Student Scriptwriting Competition, Communication student Rayan Elzein placed second for her screenplay titled “Some Things Never Change.”
In addition to the Festival of Media Arts, students Sol Everett, Christian Pernicano, Emma Herzig, Michael Sheaves, and Jaxen Klein received an Award of Excellence for their participation in the BEA 48-Hour Film Competition. Overall, Wayne State University placed within the Top 100 of BEA’s annual school rankings.
"I am pleased to commend our film students and faculty for the awards they received at the BEA 2024, in both the screenwriting production category and the emerging technologies competition," said Pradeep Sopory, interim chair of the Department of Communication. "This national recognition acknowledges how our programs prioritize traditional visual storytelling skills along with preparing our students for the changing landscape of the creative industries."