There are more educational choices at DMPS than any other district in Iowa, and our students are amazing! This week, we are excited to share that five of our students were nominated for National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Student Production Awards given out at the Upper Midwest Emmy Awards last week, and one student earned the Crystal Pillar! It’s a tough competition with more than 200 entries. As instructor Tim Coleman tells us in his guest blog post, his Broadcasting and Film students excel at what they do.

Abrianna Hilson holds her 2023 Crystal Pillar Award for her short non-fiction, “My PBS Mentorship”.

It’s awards and festival time for the Broadcasting and Film students at Central Campus. Our students had the opportunity to submit work for judging by the Upper Midwest Emmy Chapter, which includes the states of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Central Campus had seven pieces nominated this year.

Abrianna Hilson, NHS, was nominated for Editing and Short Non-fiction. Logan Westin, RHS, was nominated for Music Video and Short Fiction. Luke Garcia, RHS, was nominated for Short Fiction. John Charlson, RHS, was nominated for Commercial. Mary Chandara, Virtual Campus, was nominated for Public Service Announcement.

On March 31, the students travelled to Minneapolis for the awards ceremony with instructors Kirk Johnson and Tim Coleman to see who would win the Crystal Pillar, a student production award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. It was an honor just to be nominated from the 200 plus entries this year. Our own Abrianna Hilson received the Crystal Pillar for her short non-fiction, “My PBS Mentorship.” Her film will now go on to the national competition and will be judged by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in New York. The results will be released at an awards ceremony in September.

“It was a good year for student productions. It is great to see recognition for the storytelling and creativity that comes out of our classes,” said Tim Coleman, one of Broadcasting and Film Instructors at Central Campus. “We are so proud of Abrianna. Receiving this affirms all of the hard work we’ve been blessed to witness the last three years. All of our students were very deserving, and we are proud of all of them! We cannot wait to see what the future holds for each of them.”

Central Campus serves as the Premier Regional Academy within the Des Moines Public Schools. Over two thousand students from dozens of Iowa High Schools experience our Advance Career Training Programs. With academic planning and support in high school, students have the opportunity to earn community college credit and two-year associate degree at no extra cost.

Located at the heart of the city, Central Campus offers hands-on, real-world, work-based educational programs to a highly diverse community and surrounding areas. One of our greatest strengths is the friendships and networking of students from diverse backgrounds and communities. Des Moines Public Schools dedicates itself to excelling at unique and technologically advanced opportunities for all learners. Central Campus commits itself to providing equal access and prospects through rigorous academic and career training experiences for all.