amber-mackie-_-lacrai-mitchell.jpgTALLAHASSEE — The winners of a 2013 College Television Award are … Amber Mackie and Lacrai Mitchell! The two Florida A&M University (FAMU) broadcast journalism students have returned home from Hollywood, Calif. with a gold statue commonly referred to as a Student Emmy. Both were honored at a gala for their work as co-producers on the 2012 FAMU Homecoming Special: Ignite the Strike.

The 30-minute show, which recaps homecoming events during the university’s 125 anniversary, won second place in the magazine category.

Each year, the Academy of Television Arts & Science Foundation hosts a national competition to recognize excellence in college student-produced video, digital and film work. Mackie and Mitchell were chosen from hundreds of entries.

“Walking the red carpet was a surreal experience that I hope to one day repeat as a television or documentary film producer attending the professional Emmy Awards,” said Mitchell, a sophomore broadcast journalism student from Tallahassee. “Winning this award is a result of the hard work of our entire production team. I was proud to represent them and my school.”

Mackie, from Brooklyn, N.Y.,  is a graduating senior broadcast student who also aspires to become a television producer. Her documentary Spare the Rod was recently featured in J-school Journals, FAMU’s bi-annual showcase of films written and produced by SJGC students.

“I am very honored to have won this award and especially grateful to Professor Kenneth Jones for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a producer for the show,” Mackie said.

Jones created the annual Homecoming Special television show in 1996 to train broadcast journalism students in production, news writing, reporting and editing. Since then the show has evolved to showcase the talents of all programs at SJGC, including public relations and multimedia components.