Dan Sayles
Staff Writer

Television broadcasting students from the University’s communications department won six Western Access Video Excellence Awards – more than any other university in the Western United States.

“It was exciting to sit in the audience, and then go up to receive the awards,” said Don Pollock, professor of communications, who accepted the awards on behalf of the winners at an Oct. 26 ceremony in Ventura.

Of the 12 videos entered into the competition, seven were finalists and six were honored with awards.

Winners included 2007 alums Megan Montalvo and Angie Gangi for Best Magazine Program, “La Verne Exclusive”; 2007 alumnae Chelsea Sherier for Best Information Video, “Vertical Minds”; Shane Rodrigues and Armen Katchiguan for Best Live Show, “Halloween Live!”; Joseph Valencia, Ray Kaptur, Evan Mobley and Adrianna Castillo for Best Experimental Program, “Lymindum”; Kim Bui for Best Station Promo, “LVTV Channel Promo”; and Allison Farole for Best Community News Show, “La Verne Community News.”

“Chelsea Sherier’s ‘Vertical Minds,’ was one of the best videos to come out of La Verne,” Pollock said. “It will go on and get other awards too.”

“I was happy,” said Rod­rigues, radio and TV operations manager. “It recognized that we did a good job,”Rodrigues said.
Rodrigues’ award would be his third, after also winning in 1995 and 2004.

“These are impressive awards,” said George Keeler, communications department chairman. “They validate that we are an excellent department of communications.”

Dan Sayles can be reached at dsayles@ulv.edu.