A video produced by Towson University’s Student Government Association (SGA) to celebrate National Diversity Awareness month last October has earned two prestigious national awards of excellence.
“What’s Your Stand?” was awarded a Communicator Awards 2014 Gold Award of Excellence in the “Online Video – Activism” category, as well as a Bronze Telly Award in the “Internet/Online Video – Social Responsibility” category.
President Loeschke takes a “selfie” with Kurt Anderson, Jamal Washington, Mike Keenan, Glorimar Quinones and Samantha Figueroa.
President Maravene Loeschke presented the awards to the students involved in making the video during a brief ceremony today in her office.
“Look at what you’ve done,” said President Loeschke, as she presented the awards. “Through this outstanding video, you have already made an enormous difference in the world. As a university president, this gives me chills. I am so proud of you.
“Later on in life, when you are all receiving your Emmys and Tonys and Grammys,” she continued jokingly, “in your acceptance speeches be sure to mention that you got your start here at Towson University.”
Recorded, edited and produced by staff videographer Ron Santana, and featuring students Kurt Anderson, Samantha Figueroa, Glorimar Quinones, Mike Keenan, Bayan Rustom and Jamal Washington, the video was made last September to highlight the importance of campus diversity and remind students to not use language that some might find offensive.
“We’ve all heard it,” the video begins. “We’ve all said it. We’ve all seen it. We’ve all laughed at it. But that doesn’t make it OK. Hateful speech is everywhere, so much so that we’ve become oblivious to the effect of our own words. So we, the students of Towson University, have decided to take a stand about why these words can be so hurtful.
“October is Diversity Awareness Month, and we, as students of Towson University, have taken our stand,” the video concludes. “What will be yours?”
With more than 6,000 entries from companies and agencies of all sizes, the Communicator Awards honor work that transcends innovation and craft to make a lasting impact. From a pool of more than 12,000 entries worldwide, the Telly honors the finest film and video productions, groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films, and outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs.
