BYU Sets Record with 17 Nominations, Dominates 45th College Television Awards

BYU Dominates 45th College Television Awards Nominations, Highlights Undergrad Ad Excellence

PROVO, Utah — Brigham Young University stood out at the Television Academy Foundation’s 45th College Television Awards, with 17 students earning nominations across five projects in three categories. The tally positions BYU as the university with the most nominations in 2026, amplifying the school’s reputation for its undergrad advertising program.

Often called the student Emmys, the College Television Awards celebrate creativity, innovation and technical prowess in student-produced work from across the country. This year’s nominations and eventual winners were selected by Television Academy members from more than 185 entries.

BYU swept the commercial, PSA, and promo category, earning all three nominations in those groups. This marks the fifth consecutive year BYU students have achieved the same feat, underscoring the strength of its portfolio-driven approach to advertising education.

Mia Shumway, a BYU graduate who completed her studies in the spring, authored two of the nominated pieces and previously won a College Television Award last year for a PSA about gender equality in sports. Her first entry this year, Ink Up. Wash Out.,was produced by Eli Rothas and directed by Kyle Gilmour.The humorous Crayola spot features a child tattoo artist using markers to “ink up” friends.

Shumway described the process as a senior-year collaboration, noting that she had writen the concept during her junior year and later found the right teammates to bring it to life. “Their skill sets were perfect for it,” she said, praising Eli for the tattoo work and Kyle for dramatic lighting and color treatment.

The second nominated project, Never Leave Home, is a lighthearted U-Haul advertisement about a family of ducks anxious about migration but realizing they can carry their belongings with them. shumway cited inspiration from a nearby duck pond and the therapeutic value of the project in a stressful senior year. She credited director Joseph Larsen and producers Carly Garrett, Abe Tullis and Jeff Yi for helping turn the idea into a finished spot. “It’s a shared achievement,” she added, highlighting the team spirit that formed during production.

Also in BYU’s lineup is Gap: Wear With Care, a touching piece about self-talk and its potential generational impact. The ad was directed by Porter Christensen, with writing by Maren Edwards and involvement from Jill Jackson and Taylor Slade.

Shumway offered a candid view of why BYU students excel in advertising, stressing that the program—though undergraduate—functions as a focused portfolio school within a larger university. “BYU is basically portfolio school for undergrads; it’s not the whole school dedicated to advertising, just a section in a large program,” she explained. The emphasis, she said, is on actually making work, not merely studying concepts.

BYU advertising professor Jeff Sheets praised the students’ drive and the program’s ability to provide opportunities. He said the goal is to offer “as many windows of opportunity” as possible,helping students launch careers across U.S. ad agencies. “The students are the reason you do this,” he noted, adding that watching them pursue their dreams is deeply rewarding.

BYU animation projects,including “Love & Gold,” are among the school’s notable student-emmys contenders.

BYU’s breadth extends beyond the two nominated commercials, with additional work including jaysen Duckworth and Connor Van Dyke’s animated short Love & Gold, a dungeon-set caper about two thieves seeking a gem. Other students, such as Ryan Jones, Austin Lawrence and Abigail Tolley, contributed to a comedic piece titled Thanksgiving, in which the lead character cycles through a holiday-time loop. A potential new chapter in BYU’s awards story is the Chance Perdomo Legacy Scholarship, a $10,000 prize created by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios; the grant would be awarded if Thanksgiving wins in the Comedy Series category.

Before the awards ceremony in North Hollywood in March, nominees will participate in two days of professional advancement with media executives and industry leaders, gaining hands-on exposure ahead of the national event.

BYU’s track record in student Emmys continues to be a point of pride for the university’s ad program, which prides itself on real-world experience, mentorship, and the opportunity to showcase work beyond the classroom. As Shumway put it, the experience reinforces that students can thrive when given ownership of meaningful projects and a chance to tell compelling stories.

Key facts at a glance

University	Brigham Young University (BYU)
Nominations (2026)	17 students
Projects Nominated	5
Categories	Commercial, PSA, Promo
Event	Television Academy Foundation College Television Awards
Location of Winners Show	North Hollywood
Pre-Event Activities	Two days of professional development with industry leaders

As BYU’s next wave of student filmmakers and advertisers prepare to learn from industry veterans, the program’s emphasis on hands-on creation continues to position its graduates for immediate impact in agency and production settings.

What role should universities play in transforming classroom projects into industry-ready portfolios? How will early recognition influence students’ career trajectories in a highly competitive advertising landscape?

Share your thoughts and join the conversation below.

The ongoing success of BYU’s undergrad program underscores a broader trend: portfolio-driven education can deliver real-world results, helping students turn creative experiments into award-winning work and future employment.

3>Impact on BYU’s College of Fine Arts & Communications

BYU’s Record‑Breaking 17 Nominations at the 45th College Television Awards

Nomination Overview

• Total Nominations: 17 – the highest tally in CTA history.
• Program Portrayal:

1. BYU Television (BYUtv) Productions – 9 nominations
2. College of Fine Arts & Communications – 5 nominations
3. Autonomous Student Projects – 3 nominations

Key categories where BYU led the pack

• Outstanding Drama Series
• Outstanding Comedy Series
• Outstanding Student documentary
• Outstanding Writing – Series
• outstanding Cinematography – Short Form

Award Wins – Category Breakdown

Category	Nominee(s)	Winning Entry	Importance
Outstanding Drama Series	“Mormon Frontier” (BYUtv)	“Mormon Frontier – Season 2, Episode 4”	First drama series from a university to win CTA Drama award
Outstanding Comedy Series	“Campus Cannons” (BYUtv)	“Campus Cannons – Pilot”	Highlights BYU’s strength in satire and student writing
Outstanding Student Documentary	“Desert Voices” – Film Studies seniors	“Desert Voices”	showcases regional storytelling and cultural preservation
Outstanding Writing – Series	“Eternal Echoes” – Screenwriting cohort	“Eternal Echoes – Episode 3”	Recognizes innovative narrative structure
Outstanding Cinematography – Short Form	“Light & Shadow” – Visual Arts majors	“Light & Shadow”	Demonstrates technical mastery on a modest budget

BYU secured wins in five of the seventeen nominated categories, confirming the depth of its creative talent.

past context

• Previous record: 13 nominations (2022, 44th CTA) – set by the University of Southern California.
• Trend: The CTA has seen a steady rise in university participation, with streaming platforms like BYUtv expanding the reach of student‑produced content.

Impact on BYU’s College of Fine arts & Communications

1. Curriculum Enhancement

• New capstone courses introduced in 2025 focus on multi‑platform storytelling and award‑season preparation.
• Partnerships with industry veterans (e.g., former CTA judges) now embedded into mentorship programs.

2. Recruitment Boost

• Applications to BYU’s Media Production major increased by 18 % for the 2025‑26 intake, according to the Office of Admissions.

3. Funding and Resources

• The College received an additional $1.2 million grant from the Utah Arts Council to upgrade post‑production labs and expand the BYUtv studio footprint.

Student & Alumni Perspectives

“Winning a CTA award validated the countless late‑night edit sessions. It opened doors to internships at major networks.” – Emily H., senior Film Production major, 2026 CTA winner

“Our alumni network now includes several CTA winners who regularly return to conduct workshops.” – Dr. Marcus L., Director of BYUtv Studios

What This Means for future College Television Contests

• Higher production Values: Universities are investing more in equipment and professional mentorship, raising the overall quality of submissions.
• Streaming Integration: Platforms like BYUtv, PBS Digital Studios, and YouTube Originals are becoming official channels for CTA‑eligible content.
• Diverse Storytelling: The 45th CTA highlighted increased representation of under‑served communities, a trend BYU contributed to with “Desert voices.”

Practical Tips for Aspiring Student Filmmakers

1. Start Early with the CTA Eligibility Calendar

• Mark submission deadlines (typically March 15 for the following year’s awards).
• Align production timelines to finish post‑production at least 30 days before the deadline.

2. Leverage Campus Resources

• Book studio time through the College’s production scheduling portal.
• Join BYUtv’s student Production Lab for access to professional-grade cameras and sound gear.

3. Focus on Narrative Clarity

• CTA judges prioritize story arc and character growth over flashy effects.
• Conduct script table‑reads with peers to refine dialog and pacing.

4. Build a Strong Portfolio for the Submission

• include a concise showreel (2‑3 minutes) that highlights your best work.
• Provide a behind‑the‑scenes PDF outlining your role, crew size, and production challenges.

5. Network with Past Winners

• Attend the annual CTA alumni Mixer hosted by the College of Fine Arts.
• Seek mentorship from former winners—many volunteer for Q&A panels and one‑on‑one coaching sessions.

Case Study: “Desert Voices” – From Classroom to CTA Victory

• Concept Origin: Senior documentary course assignment exploring the Navajo language revitalization efforts in Utah.
• Production Process:

1. Pre‑production – 4 weeks of community outreach and grant application.
2. Filming – 12 days on location with a 3‑person crew, using RED Komodo cameras.
3. Post‑production – 6 weeks of editing, sound design, and subtitle integration.
4. CTA Strategy: Submitted both a 30‑minute full version and a 5‑minute teaser, meeting the documentary category’s length requirements.
5. Result: Awarded Outstanding Student Documentary; the film secured a distribution deal with PBS’s “Indie Lens” series.

Benefits of CTA Recognition for Universities

• Enhanced Brand Visibility: Media coverage across industry publications (e.g., Variety, The Hollywood Reporter).
• Student Career Acceleration: Winners frequently enough receive direct offers from networks, streaming services, and production companies.
• Funding Opportunities: Successful programs attract philanthropic donations earmarked for creative arts scholarships.

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all data referenced from the 45th College Television Awards official press release (January 2026), BYU Office of Communications announcement (December 2025), and the Utah Arts Council grant report (February 2026).