Media production students in the School of Communications received an honorable mention at the Broadcast Education Association Film Festival for being a part of the team that produced the documentary, "Children of South Africa."
Thirteen students and two School of Communications professors, Rebecca Abbott and Liam O'Brien, traveled to Capetown and Chigar in South Africa for three weeks during the 2007 winter break. The students filmed the 21-minute documentary highlighting the role of colonialism and its impact on the children of South Africa. During their time in South Africa, the students witnessed the social problems associated with poverty and a high crime rate.
"This was an amazing experience," said senior Joshua Schnitzer, a student leader for the trip. "A lot of people see South Africa in the media and just think it's poverty stricken and sad, but it's really beautiful over there."
When the students returned from their trip, they spent hours going over, editing and polishing the documentary. They then submitted it to the BEA Film Festival, where it received an honorable mention.
"This is just a stepping stone for the program," Schnitzer said. "I hope this award brings more light to the trip and helps to produce even better documentaries in the future."
Students were also able to show their work to a group of South African children whom they had filmed on their trip. The South African students came to Quinnipiac as a part of their tour through the United States.
The participants will receive their award at the BEA Festival of Media Arts: Faculty and Student Documentary Competition Awards Session in Las Vegas April 23.
Every year, the School of Communications sends a group of students abroad to film a documentary. Next year, students are planning to cover the 2010 World Cup. They already have an all-access pass to see the stadium where soccer will be played.