TMA students shine bright by being presented with multiple awards by faculty
These awards are a way for the faculty to honor those students who have been exemplary in their work and service to the department and to their peers this past year.
“We have excellent Media Arts students in this department. We are always proud of their work, and a bit in awe of them to be honest. But to achieve what they did this year, in particular, was really special, even for them!” said theatre and media arts Associate Chair Brad Barber.
VERA HINCKLEY MAYHEW SCREENWRITING CONTEST
Several years before his death in 1973, Wayne E. Mayhew of Berkeley, California, established a trust fund to provide annual awards in creative writing and fine arts at Brigham Young University in honor of his wife, Vera Hinckley Mayhew, a former BYU student. This contest is run through the College of Humanities, and the Screenwriting Contest is judged by the Media Arts Writing Committee. This year's Mayhew Screenwriting Winning Scripts were:
Feature Length Script:
Winner: A Lovely Family, written by Claire Hatch
Short Script:
Winner: Best Swishes, written by Jennifer Baker
Runner-up: Benny, written by David Sant
TV Spec Script:
Winner: Superstore – Senior Discount Day, written by Rachel Oehler
Web Series:
Winner: Liza and Her Boy, written by Claire Hatch
Runner-up: Bygones, written by Rachel Oehler
APERTURE MEDIA JOURNAL AWARDS
Due to the pandemic, the review & publication process for the Aperture journal was postponed for a time. Since the journal was on hiatus this year, we would like to recognize last year’s winners.
Screenplay
- Making Contact - Sam Burton
- Myth Understood - Liam Isaak
- Home Town - Elise Finlinson
New Media
- How Can I Help? - Dallin Penrod
- Radioland - Sam Burton
Essays
- Choice, Construction, and Conversation - Nathan Young
- The New Dada Movement on Youtube - Kayla Gough
EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA ARTS FICTION
The Fiction Production Area awards recognize students who have made a significant contribution to the production of fiction projects. We applaud their dedication, professionalism, mentoring and example.
There are a number of factors that determine these awards; if you did not receive an award this year, please know that you are still appreciated!
The Fiction Faculty have awarded the following:
Blake Mower
Colin Phillips
Diana Jones
Ian Wood
Isaiah Rogers
Jonathan Rollins
Josh Garcia
Marcus Weathered
Mars Moreno
Claire Hatch
Matt Mitchell
Max Wright
Parker Gehring
Eva Hansen
Rachel Oehler
Rachel Olson
Sarah-Ann Moran
Tanner Liddiard
Ysabeaux Ng
EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA ARTS NON-FICTION
The Non-Fiction Production Area awards recognize those who have made a significant contribution to the production of non-fiction projects during their time in the program. We applaud their dedication, professionalism, mentoring and example. The Non-Fiction Faculty have awarded the following:
Outstanding Students in Non-Fiction:
Sam Richins
Sophia Prestwich
Kate McKellar
Excellence in Non-Fiction:
Lacey Duncan
David Sant
Anna Allred
McKay Olsen
Livia Demartini
Skyler Sorenson
EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA CRITICAL STUDIES
The Media Arts Critical Studies Area awards students who demonstrate exceptional effort in analytical thinking and writing about film and media. Award recipients are now allowed—no, encouraged—to update all of their social media profiles to include the title “Critical Engager Extraordinaire.” Seriously though, thank you for your hard work, and congratulations. The Critical Studies Faculty have awarded the following:
Sam Burton
Cheyanne Elton
Elias Gold
Liam Isaak
Adia London
McCall McClellan
Ysabeaux Ng
Sheridan Shepherd
Nathan Tanner
Sophie Whitaker
EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA ARTS WRITING
The Writing Area Award recognizes seniors who have made a significant contribution to screenwriting efforts within the program. The Writing Committee has awarded the following:
Eva Hansen
Claire Hatch
Rachel Oehler
Josh Bauer
Micah Gandola
ANIMATION “YOU'VE DONE GOOD, KID” AWARD
The 'You've Done Good, Kid' Award is given to Animation students whose work consistently goes above and beyond and quite often does so without recognition. Your faculty and peers recognize your excellence and look forward to watching you continue to shine as you transition from BYU out into industry. This year's winners are:
Kalen Stewart
Jenika Wimmer
Riki Kuniyuki-Hirahara
EXCEPTIONAL MEDIA ARTS TA/EMPLOYEES
The exceptional Media Arts Employee Award is given to TAs, RAs, and staff employees who have done a stellar job for the department. We are fully aware that your hard work helps keep our department running smoothly. Those listed below were nominated by their supervisors:
James May
Elizabeth Harrison
Nathan Young
Claire Hatch
Clara Tsao
Jonathan Rollins
Nathan Tanner
Weber Griffiths
Liam Howard
Sam Burton
Lincoln Wagner
Sam Larson
Blake Knecht
Josh Garcia
Mamie Tonnies
Suzette Payne
Kennedy Koford
Parker Gehring
Isaiah Rogers
Liam Isaak
Jake McMaster
Jenna Woolley
Aarron Reupena
Heather Moser
EXCELLENT TMA FRONT OFFICE EMPLOYEES
This year we'd like to recognize the excellent work provided by our student front office staff in keeping the office running during the pandemic. Their work was vital to keeping the department functioning during this time. Their flexibility and adaptability was stellar, and they did it all with a great attitude and a smile!
Amanda Case
Brooklyn Dummar
Meridian Casalegno
Dinah Squire
Jessica McKee
Michaela Rappleyea
Monroe Matsen
THE MEDIA ARTS WOMEN AND FILM SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
The Women and Film Scholarship Award is a monetary award that supports the study of 1) the representations of women in film, television, and other moving image media and 2) the contributions of women to film, television, other moving image media industries, and film critical studies. The recipients of this award are:
Jenna Schaelling
Claire Hatch
Ysabeaux Ng
Lacey Duncan
MEDIA ARTS OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARD
CONGRATULATIONS to our five
Outstanding Student Award Winners!
Each of these students was selected due to their many contributions to the program, their excellent scholarship, and their exemplary citizenship. We are proud to announce the 2021 Media Arts Outstanding Students are:
James May
Aarron Reupena
Jennifer Baker
Nathan Young
Elise Finlinson
We also had three Outstanding Student Finalists. They are:
David Sant
Emma Spears
Suzette Payne