OBU Students Take Top Honors at Oklahoma Broadcast Education Awards

May 1, 2024

Five journalism students from OBU recently took home awards in the media competition at the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association awards held in April. The students combined to win three awards. The Awards were held on April 4, 2024, at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa.

Beth Houghton, Garrett Lincoln, Zachary Bramlett, Stephanie Woolsey and Brandon Spencer II placed third in the music video category for their Twelve Days of Christmas music video.

Houghton and Lincoln also submitted individual projects for which they won awards. Houghton won first place in the short script category for her script 1939. Lincoln won second place for his entertainment talk program submission about Doctor Who. Houghton and Lincoln are both senior journalism and mass communications majors.

Bramlett is a senior computer science major and is minoring in journalism and mass communications. Spencer is a senior in journalism and mass communications and Woolsey, who graduated in December, majored in journalism and mass communications with a film and media emphasis and a minor in graphic design.

“Winning first in the short script category was an honor,” Houghton said. “To me, it was such an encouraging recognition of my effort paying off. I had spent many hours refining my 1939 script and it was a privilege to have that script be recognized!”

Dr. Gary Rhodes, professor of media production, explained that the awards are not only a way for students to be recognized for their work, but also gives them a chance to connect with professionals in the industry. Before the awards were presented a career fair was held. Here, students could connect with companies like KOCO 5, News 9, The House FM and more. This gave these students opportunities to network when they otherwise might not have been able to.

“Adding media to my college experience was mainly for reasons of curiosity and personal interest, as I have always admired and wanted to better understand the processes of media production,” Bramlett said. “While unexpected, I am honored to have been included in this project and proud of the work I did alongside my fellow OBU media students.”

Even though individual students were recognized, they understand the accomplishments of their peers. It was an opportunity for these students to have an unforgettable experience.

“Watching my friends like Beth Houghton get recognized for her hard work and amazing talent was truly a special memory,” Lincoln said. “I wouldn’t trade the experience of going and enjoying OBEA for the world.”

Rhodes is proud of his students who placed in the competition as well as all who competed.

“It’s the best award in the state for Oklahoma university students,” he said. “This is the latest in a several-year run for OBU. It’s very meaningful not just for OBU but also for the students’ resumes.”

The OBEA members include the state’s largest public universities, regional universities, community colleges, and private colleges and universities. The OBEA members work closely with the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters to promote quality broadcast education and professional preparation.

Learn more about academic programs of study in OBU’s Division of Communication Arts.