2025 Ceremony
Sunday, April 27, 2025
12:30pm — 5:30pm
Event Location
Michigan State University
Communication Arts and Sciences Building
Greeting from the president
Hello All!
Welcome to the 2024 Student Production Awards presented by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Michigan Chapter.
Each year, we're so impressed by the creativity we see in submissions for the Student Production Awards! We are especially excited with this year's entries as the quality of work continues to demonstrate even greater content, creativity and execution.
Congratulations on your outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements.
We can't wait to see how your productions will change our industry!
Sincerely,
Robin A. Tracey
President, NATAS - Michigan
A message from the Student Production Awards Chair
The NATAS Michigan Regional Chapter and its Board of Governors is excited to welcome all of you to the 2025 Student Production Awards on the campus of Michigan State University!
The “Meet the Pros” panel sessions have been a big hit with the students over the years, that we believe this years will be just as informative, education and entertaining. We’ve invited more talented, award-winning media professionals that can help the future break into the business. From TV news, to cinematography and content creation, this year’s question-and-answers session will be one to remember.
This year we received 178 entries from high school and college journalism and media production students across Michigan, and today we honor the best of those submissions. We also acknowledge and thank all the professors and teachers who continually guide and inspire students as they begin their careers in this industry.
To all our nominees, congratulations, and good luck!
Dan Firnbach
Celebrating You and Team Work
Have you ever been nominated for or received a Student Production Award?
It’s never too late to commemorate your achievement with a beautiful plaque or crystal pillar award.
Our crystal pillars feature the Emmy® logo and are personalized with an inscription celebrating your accomplishment.
All prices include personalization. Shipping is not included.
College Crystal Pillar - 8”
High School Crystal Pillar - 6"
Your personalized pillar, featuring your entry etched in gold with the Emmy® logo: $125
Special Thanks To:
MSU’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences for hosting the next generation of media and journalism leaders.
Meet the Pros
Meet Emmy® Award-winning broadcast journalism and production professionals who work in news, sports, and documentary production in a series of question-and-answer breakout sessions. Learn all about their professions, education and training, and how they got started in the industry.
Presenters
Akil Alvin
Chief Creative Officer
Digital Detroit Media
Akil created Digital Detroit Media, a global ad agency that goes beyond boundaries to expand into new terrain, driving storytelling into the realm of palpability.
Since its launch in 2013, DDM has grown to work with some of the world’s leading brands and municipalities. Their undeniable client roster includes The Walt Disney Company, Bank of America, Ford Motor Company, and Coca-Cola. Akil and his team is responsible for rebranding the City of Detroit. He was named one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 as one of North America's top 30 advertising executives. At it’s core, DDM creates opportunities for young creatives of color and preparing them to step into their dreams.
Will Bly
Associate Creative Videographer
University of Michigan Athletics
William Bly Jr. grew up in Harper Woods, MI, where he attended Grosse Pointe North High School. After graduating in 2012, he went on to Central Michigan University. At CMU, he was apart of News Central, Grand Central Magazine and CMLife, all on-campus clubs. He graduated with a bachelors degree in Broadcast and Cinematic Arts and went on to be a news photographer at 9&10 News in Cadillac, MI. As a photographer he worked as a daily photographer shooting your everyday news stories from local crime to Friday night sports highlights. After 3 years of being a daily news photographer he was brought in to the creative video team associated with 9&10 News, Mane Content. There he created commercials for local businesses and created a in-depth sports show, On the Gridiron that followed the Cadillac Vikings football team through their season. After a few more years in Cadillac working with Mane Content, he moved back home and filming high school football, he applied and received the opportunity to work with the University of Michigan football team. There he works with the football team as an associate creative videographer.
Haley Fiaschetti
Meteorologist/Weather Influencer
Haley Fiaschetti joined the Doppler 9&10 Weather Team in July of 2022. She was born and raised in a small town in Southeastern Massachusetts. Haley went to college at Northern Vermont University - Lyndon (formally Lyndon State College), and got to learn about weather and experience freezing Vermont winters.
She also got to experience how national news works, when she interned with FOX Weather in New York City. Since joining 9&10, Haley has helped create digital exclusive weather content by using weather information, STEM and other digital shorts in an informative way to reach viewers/followers in a way that is different than your traditional forecasts. She has played a big role in growing the station’s Instagram and TikTok channels that is educational, informative and entertaining to 9&10 followers.
Byron Goggin
Cinematographer/Documentarian
Byron has spent 30+ years as a Director of Photography, Sr. Editor, and Producer. He has won multiple achievement awards including 15 Emmys® scattered throughout each of those categories. His career has led me to National Geographic, Discovery Channel, History Channel, NBC and FOX Sports Net where I have held leadership positions at all.
Rachel Rademacher
Morning Show Anchor, 9&10 News
Rachel joined 9&10 News in January of 2023 as a Lifestyle Reporter for "The Four." She recently graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts with a double minor in Journalism and Leadership. Rachel's interest in broadcasting started early in high school through her multimedia class. She later started a news channel through her high school where she produced and anchored. This led her to find a passion for journalism and media. At CMU, Rachel worked on many different shows through Moore Hall Television. She was a reporter for the award-winning news program, News Central. She also was a co-host for CMU's first-ever morning show, Morning Central. She discovered her passion for lifestyle news after hosting a lifestyle show, Central View Live and working as an entertainment reporter. Rachel also spent time working behind the scenes as a floor director and producing for News Central and Central View Live. In the spring of 2022, Rachel received a scholarship award from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Rachel grew up in a small town called Westphalia near the Lansing area. She had the opportunity to intern at WILX News 10 where she grew as a reporter in the Capitol City. Rachel started as Michigan this Morning anchor in January 2025.
Cory James Taylor
Cinematographer
Cory James Taylor was raised in Flint, Michigan and has worked with networks, artists, and companies from all over the world including; Netflix, Hulu, The History Channel, FX, NFL Films, NBC Sports Ford, GM, Quicken Loans, Detroit Pistons, Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings. Artist such as Eminem, Janelle Monae, Kanye West, Hozier, Shakey Graves, Brett Dennen and Tony Hawk.
Scholarships
Congratulations!
2025 Michigan Scholarships totaling $10,500 awarded to two students and two schools in the Michigan region.
John Schimpf Scholarships
Samantha Rousseau
Madonna University
$3,600
Max Watkins
Michigan State University
$3,600
Dr. Lynne Boyle Grants
East Kentwood High School
$1,650
Troy Athens High school
$1,650
2025 Student Production Awards Nominees
2025 Student Production Awards Committee
Dan Firnback
Chair
9 & 10 News
Adam Burns
President
Byron Goggin
Byron Goggin StoryWorks
David Reimbiesa
Mott Community College
Adam Rauscher
Dearborn High School
Rob Wolchek
WJBK
Executive Board
Robin Tracey
President
Neille Giffune
Vice President
Kit Kuhne
Vice President
Brian Efrusy
Treasurer
Board of Governors
Carlota Almanza-Lumpkin
CEO
Courtney Bennett
Anchor/Reporter
Shayna
Fields-Clark
Producer
Dan Firnback
News Director
Byron Goggin
Owner
Ilene Gould
Producer
Jayne Hodak
News Director
David Jones
Chief Photographer
Rob Wolchek
Investigative Reporter
Mike Woolfolk
News Anchor
Stacia Mottley
Executive Director
Social Media Manager
Mike Boseak