Cronkite students earn 41 nominations for 2025 NATAS Student Production Awards

Students from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication led the nominations field for the 2025 Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Student Production Awards.

They earned 41 nominations across 15 categories, including reporting, editing, directing, producing, writing and photography.

Cronkite students swept all nominations in three categories: "College Interview/Discussion," "College Sports Story" and "College Talent News or Sports."

The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honors professionals and students working in television with regional Emmy Awards and Student Production Awards, across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and southeastern California.

In 2024, Cronkite students earned 24 Student Production Awards, nominations ultimately winning in 11 categories.

The 2025 winners will be announced on Sept. 6.

Cronkite School student nominees

COLLEGE NEWSCAST

Cronkite News, March 26, 2025 - Cristina Robles-Ruiz, Carlisa Poirier, Alexandra Zurborg, Mason Collins, Edgardo Soto Diaz, Kolby Marting, Thomas Forbes and Tia Reid
Cronkite News Election Special - Cristina Robles-Ruiz, Jack Sfida and Kyle Krikorian
Cronkite News, March 4, 2025 - Tate Daniels, Evan Chell and Benjamin Munaweera

COLLEGE HARD NEWS REPORT

Voices From Panama - Leah Phillips
Two Sides of the Border - Leah Phillips

COLLEGE FEATURE NEWS REPORT

Grand Champion Family - Blake Niemann
Top Dog - Kayla Marienau
Sustainability at the 16th - Max Williams
Ticket Prices Outta Here - Denzen Cortez

COLLEGE NON-FICTION - SHORT FORM

Limitless - Reylee Billingsley
Us Against U(ranium) - Kanoa Joseph Kalaulani McNicoll Jacang, Samantha Mooth and Karen Bartunek

COLLEGE PUBLIC AFFAIRS/COMMUNITY SERVICE

Gen Z Voters - Denzen Cortez
The Crime of Caring - Martin Dreyfuss, Nina Zaynor and Steven Chacon
President Trump's Impact on Arizona - Ripley Simone Kennebrew

COLLEGE INTERVIEW/DISCUSSION (all nominations)

Phoenix Mayor Discusses D-Backs - Max Zepeda
Sitdown With ASU's Kenny Dillingham - Devon Henderson
Chat With AZ Secretary of State - Ben Parris

COLLEGE ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT/CULTURAL AFFAIRS

Marching to Manhattan - Kayla Marienau
Showdown in the Desert - Ryan Pasiecznik

COLLEGE MAGAZINE PROGRAM

Arizona: A Shifting Landscape - Carlisa Poirier, Cristina Robles-Ruiz and Alexandra Zurborg,

COLLEGE SPORTS STORY (all nominations)

Voice of the Valley - Jackson Adlhoch
Playing Through Adversity - Blake Niemann
The Glove Lab - Andres Armenta
Integration of Baseball in Arizona - Mihir Sinhasan

COLLEGE SPORTS PROGRAM

Cronkite Sports Now - Henry Domine, Ben Parris, Max Zepeda and Kolby Marting
Cronkite Sports Report Pregame Show - Adriana Dopadre
Cronkite Sports Live Season 22 - Ronan Heykoop, Justin Carter, Ryan Sykora, Luke Galindo, Justin Lacertosa and Gabby Chernoff
Cronkite Olympic Special - Adriana Dopadre

COLLEGE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

Truitt Robinson ASU Hype Video - Truitt Robinson

COLLEGE EDITOR

Art in Phoenix - Christos Makropoulos

COLLEGE PHOTOGRAPHER

The Glove Lab - Andres Armenta
Leah Phillips Shoots on the Road - Leah Phillips

COLLEGE TALENT - NEWS OR SPORTS (all nominations)

Best of Leslie Chapman - Leslie Chapman
The Best of Max Williams - Max Williams
The Best of De'Aundre Sanders - De'Aundre Sanders
Best of Lauren Avenatti - Lauren Avenatti
The Best of Ben Parris - Ben Parris

COLLEGE WRITER

House Case Rounding Home - Andres Armenta
Ringo Gets a Ring - Max Zepeda
Sports 5 Years Post COVID - Koby Braunstein
Draft Day Journey - Max Zepeda