Television Academy Foundation Honors Student Excellence at 45th College Television Awards
ENTERTAINMENT
Sean Patrick Thomas and London Thor join BYU students Abigail Tolley, Ryan Jones, and Austin Lawrence, award winners at the 45th College Television Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services).
The Television Academy Foundation announced the winners of the 45th College Television Awards at a star-studded ceremony on March 28, 2026, at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California. The annual awards recognize and reward excellence in student-produced programs from colleges nationwide.
Top television stars presented awards to winning teams, including Samuel Arnold, Rhenzy Feliz, Ashby Florence, Ezra Frech, Robby Hoffman, Jenn Lyon, Billy Magnussen, Serena Page, Dewayne Perkins, Caterina Scorsone, Sean Patrick Thomas, and London Thor.
"Congratulations to the winners whose work reflects the creativity, passion and originality that define the future of our industry," said Tina Perry, chair of the Television Academy Foundation. "Each year, these remarkable students demonstrate the power of storytelling and the impact of fresh perspectives in television and media."
Major Winners
Brigham Young University dominated the awards, taking home honors in three categories. The school won for Animation Series with "Love & Gold," Comedy Series with "Thanksgiving," and Commercial, PSA or Promo with "Ink Up. Wash Out."
The Comedy Series winners also received the Chance Perdomo Legacy Scholarship. Ryan Jones, Austin Lawrence, and Abigail Tolley accepted the award for their work on "Thanksgiving."
Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta won Drama Series for "Óménàlà," produced by Sydney Brooks and directed and written by Stephanie AdaEze Byron-Ene.
Additional Category Winners
Montclair State University took the News category with "San Francisco: On the Edge," a project involving 16 student producers, directors, and writers working collaboratively.
New York University student Paulina Ruiz won Nonfiction Series for "Unbroken Spirits," serving as director, producer, and writer on the project.
University of Southern California claimed the Scripted Series award for "Trife," directed and written by Christian Yosef and produced by Neil Zafar Haeems and Shandaeya Caldwell.
University of Miami won Sports for "SportsDesk | The Magazine Edition | 2024," featuring seven student producers and writers.
Special Recognition
Two special awards were presented during the ceremony. The Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Award went to Savannah College of Art and Design students Danzheng Chen and Yangshiyi Liu for "Step Forward." The $10,000 award celebrates student storytellers whose work sheds light on people with disabilities and is underwritten by The Loreen Arbus Foundation.
The Seymour Bricker Humanitarian Award, a $4,000 cash prize given to a College Television Award-winning project that best highlights a humanitarian concern, was awarded to New York University student Paulina Ruiz for "Unbroken Spirits." The award was created over 20 years ago by the late entertainment attorney Seymour Bricker.
Industry Recognition
Emulating the Emmy Awards selection process, entries for the College Television Awards were judged by Television Academy members. Top honors and a total of $45,000 in cash prizes went to winning teams across nine categories.
The 2026 College Television Awards winners will also have the opportunity to screen their projects at SeriesFest, May 6-10, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
About the Foundation
The Television Academy Foundation is dedicated to inspiring tomorrow's Emmy winners today by discovering and championing future television leaders. Through its celebrated nationwide programs, including its Internship Program and College Television Awards, the Foundation opens doors for emerging talent, empowering them to launch careers in television.
The Foundation also produces The Interviews: An Oral History of Television, an extraordinary archive that preserves the stories of the industry's most influential voices. Together, these initiatives inspire creativity, foster inclusion, and shape the future of television.
The 45th College Television Awards is supported by philanthropists and corporate partners including Amazon MGM Studios, Disney Entertainment, The Johnny Carson Foundation, The Loreen Arbus Foundation, NBCUniversal, PEOPLE, Sony Pictures Television, and United Airlines.
The 45th College Television Awards show is available for video-on-demand viewing at TelevisionAcademy.com/CTA.