By Kristine Milbrandt

Shelby Granath ’13 has won an excellence in editing award in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Upper Midwest student competition.

WTV received 10 nominations overall, including four for Granath. It was the first time the station had received regional NATAS nominations, according to adviser Travis Bockenstedt.

“I am so honored to receive such an award,” said Granath, a student from Rockford, Ill. who is Wartburg Television’s sports director. “It’s always nice to get recognized for all the hard work we put in, and that goes for all the nominations we got. I think it says a lot about our department and how hard we work.”

Granath received the editing recognition for her entry “Wartburg College Basketball Intro Videos” at the NATAS regional conference April 1 in Bloomington, Minn. 

 “Travis Bockenstedt has been an incredible asset to our team, and we definitely wouldn’t be where we are now without all his help and support this year,” Granath said.

“This is an honor because our students produce great work,” Bockenstedt said. “The fact that we are a small liberal arts college competing with some of the best journalism schools in the Upper Midwest is a testament to the quality of our program and the quality of our students.”

Each entry is judged on content, creativity, and execution on a scale of excellence. “Depending on evaluations from judges, some categories may have one award, more than one award or no award at all, if scores are too low,” Bockenstedt said.

The other Wartburg Television nominees in the College/University Division were:

• Newscast — “WTV8,” Andrew Bridgewater ’12, Granath, and Brianna Nielsen ’12, anchors; Justin Szykowny ’14, producer; Bockenstedt, adviser
• News, general assignment — “Diversity at Wartburg,” Granath, reporter.
• Long form, nonfiction — “The Devil Behind the Mirror,” Trevor Finchamp ’12, producer, Bockenstedt, adviser.
• Sports — “Janesville Football,” Taylor Umland ’13, reporter, and “Parkour,” Kyle Palmolea ’12, reporter; Bockenstedt adviser on both.
• Sports Live Event/Game — “Football vs. Coe,” Bridgewater, director; Umland and Palmolea, play-by-play; Bockenstedt, adviser.
• Public Affairs/Community Service — “Michele Bachmann Debates Gay Marriage,”
• Daniel Housholder ’14, host; Benjamin Hoppenworth ’13, producer; Bockenstedt, adviser.
• Talent — Granath.
• Editor — “Waverly-Shell Rock State Tournament Wrestling,” Bridgewater, editor  .

WTV also was recognized  at the annual Northwest Broadcast News Association’s Eric Sevareid Award competition March 31, honoring the North Dakota-born and University of Minnesota-educated journalist who was a correspondent and commentator for CBS Radio and Television.

WTV received the following awards:

• Sports Reporting — Award of Merit
• Series Student Market TV — Award of Merit: Senior Spotlight 
• Series Student Market TV — First Place: Extreme Sports
• Sports Play by Play — First Place: Football vs Coe
• Sports Play by Play — Award of Merit: Volleyball vs. Central Sports 
• Soft Feature — Award of Merit: Dance Marathon