Junior Ethan Harrison, video production major, Caleb Brubaker, senior journalism major, and Taylor Flint, senior video production major, were awarded with the Short Form Non-Fiction honoree at the Mid-American Emmy Gala in Branson, Missouri, on October 5.

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. —  The College of the Ozarks student newscast, The Point, has been honored with five awards for broadcast excellence from the Mid-America Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Awards were presented at the Mid-American Emmy Gala in Branson, Missouri, on October 5.

Two stories produced by The Point were awarded First place in NATAS Mid-America’s college media competition in the Short Form Non-Fiction and Photography categories. The Short Form Non-Fiction honoree was The Point’s coverage on Amy Grant’s visit to the College. Students Caleb Brubaker, senior journalism major, Taylor Flint, senior video production major, and Ethan Harrison, junior video production major, received that award.

The Photography First place award was earned by the entire photojournalism team at The Point.

NATAS also awarded Honorable Mention to The Point in the following categories:

• News – General Assignment: “The Littlest Cheerleader,” received by Taylor Flint, Ethan Harrison, and Brianna Presley, junior video production major

• Short Form – Non-Fiction: “War Memorial Sculptor,” received by Caleb Brubaker and Taylor Flint

• On-Camera Talent – Reporter, received by Taylor Flint

"Our students at The Point are an impressive and hard-working group, and I am very proud of their dedication to journalistic principles of truth, fairness, and accuracy as they strive to meet the highest standards of quality in their reporting,” said Erin Hayes, professor of the practice of journalism and media studies and advisor for The Point at College of the Ozarks. “They give me hope for the future of journalism in our nation, and I am delighted that their good work has been recognized and honored by so many industry professionals."

Savannah Hampton, junior journalism major and photojournalist at The Point, is the recipient of the prestigious NATAS Mid-America Walter Cronkite Scholarship. Walter Cronkite Scholarships are merit-based and awarded to qualified college undergraduates in the NATAS Mid-America region pursuing a career in the media industry. Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate the potential to join the profession and contribute to its future. Five scholarships were awarded this year to college students in the five-state NATAS Mid-America region, which includes Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

In addition, 11 students from C of O served as volunteers at the Emmy Gala. They presented Emmy trophies on stage to winners in the professional television news, sports, and production categories.

About NATAS

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences was founded in 1955 to advance the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. Headquartered in New York, NATAS’s membership is national and the organization has local chapters around the country.