Celebrating their achievements at the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Pacific Southwest Emmy ceremony were Palomar College Television personnel, left; and Digital Broadcast Arts and Cinema students, faculty and staff, right. (photos courtesy of Palomar College)

Rancho Mirage, CA (June 23, 2016) – Palomar College students, professors and staff in Digital Broadcast Arts (DBA), Cinema and Palomar College Television (PCTV) were honored with several awards at the 42nd Annual National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Pacific Southwest Emmy ceremony. The awards were presented on June 11 at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort in Rancho Mirage, California.

This year Palomar DBA and Cinema students came away with four awards for student productions out of five nominations, and one student received a scholarship. PCTV productions received four Emmy awards out of six nominations.

Student Production Awards were received for these DBA productions:

Two students won in the category, “Student Programming-Sports Program.” Steve Garcea won for his production of Prep Sports Live broadcast on 11/10/15, and Genevieve Mason won for her episode of Prep Sports Live broadcast on 12/1/15. Prep Sports Live is a weekly half-hour TV Sports program dedicated to North County High Schools sports. The program is cablecast on Cox and Time Warner Cable channel 16.

For “Student Programming – Short Form (Fiction/Non Fiction),” Palomar College had two films honored. Peter Kowalchuk won for his film Human, and Ike Mauga, Ricardo Juan Risco, Matt Benton and Jake Razo won for their film Death is Like a Box of Chocolates.

The other DBA students nominated for Student Production Awards are Shahrooz Mahmoodi and Mobin Malirad for their film The Pull.

Pat Hahn, DBA professor said, “Every year it is thrilling to see the reactions on our students’ faces when get to the awards ceremony. They realize that their work is good enough to be judged by professionals – right along with the best of the best in the industry. Being nominated is an honor in itself and winning an award represents a true milestone in each of their careers.”

PCTV Emmy results are as follows:

The PCTV-produced film, Joshua Tree: Threatened Wonderland won four Emmys. Bill Wisneski, producer, won in the categories “Short Format Program,” and “Director – Non Live (Post Produced).” Luke Bisagna won for “Audio,” and Bill Wisneski and Ashley Olson won for “Writer – Program (Non-News)”

Other PCTV nominations were for the same film, Joshua Tree: Threatened Wonderland in the categories of “Photographer – Program (Non-News),” Bill Wisneski and Chris Culp; and “Editor (No time limit) – Program (Non-news)”, Chris Culp.

“These awards are a reflection of the talented staff, faculty, and students we have here at Palomar College” said Wisneski.   “I feel very fortunate to be able to work on projects like this Joshua Tree documentary that bring attention to important environmental issues. It is so gratifying to be able to create compelling videos which educate both our students and the wider community. ”

The purpose of the Emmy Awards and Student Production Awards is to recognize outstanding achievements in television by conferring annual awards of merit in the Pacific Southwest region. The Pacific Southwest region includes San Diego, Bakersfield, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

The annual presentation of these awards is intended to be an incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence for those working in television and to focus public attention on outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements in television.

Palomar College students have now received 58 NATAS Student Production Awards for outstanding achievement. Palomar is ranked as one of the best community colleges in the country in preparing students for work in TV News Journalism, TV Production, Cinema and Digital Media. For more information on degree and certificates in these fields call 760-744-1150 ext. 2964.

Media Contacts:

Melinda Finn, Public Affairs, 760-744-1150, ext. 2365, mfinn@palomar.edu
Laura Gropen, Director, Public Affairs, 760-744-1150, ext. 2152, lgropen@palomar.edu
Pat Hahn, Professor of Radio and TV, 760-744-1150, ext. 2964, phahn@palomar.edu
Lisa Cecere, Professor of Cinema, 760-744-1150, ext 2675, lcecere@palomar.edu
Bill Wisneski, Producer, Palomar College Television, 760-744-1150 ext. 2722,
www.palomar-tv.com