St. Cloud State’s Husky Productions Wins BEA ‘Best of Festival’ Award
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Husky Productions (HP), a division of UTVS on the campus of St. Cloud State University, has won the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts “Best of Festival” award in the Student Sports Competition. Husky Productions submitted their broadcast of St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey game against University of North Dakota which aired on Fox Sports North on November 21,2014. HP will accept a “Best of Festival” award at the ceremony on April 13 in Las Vegas.
“What an honor,” said Liz Burda, HP Producer and Junior at St. Cloud State. “Our entire crew has worked hard this season, so to get such acclaimed recognition is simply incredible.”
“The crew is made up entirely of St. Cloud State students,” said Brian Stanley, Executive Producer of HP. “These kids have progressed so much this season. They are taking the opportunities afforded them at SCSU seriously; the Best of Festival award is proof.”
St. Cloud State has dominated the “Best of Festival” award in recent years, winning it three times in the last five years. In 2013 the university upgraded the Television Studios to high definition, opening up even more opportunities to air on regional and national sports networks.
“The $4.8 million HD upgrade allows our students to have the best hands-on opportunity in the nation for live production,” said Derrick Silvestri, TV Studio Manager. “Having a dedicated student crew and professional equipment is the equation for success.”
“It’s been a great year for all of us,” said Burda. “We aired seven games on Fox Sports North this season and now a Best of Festival award; it’s humbling.”
Over 2,000 entries were submitted for the BEA Festival of Media Arts awards, including such schools as University of Florida, San Francisco State University and Arizona State University.
Husky Productions produces St. Cloud State Athletics events year-round, including hockey, football and basketball. Regional, national and local cable networks carry HP broadcasts. Derrick Silvestri ‘06 is the UTVS Advisor and TV Studio Manager. Brian Stanley ‘93 is Executive Producer of Husky Productions.
