Sean McCluskey of Levittown Earns National Honors for Audio/Video Work at SUNY Plattsburgh

PLATTSBURGH, NY (04/02/2010)(readMedia)-- Sean McCluskey, of Levittown, N.Y., was among a group of SUNY Plattsburgh students who cleaned up at this year's Region One National Broadcasting Society Conference.

The group won 20 out of the 34 awards offered for their video and audio work – more than any other college – and they competed against colleges from 11 states.

But they didn't stop there.

McCluskey and others went on to make the finals at the national NBS conference. McCluskey even placed in three categories.

His fellow students Jovie Castillo, of New York City; Felicia Cavallaro, of Brooklyn; and Missy Repola, of Poughkeepsie, went on to win first-place awards. In fact, their chapter of the National Broadcasting Society did so well it was voted most improved in the nation.

McCluskey, a senior communication studies major, never expected that his work would make it so far.

He said winning at the regional level was great, "but to make it to the national convention, that's completely different. You're competing against the rest of the 50 states."

SUNY Plattsburgh Assistant Professor of Communication Christine Johnson was not surprised.

"Our facilities are wonderful, and the students are extremely talented," said Johnson "They really have very creative minds."

Johnson said faculty worked hard to push students to take a risk and submit work.

"I think that's why we won so many awards because people took a chance," she said.

"Obviously, I am very proud of all the students," said Peter Ensel, chair of the communication department and co-director of the Center for Communication and Journalism. "These awards prove to our students they are as talented as those studying at any other communication program in the country."

The first-place winners at the national convention:

• Audio Promotion: "NBS Can Drive Promo," Missy Repola. (Listen to the audio file at http://bit.ly/NBS_Honors.)
• Comedy Script: "MATCHCUT," Felicia Cavallaro and Jovie Castillo.

Other SUNY Plattsburgh projects making it to the national finals:

• Audio Public Affairs/Interview Program: "Cell Phone Use While Driving," Sean McCluskey.
• Audio Station Imaging: "WARP," Missy Repola.
• Video Sports Program: "Cardinal Hockey Pregame Show," Sean McCluskey.
• Sports Play-by-Play Programming: "Cardinal Hockey Play by Play," Sean McCluskey.