Peoria Times
26 YOUTH
November 4, 2021
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Sunrise Mountain High School nominated for National Student Production Awards BY LAUREN SERRATO Peoria Times Staff Writer
The Foundation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has determined the nominees for the 2021 National Student Production Awards, selected from high school student entries across the country in 25 programming and craft categories. Peoria Unified School District’s Sunrise Mountain High School received five nominations in the following categories: magazine program, music video, audio/sound, director and talent – news or sports. “The future journalists, analysts, correspondents and entertainers of the next generation will be found among these talented young nominees represented here,” said Adam Sharp, president and CEO of NATAS. “Highlighting their work and encouraging their pursuit of excellence is one of the primary mandates of our foundation.” Ryan Kraska was nominated in four categories, Kalini Aguon-Sewell in three and Lamley Andrews in one. While the students were nominated for their work completed in high school, they graduated from Sunrise Mountain in May 2021. Despite having graduated from high school, Kraska admitted it is still an honor to get recognition for the work completed in the last year. “Even though we have moved past it and we’re making better things now, it was like we were justified in our own feelings of being proud of our work. We know that the old things we made are still worthy,” he said. Kraska and Aguon-Sewell are currently freshmen at Arizona State University’s New American Film School. Both agree that their time in broadcast and film in high school played a role in
ences is thrilled to honor the incredible work of these talented students,” said Danielle Mannion, education chair with NATAS. “The students faced extraordinary challenges and produced dynamic and compelling stories. We also wish to acknowledge the dedicated work of their teachers who supported the productions.” Moving forward in their education, Kraska and Aguon-Sewell are sure they want to pursue a career in film but admit they’re not Ryan Kraska and Kalini Aguon-Sewell are nominees for the the National Academy of Tele- yet certain on which specifvision Arts & Sciences’ 2021 National Student Production Awards. (Photo courtesy of Erin ic field they want to enter. “I really like just sound Dunsey) design and audio and maktheir decision to study at the film school. commitment that they put into every- ing sounds from things that weren’t “I can speak for both of us when I say thing they do,” Nygard said. “They hold there when you initially filmed it. So we’ve always had a passion for film. themselves to professional standards. I would say I’m personally more of an But if we didn’t take these classes in The kinds of things that I heard about audio person,” Kraska said. “I’m pretty set on cinematography. I high school, we wouldn’t be nearly as them from the judges’ comments, just advanced with how we make our films. at the regional level, so many of them just really like capturing things in the But we also wouldn’t know the behind in the field said they really hope that best way possible and using lighting the scenes process of everything, and these two specifically — talking about and how I frame the image to really sell we wouldn’t really be invested in the Ryan and Kalini — we really hope that the story,” Aguon-Sewell added. Looking forward to hearing the finalprocess,” Kraska said with a laugh as we’re going to see them in our fields he admitted to basically living in the in the future, because they have such ists, Kraska and Aguon-Sewell agreed broadcast room his last two years of a promising future in film and TV and that win or lose, they want to continue broadcasting.” high school. working with Sunrise Mountain High This year’s submissions from high School as mentors to younger students, Aguon-Sewell added that if it wasn’t for enrolling for the class as a fresh- schools around the country were suc- similar to how Nygard served as a man in high school, she would have cessfully culled from over 2000 entries mentor to them. never discovered film, as she had never from the regional chapters of the Na“It gives us an opportunity to start tional Academy of Television Arts and a kind of mentorship position where picked up a camera prior to that. As their advisor on the projects, Sciences. Entries were judged by se- we can help these kids out and make Amy Nygard said she felt such pride lected industry professionals and me- sure they get to the spot where we’re at when she found out her students were dia academics. now where they can go to film school Recipients will be announced in late and produce really cool stuff,” Aguonnominated, adding that their work was far beyond what people would expect November via a web stream produced Sewell said. by NATAS. from high school students. For more information or to view the “The Foundation of the National list of nominees, visit theemmys.tv/ns“I’ve always been really impressed with the quality of work, the time, the Academy of Television Arts & Sci- pa-2021-nominees.
