An ambitious documentary produced by Pennsylvania College of Technology and WVIA Public Media has received a national honor.
“Working Class: 100 Years of Hands-On Education” recently garnered a bronze Telly Award for outstanding achievement in the documentary category of the 36th annual competition.
Produced to commemorate the Centennial anniversary of the institution, the 60-minute documentary reveals myriad challenges the college has overcome in honoring the dignity of work. Interviews with key officials and national experts and archival photos and video bring to life the college’s enduring commitment to the working class.
From its humble inception as a basement vocational-technical shop at Williamsport High School in 1914 to its standing today as a special-mission affiliate of Penn State, Penn College and its predecessor institutions have continually met workforce demands.
“The public’s response to the documentary has been tremendous,” said Elaine J. Lambert, special assistant to the president for creative development and public relations, and co-executive producer of the documentary. “Those of us involved in the production at Penn College and WVIA Public Media are very pleased that audiences have appreciated the film. We also are honored that the work has earned a Telly Award.”
Christopher J. Leigh, video production coordinator, and Thomas F. Speicher, writer/video editor, dedicated several months to producing, writing and editing the documentary.
“Winning this Telly Award is a special acknowledgment of the partnership between Penn College and WVIA Public Media to produce the best informational, educational and entertaining programming for our region and beyond,” said Tom Currá, WVIA president and CEO and co-executive producer of “Working Class.”
The Telly Awards honor the best work of the most respected production companies, television stations, advertising agencies, cable operators and corporate video departments. The competition receives approximately 12,000 entries each year from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Past Telly winners include BET Networks, ESPN, FOX, NBC, Ogilvy & Mather, and Warner Brothers.
The “Working Class” documentary has aired on WVIA in northeastern and northcentral Pennsylvania, WPSU in central Pennsylvania, and statewide via the Pennsylvania Cable Network. WVIA plans to distribute the program to more outlets in the Mid-Atlantic region. The film is available on Penn College’s YouTube channel.
Telly recognition for the documentary continues a strong tradition at Penn College. The television series “degrees that work” and “You’re the Chef” – both co-productions with WVIA –earned Telly Awards, as did the college’s former public-service series, “Penn College & You.”
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