Nine broadcast journalism students from the University of South Carolina were honored with four Student Production Awards from the Southeast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, formerly known as the Southeast Regional Student Emmys. Three other students were named finalists and recognized at the annual ceremony March 21 in Atlanta.
The students’ work was created in the broadcast major capstone course Carolina News, taught by senior instructor Rick Peterson and instructor Chris Halsne. They competed against entries from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina.
"We’re thrilled for these students who earned these prestigious awards. The newscast and headline news honors represent an outstanding team effort," said Peterson. "The feature and solo storyteller awards highlight exceptional enterprise reporting, with stories shot, written and edited by the reporters. It has been an honor to work with such talented students.”
Student Production Awards
Newscast - Carolina News: December 2, 2025
Jordan Rawlinson, Tyler Perrone, Chloe Findlay, Kyron Williams
Headline News - Carolina News FastCast: November 4, 2025
Jordan Rawlinson, Samantha Vassallo, Amanda Anderson, Nicole Smith
Feature News Report - Bike Shop Lifeline
Clarissa Meier
Solo Storyteller - Rural Health Care Shortages
Dakota Morris
Finalists
Hard News Report
Fire Alarm Hell - Samantha Vassallo
Missing Pageant Money - Mary Grace Copeland
Feature News Report
Pitch Perfect - Dakota Morris
Solo Storyteller
Dirt Track Raceways Disappearing - Austin McConnell
About NATAS
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and related media and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the media industry, best known for the coveted Emmy® Award. NATAS has 19 chapters throughout the United States identifying and celebrating television excellence at the local and regional level.