Academics

Student-produced video earns international acclaim

CommAgency effort with Student Engagement Network claims two awards

A video about Penn State's Student Engagement Network, produced by CommAgency, the Bellisario College’s student-run production agency, earned two awards in an international competition. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A promotional video about Penn State’s Student Engagement Network that was produced by students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications earned two awards through an international awards program that recognizes big ideas in marketing and communications.

The student-produced video created by CommAgency was honored in the student category and for its use of graphics, garnering two Awards of Distinction in the 26th annual Communicator Awards. The competition receives more 6,000 entries from companies and agencies of all sizes — making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world.

CommAgency is the Bellisario College’s student-run production agency that regularly works with other Penn State administrative units, centers and colleges — providing hands-on experience for the students and content for the clients.

“It’s a great honor for our students, and a testament to the quality of work they produce,” said Catie Grant, the faculty member who serves as director of CommAgency. “It can be a challenge to produce client-based content, but from the pitch to the finished product the students found a way to raise the bar and deliver.”

Earlier this year the video earned first place in the annual Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts competition.

The Communicator Awards honor work that transcends innovation and craft — work that made a lasting impact, providing an equal chance of winning to all entrants regardless of company or agency size and project budget. The Award of Excellence, the highest honor, is given to those entrants whose ability to communicate positions them as the best in the field. The Award of Distinction is presented for projects that exceed industry standards in quality and achievement.

The Communicator Awards is sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, an invitation-only group consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative and marketing firms.

Last Updated June 2, 2021