USD student wins national award for radio project

The University of South Dakota's Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism is getting sound results from students like Brian Brua, who was awarded first place in the radio division for Best Technical Production at the 2007 College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI) Student Production Awards.

As one of four finalists from USD, Brua, a senior from Brandon, received first place for an imaging package project he produced for USD's student radio station, KAOR-FM, 91.1. The project was part of the Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism's audio production course during the spring.

"Brian is a dedicated student who applies his natural abilities to classroom learning," said Candace Walton, assistant professor, Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism. "The national production award is a reflection of his hard work at USD and is also a reflection of the good things that are happening in the Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism."

In addition to Brua, USD's finalists at the CBI Student Production Awards included U. Imagine practicum students, who were finalists in the Best Television Promo category for Charlie Coyote Loves Channel 21; Best Newscast finalists David Whitesock and Justin Wolfgang, KAOR news reporters; and Carlos de Leon, whose short film, Detour, was chosen as one of the organization's top films in 2007 and was a finalist in the Best Special Television Broadcast category. Detour, which aired on KYOT-TV during the 2007 spring semester, was also a finalist in MTV's Best Film On Campus contest last spring.

"The recognition received by our students doesn't surprise me," added Walton. "Our students are very talented and apply themselves both in and out of the classroom. They deserve the recognition they have received."

More than 440 entries were judged in 25 categories for the 2007 CBI Student Production Award, which were presented during the annual conference of the College Media Advisers (CMA) and CBI in Washington, D.C.