Penn-Trafford video class brings home a half-dozen student Emmy awards

Video production students at Penn-Trafford High School are finishing the year with a bang.

Students from the class brought home National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences High School Student Production awards in six different categories in the Mid-Atlantic region on Thursday, including winning “Best Newscast” four of the past five years.

“Everybody’s work ethic has been a big factor in keeping us at this level of excellence,” said senior Becca Mills, 18. “We have so many resources and opportunities to do these stories. But without everyone working so hard, we wouldn’t be able to keep it where it’s at.”

Phelan Newman won an award for her public-service announcement about bullying and also won the Norman Felsenthal Young Producer Award for the second year in a row. The 17-year-old junior said determination and motivation is what keeps members of the video production class at the top of awards lists.

“We understand that this is a huge legacy here,” Newman said. “Four out of the last five years (for best newscast) is incredible, and we know that every year we have to raise the bar: new graphics, new ideas. It’s a high-intensity environment, but it’s also a great environment.”

In addition to the student Emmys, Penn-Trafford teams also took third place in the “Community Feature” category at the Student Television Network’s 2022 Spring Nationals competition. Two other teams received honorable mentions.

Senior Gianna Purpura, 17, was part of the group that took third place for a piece on a local boy, Liam Hoffman, who is affected by neurofibromatosis, and his family’s efforts to raise money for the Neurofibromatosis Clinics Association in Pittsburgh.

“I think putting it together was really special, for us and for Liam,” Purpura said. “He’s really enthusiastic about the whole situation, so it was great to talk with him, see what he’s going through and show people about helping his cause.”

Fellow senior Braden Schreyer agreed.

“It was really great to be able to let people know what neurofibromatosis was and to get people involved,” he said.

Senior Ella Coy said the group that creates Penn-Trafford TV has gotten a lot of support from the community and the school district.

“It’s neat to see excitement from people who aren’t part of the program, and it’s really become a no-brainer now that PTTV is going to cover this event or that event,” Coy said. “Before I stepped into this class, I had no idea about all of the work that went into it.”

Video production teacher Steve Vinton said the week will be hard to top.

“Yesterday is the kind of day that teachers live for,” he said. “Seeing them reach the top of the mountain like this is about as good as it gets.”

Vinton credited school administrators with support for the program.

“They’ve been behind us since Day One, and they’ve given us all the resources we’ve asked for,” he said.