Shippensburg University’s SUTV took home a collegiate Emmy Award from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (MAEA). 

Avery Quinn, a 2019 graduate of SU and a previous member of SUTV, took home a second Emmy for his coverage of “LIU Post vs Shippensburg Football.”

Six members of SUTV and six alumni of the organization traveled to the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh for the presentation of the awards. 

The MAEA is a yearly awards ceremony that recognizes local and regional broadcast shows. It is a subset of the better known national Emmy Awards. 

“It gives us some confidence in the work we do,” said SU senior and SUTV executive producer Katie Sweigart.

SUTV won two Emmy awards last year. According to an article posted on theslateonline.com, they were SUTV’s fourth and fifth, making this Emmy its sixth.  

SUTV was nominated for two awards in the Sports/Live Events category. Quinn’s submission took home the Emmy, while the other was coverage of a collegiate basketball game between West Chester and Shippensburg produced and directed by Patrick Ramsdale and Jordan Handley. 

The two packages were the only two nominated to the category, meaning SUTV was guaranteed to bring home an Emmy either way. 

Sweigart said SUTV always tries to bring alumni who had a hand in creating the packages being submitted along on the trip.  

Sweigart explained SUTV does not focus on creating content for the Emmys — they create stories, and then decide what is worthy of the Emmys. 

The process began in April, when SUTV submitted its pieces to the MAEA panel. 

In August, the staff heard that their pieces were nominated. However, there was a lot of built-up tension because winners are only announced live at the ceremony.

The communication/journalism department is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Journalism and Mass Communication Education (ACJMCE) board. 

However, Sweigart said it is much more meaningful for SUTV to win awards because it shows a result of that accreditation. Emmy awards serve as evidence to back up the statements one might make on a resume, according to Sweigart. 

“Because we’re nominated for an Emmy, it shows that Shippensburg is a part of a system of 14 PASSHE schools, and 95% of the time we’re the same, but it’s the 5% that sets us apart,” Sweigart said.  

Heading to the Emmy’s this weekend does not mean the work is done, however. Sweigart said she wants to continue pushing SUTV throughout the year to produce quality content. A goal of hers is to submit an entire broadcast — a feat in of itself, Sweigart said. 

“SUTV has come a long way and we have a lot further to go, but we’re in a good spot — we’re doing big things,” she said. 

“I think once you get nominated for one Emmy, you kind of realize the kind of stories that are worth being told, and you look for that story because you see the type of things that catch people’s eye,” Sweigart said.

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