UK Sports Video’s Tawasha Wins Ohio Valley Student Emmy
Recognized for ‘I Play for Kentucky’ Benny Snell Jr. awards campaign video
LEXINGTON, Ky. – UK Sports Video racked up yet another award this weekend, as Creative Editor Michael Tawasha won a Student Production Award for Editing at the Ohio Valley Emmy Awards on Saturday.
The video recognized showcased record-setting running back Benny Snell Jr. and was titled “I Play for Kentucky.” The video was produced and edited by Tawasha and shot by UK Sports Video, with Greg Gorham serving as advisor. It has generated hundreds of thousands of views since in debuted in September 2018.
“Thank you to the academy for this honor and recognition,” Tawasha said. “I want to thank the Godfather of Lexington Sports Video, Greg Gorham, for his mentorship and guidance that have impacted me professionally as well as beyond the edit bay. This video wouldn’t be possible without Benny Snell Jr., who reminded us that at the end of the day it is all about bleeding Blue.”
.@benny_snell plays for his team, not recognition or any awards. He plays for Kentucky. That only makes him more deserving. #SnellYeah #GetUphttps://t.co/3yw8rYstdt pic.twitter.com/BLXZxIDaEo
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 24, 2018
The Ohio Valley Emmy Awards were presented Saturday night at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. In addition to the award-winning video, four more pieces were nominated: the recap of UK’s win at Florida in football, produced (Kirk Hanselmann); the “Fight for 4” feature documenting Josh Paschal’s battle with cancer and return (Hanselmann, Gorham, Dick Gabriel and Timothy Layten); the season-long series of football recaps (Hanselmann); and the recap of UK’s football win at Louisville (Tawasha).
“Our Sports Video team is the most talented group in the country and Michael is an important part of that,” Executive Associate Athletics Director for Brand & Content Tim Bernal said. “They do incredible work connecting our fans to the teams they support with compelling visual storytelling. The 2018 football season and this video in particular are among the most compelling examples of that and we’re thrilled to see that fact celebrated.”
This is the second year in a row that UK Sports Video has earned a Regional Emmy. In 2018, Hanselmann won the “Sports-Feature/Segment” category for his feature on Courtney Love, chronicling the life story of the UK linebacker.
The award comes three months after UK Sports Video was twice recognized at the SAVVY Awards presented by the Collegiate Sports Video Association in May. The hype video produced prior to Kentucky football’s game vs. Georgia won Motivational Video of the Year and Christian Fiero, UK’s coaching video coordinator for football, won the prestigious Bob Matey National Video Coordinator of the Year award.
UK Sports Video shoots, produces and edits thousands of videos each year for all 22 Wildcat teams appearing on social media, UKathletics.com and video boards at live events. UK Sports Video also produces dozens of live game broadcasts airing on the SEC Network and SEC Network +, manages video board production at UK events and coordinates coaching video.
