Students in Western Iowa Tech Community College's Mass Communication program are earning regional recognition for their work in video production and broadcast journalism.
The college recently received two nominations in the Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation Student Production Awards, highlighting the talent and creativity of student storytellers.
One nomination recognizes Western Iowa Tech's December 5, 2025 student-produced newscast in the Newscast category. The honor marks a milestone for the program. It is the first time Western Iowa Tech has been nominated for a newscast, placing the student production among just five nominees in the category.
The other nominees come from major universities across the region, including the University of South Dakota and the University of Iowa, placing Western Iowa Tech students among strong company.
"This recognition puts our students in very good company," said Chris Mansfield, Program Coordinator for Mass Communication at Western Iowa Tech. "It shows that the work our students are doing here can stand alongside programs from larger universities."
The college also received a nomination for the video "Faith Rodgers Testimonial," created by students London Russell and Evan Amundson as part of an Advanced Video Production class last spring.
For Russell, the nomination continues an impressive streak. The video production major has now received Upper Midwest Emmy® Student Production Award nominations in back-to-back years.
The Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation Student Production Awards celebrate excellence in student media production across a region that includes Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and neighboring states.
For Western Iowa Tech students, the nominations reflect the program's emphasis on hands-on learning and real-world storytelling experiences.
The full list of nominees can be viewed at: https://midwestemmys.org/students-teachers/nominees/.