Leah Granskog, Story Editor
Featured Image by National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
New Canaan High School’s student broadcasting network, NCTV, was recognized with two Student Production Awards this year. Administered by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the same organization that hosts the Emmys, these awards recognize high school and college students for their achievements in media, journalism, and video production. This year, NCTV received an honorable mention in the Newscast category for “The Morning Announcements – October 8th 2025” broadcast. They also won the Live Sporting Event/Game category for their “2025 Turkey Bowl – New Canaan vs. Darien” livestream.
Producer of the Turkey Bowl broadcast, junior Jason Generalis, explains that extensive preparation was required for the Turkey Bowl livestream. “We put in a lot of hours after school the week before to prepare,” he said. “We had a big crew, which was a huge help. Everyone did their part, whether it was helping to make the graphics, organizing the set and equipment, or planning the pregame show.”
NCTV made the Turkey Bowl broadcast in collaboration with DAF Media, Darien High School’s student broadcasting network. NCHS seniors Ryan Bell and PJ Neville, alongside Darien High School senior Owen Heffron, were the sports commentators for the Turkey Bowl broadcast. “Working with DAF was a lot of fun because I got to meet new people and they brought different skills,” Jason said. “I think that us collaborating definitely helped create a better product.”
TV Broadcasting teacher and NCTV Advisor Roman Cebulski believes that the on-screen talent, as well as the skills of those working behind the camera, were what helped make this production successful. “I knew that we had talent on the on-air camera: the personalities, the anchors, the play-by-play announcers. We also had the backend production talent,” Mr. Cebulski said. “This year, with the Turkey Bowl at our home field, I knew that this was the opportunity to do something really special.”
As for the Morning Announcements, similar preparation and dedication are required. “When we do the Morning Announcements, we have to decide what we are going to talk about, who is going to report, and how we are going to tell the story,” Mr. Cebulski said. “Then, we have to put all of that together with the script and get in the studio to rehearse to make sure everyone is in the right positions and ready for the live event.”
Avery Jakovic, NCHS senior and head of news for TV Broadcasting, believes the October 8th Morning Announcements in particular were a good representation of the work NCTV is capable of. “I thought that everything in this broadcast was put together very nicely,” she said. “There was a lot of media, and it was all edited well. I thought it was a really good display of what we can do as a class.”
According to Mr. Cebulski, these awards are a meaningful way to recognize the impressive work of the TV Broadcasting students. “I think the most important thing about these awards is that they are a validation of the students’ work,” he said. “I’ve been telling them for years that they are doing things that not many other schools are doing. This recognition is a credit to the hard work that they do.”
Avery thinks that this award is a valuable way to appreciate not only the work NCTV produces, but also the strong team they have created. “An important part of TV Broadcasting is the people and the little community that we’ve created,” she said. “Winning this award shows that we were all able to come together and make something excellent.”
Aside from these broadcasts, NCTV produces a multitude of other video pieces across different genres. “There are podcasts, live events, and the Morning Announcements. NCTV does it all,” Jason said. “For the Turkey Bowl, we spent a long time planning it because it was a big broadcast, and we expected a lot of viewers. However, we try to put that same foot forward for all of the broadcasts that we do to make sure that our best product always gets put out.”
Mr. Cebulski believes all TV Broadcasting students, past and present, deserve credit for helping with NCTV’s success. “It’s not just the people who are doing NCTV this year, but the long line of people who had worked here before, who had graduated, who are now in college, and who are doing incredible things,” Mr. Cebulski said. “I think we’ve established a legacy here where every year, students strive to take what they learned from the people before them and try to make it better.”
