STUDENTs
The Chicago/Midwest NATAS Chapter is very involved with students in our region. We offer up to $36,000 in scholarships each year through our charitable arm, the 501(c)(3) NATAS Chicago Foundation, a non-profit. We also have both college and high school award programs and have an active Junior Board made up of students and young professionals.
2019 High School Scholarship winners:
Ben Pokorny, Suzan Georges, and Andrew Kurland
2025 HIGH SCHOOL CALL FOR ENTRIES - NOW LIVE!
Three-step process to enter:
1. Create a new “Registered User” account or sign in with your pre-assigned teacher membership number and password on our Entry page. Retrieve your password here
2. Once you have your own login and password, log in and submit your paperwork and pay online. Login to the Entry Portal here
3. Then upload your video. After you upload, you will be able to watch the uploaded video and approve it for submission.
For further information, advice or clarification, contact Rebekah Cowing at rcowing@emmyonline.tv or at 312-218-8058.
CONGRATS TO OUR chapter's EIGHT 2024 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS
Learn More about our chapter's JUNIOR BOARD
The Junior Board consists of students and young professionals, ages 18-26, who either attend school or work in one of the chapter’s eight television markets. Congratulations to our new 2023-2025 Board. The Junior Board is a project focused group that works both independently within their sub-committees (Multimedia, Events/Outreach, and Social Media) and in tandem with the Chicago/Midwest Board of Governors in the chapter’s mission to advance and promote broadcasting and excellence in visual media in the region. One term on the Junior Board lasts 2 years, with the opportunity for another 2 year renewal after the first term. Read More about the first inaugural 2021 Junior Board group.
HIGH SCHOOL RESOURCE GUIDE
The Chapter's Junior Board has created a resource guide to help high school students determine what career in media and area of study are best for them. The guide also lists colleges and universities in the Midwest that offer programs in media and broadcasting. The resource guide also provides a list of websites, free software, and other valuable resources to help strengthen skills in TV and news writing, filmmaking, editing, cinematography, and media literacy.
SCHOLARSHIPS
HOW TO APPLY
Deadline: Sunday, February 16, 2025
Sharon A. Palermo Memorial Scholarship Extended Deadline: Friday, March 15, 2024 - This scholarship is only open for Columbia College Chicago students.
- Be enrolled in an accredited college or university within the ADI (area of dominant influence) of the television markets within the Chicago/Midwest chapter jurisdiction OR have your primary residence (home address) within the ADI of the television markets within the Chicago/Midwest chapter jurisdiction OR be a relative of a member in good standing of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the Television Academy. The television markets that the Chicago/Midwest Chapter covers are: Chicago, IL; Peoria-Bloomington, IL; Rockford, IL; Green Bay-Appleton, WI; Madison, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Wausau-Rhinelander, WI; and South Bend-Elkhart, IN.
- Will attain senior level status, in a bachelor’s degree program, as of the fall term of 2025 OR be enrolled in a graduate degree program in that term.
- Be able to demonstrate a course of study that supports the intention to pursue a career in the television industry.
Deadline: Sunday, March 16, 2025
- Be a Senior in high school graduating in Spring 2025.
- Be able to demonstrate a planned course of study in a college or university that supports the intention to pursue a career in the television industry.
- Be enrolled in a high school within the ADI (area of dominant influence) of the television markets within the Chicago/Midwest chapter jurisdiction OR have your primary residence (home address) within the ADI of the television markets within the Chicago/Midwest chapter jurisdiction OR be a relative of a member in good standing of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the Television Academy. The television markets that the Chicago/Midwest Chapter covers are: Chicago, IL; Peoria-Bloomington, IL; Rockford, IL; Green Bay-Appleton, WI; Madison, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Wausau-Rhinelander, WI; and South Bend-Elkhart, IN.
2024 HIGH SCHOOL & coLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
2024
NATAS
Members’
Scholarship
Nathaniel Bradley
Maine South
High School, attending
Marquette
University
2024
Silver
Circle Scholarship
Jimmy
Doles
Huntley High School, attending Northern
Illinois
University
2024
Silver
Circle
Scholarship
Presley
Kiecker
Neuqua Valley
High School, attending University
of Missouri
2024
Joel d.
Weisman
Scholarship
Ryan
Anderson
Batavia High School, attending
Columbia College Chicago
2023 HIGH SCHOOL & coLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
2023 branson/
silver dollar city
Scholarship
Sofia Petrov
Metea Valley
High School, attending Univ. of Missouri-Columbia
2023
stephEn o. v.
Jennings
Scholarship
Sahil Mittal
Barrington High School, attending Univ. of Illinois Urbana Champaign
2023
Joel d. Weisman
Scholarship
Christopher Gloff
Crown Point High School, attending Loyola University Chicago
2022 HIGH SCHOOL & coLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
2022
ephraim
family
foundation
Andrew Rowan
Northwestern University
2022
Board of Governors’ Scholarship
Kaila Nichols
Northwestern University
2022 bernstein global wealth management
Scholarship
Jenny Jiin Huh
Northwestern University
2022
Tom
Skilling scholarship
Vanessa Kjedson
Northwestern University
2022
SILVER
CIrCLE
Scholarship
Robert Nolan Hamilton
From Prospect High School, attending Butler University
2022
Silver
Circle
Scholarship
Ashley Robinson
Neuqua Valley High School, attending George Washington
2020 & 2021 HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
2021 Silver
Circle
Scholarship
Stella Balaskas
From Glenbrook North High School, attending Syracuse University in 2021/2022
2021 Board of Governors'
Scholarship
Zach Cameron
From Riverside Brookfield High School, attending Ball State University in 2021/2022
2021 Silver
Circle
Scholarship
Dominick Liacone
From Neuqua Valley High School, attending Ball State University in 2021/2022
2020 Paul
Lisnek
Scholarship
Derryl Barnes
From South Elgin High School, attending the University of Miami in 2020/2021
2020 Board of Governors’ Scholarship
Ethan Levy
From Glenbrook North HS, attending Univ. of Missouri - Columbia in 2020/2021
2020 Silver
Circle
Scholarship
Noah Semeria
From Naperville North High School, attending Chapman University in 2020/2021
2021 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
EPHRAIM FAMILY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
Megan Lebowitz
From Northwestern University
TOM
SKILLING
SCHOLARSHIP
Cailey Griffin
Columbia University, New York
SHARON A. PALERMO
MEMORIAL
SCHOLARSHIP
Grace Tallmadge
From Columbia College Chicago
BOARD of
Governors'
SCHOLARSHIP
Amanda Brennan
From Univ. of Illinois, Champaign
BERNSTEIN
GLOBAL WEALTH
MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP
Becky Budds
From DePaul University
2020 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Ephraim Family Foundation Scholarship
Joey Safchik
From Northwestern University
Bernstein
Global Wealth
Management
Scholarship
Seungjoo Oh
From Northwestern University
Sharon A. Palermo
Memorial
Scholarship
Patrick Thomas Keen
From Columbia College Chicago
Tom
Skilling
Scholarship
Anthony Landahl
From Bradley University
Tom
Skilling
Scholarship
Molly Ptacek
From Columbia College Chicago
2022 CHICAGO/MIDWEST HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION AWARDS
2022 regional high school WINNer VIDEOS
1 - Newscast
Entry Title
CPTV Quick Cut 11-19-21
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrants
Madeline Degenhart, Christopher Gloff, Rocco Jann, Eddie Finn, Hailey Lloyd, Claire Patena
2 – News General Assignment – Serious News
Entry Title
New 5G Wireless Network Rollout Delayed
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrant
Christopher Gloff
3 – News - Light News
Entry Title
The Hope Wall
School
Maine West High School
Student Entrant
Brooke Capper
4 – Arts & Entertainment / Cultural Affairs
Entry Title
TikTok is Eating YouTube Alive
School
Deerfield High School
Student Entrants
Jack Gordon, Sam Brody, Cole Bernstein
5 – Music Video
Entry Title
Sweet Dreams
School
Maine South High School
Student Entrant
Nicole Scimeca
6 – Short Form – Fiction
Entry Title
Free Time
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student EntrantS
Omar Shoreibah, Josh Patt, Noah Collins, Michael Cunningham, Tommy Casey
7 – Short Form - Non Fiction
Entry Title
Queerness in Media
School
Vernon Hills High School
Student Entrant
Ariel Shifrin
8– Sports Story or Segment
Entry Title
Raising the Bar
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student EntrantS
Aidan Manning, Kevin Mahoney, Hank Leahy
9– Sports Program
Entry Title
MSL Championship Pregame Show
School
Barrington High School
Student Entrants
Austin Molinaro, Chris Kilayko
9 – Sports Program
Entry Title
Crossover Sports
School
Riverside Brookfield High School
Student Entrants
Sam Egan, Jake O'Brien
10 – Sports - Live Event
Entry Title
WA vs Ridgewood Feb 9 2022
School
Wheaton Academy
Student Entrants
Carlton Arthurs, Noah Taritas, Brennan Van Meter, Nate Wilding
11 – Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Entry Title
Ruse Burglary
School
Maine South High School
Student EntrantS
Eden Wening, Lucia Urbain, Jake Ottolino
11- Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Entry Title
Mental Health PSA
School
Riverside Brookfield High School
Student Entrant
Carter Cozzi
12: Public Affairs / Community Service
Entry Title
American Legion Post 738
School
Deerfield High School
Student Entrants
William Love, Sam Brody-Goldberg, Cole Bernstein, Jack Gordon
13 – Magazine
Entry Title
The Mane
School
Maine South High School
Student Entrants
Alauren Lane, Roshini Ashrit, Ani Apresyan, Zara Saleem
14 – Commercial
Entry Title
Otterbox
School
Neuqua Valley High School
Student Entrants
Michael Lee
15 – Director
Entry Title
Free Time
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student Entrant
Omar Shoreibah
16 – Editor
Entry Title
Nicole Scimeca - Editing Reel
School
Maine South High School
Student Entrant
Nicole Scimeca
16 – Editor
Entry Title
Composite
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student EntrantS
Omar Shoreibah
17- Photographer
Entry Title
Composite
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student Entrant
Hank Leahy
18 - Talent
Entry Title
Composite
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrants
Christopher Gloff
18 - Talent
Entry Title
Composite
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrant
Rocco Jann
2021 CHICAGO/MIDWEST HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION AWARDS
- SCHOOL WINNER NAME
Category 1:
NEWSCAST
BHS-TV Black History Month 2021
- Barrington
Spartan News Now
- Glenbrook North
BHS-TV Pride Episode 2020
- Barrington
- Crown Point High School
Sarah Frey
Jon Lieber
Sebastian Zieniewicz
Blake Pysh
Category 2:
News Report - Serious News
- Riverside Brookfield High School
Michael DeLeonardis
COVID College Experience
- Glenbrook North
Simultaneous Hybrid Learning Pilot
- Deerfield
Category 3:
News Report - Light News
Senior Season
- Geneva
Holiday Windows
- Homewood-Flossmoor
- Geneva High School
Jacob Wood
Pandemic Performance
- Geneva
Category 4:
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT / CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The Show Must Go On: Fall Play Goes Video
- Maine South
- Deerfield High School
Jack Gordon
Simon Blaustein
Michael San Jose
Sam Brody-Goldberg
Black In America
- Homewood-Flossmoor
- Barrington High School
Anna Hauk
Sahil Mittal
Category 5:
Music Video
Walls
- Wheaton Academy
Ribs by Lorde Music Video - Nicole Straczynski
- Neuqua Valley
Dreamer
- Glenbrook South
- Glenbrook South High School
Hannah Stettler
Maya Mladenovic
Talia Massarelli
Category 6:
Fiction – Short Form
- Glenbrook South High School
Kevyn Kerwin
Possible Realities
- Deerfield
OFF
- Glenbrook South
Category 7:
Non-Fiction – Short Form
Megan Butler
- Glenbrook South
Peggy Kullman: Behind the Art
- Glenbrook South
- Deerfield
Simon Blaustein
Michael San Jose
Sam Brody-Goldberg
Nikola Marjov
- Glenbrook South
Making Of Clue
- Riverside Brookfield
Category 8:
Sports Story or Segment
- Glenbrook South High School
Tina Moran
Sophie Cotton
Riding It Out - Javonte Rucker's Comeback Story
- Wheaton Academy
- Glenbrook South High School
George Sladoje
Jane FitzGibbon
Category 9:
Sports - Program
- Glenbrook South High School
Sophie Cotton
Jane FitzGibbon
Michael Cunningham
George Sladoje
The Battle of The Blue Bloods
- Homewood-Flossmoor
Category 10:
Live Sporting Event/Game
No nominations
Category 11:
Public Service Announcement (PSAs)
A Call From Radon
- Wheaton Academy
Cerebral Palsy PSA
- Homewood-Flossmoor
Pick Up the Phone
- Maine West
Achromatic
- Glenbrook North
- Glenbrook North High School
Mariel Mudrik
Social Distancing
- Glenbrook North
Wear A Mask PSA
- Glenbrook North
Category 12:
Public Affairs / Community Service
Cancer Support Center: Surviving & Thriving in COVID-19
- Homewood-Flossmoor
- Geneva High School
Tessa Balc
- Barrington High School
Anne Thyfault
BLM in the Burbs
- Deerfield
Category 13:
Magazine Program
DHS-TV News 9-18-20
- Deerfield
Glenbrook South Report Episode #2
- Glenbrook South
- Neuqua Valley High School
Sam Appelbaum
Dominick Liacone
Alexis Muoghalu
Lauren Verdun
Category 14:
Commercial
- Deerfield
Aidan Culver
Simon Blaustein
Michael San Jose
Sam Brody-Goldberg
Sprite Commercial
- Glenbrook South
Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Oats (Commercial)
- Deerfield
Jonquil Lane
- Riverside Brookfield
Simply by Sam
- Maine West
Category 15:
Director
Michael DeLeonardis - Making of Clue
- Riverside Brookfield
- Mount Carmel High School
Noah Sanchez
Wyatt Knoell - A Bag's Life
- The Prairie School
Zach Cameron - Cook This - Firehouse Subs
- Riverside Brookfield
Category 16:
Editor
Benjamin Turnquest - Editing Reel
- Homewood-Flossmoor
Aidan Parnell - Editing Reel
- Neuqua Valley
Noah Sanchez - LATE! a silent film
- Mount Carmel
- Neuqua Valley
Liam Briese
Category 17:
Photographer
- Neuqua Valley
Liam Briese
Simon Blaustein - Photography
- Deerfield
Talia Massarelli - Photography Composite
- Glenbrook South
Ellie Compton - Cinematography Reel 2021
- Maine South
Category 18:
Talent - News or Sports
No nominations
2021 regional HIGH SCHOOL WINNER VIDEOS
1 - Newscast
Entry Title
CPTV
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrants
Sarah Frey, Jon Lieber, Sebastian Zieniewicz, Blake Pysh
2 – News General Assignment – Serious News
Entry Title
Teachers Demand Full Remote
School
Riverside Brookfield High School
Student Entrant
Michael DeLeonardis
3 – News - Light News
Entry Title
Mason's story
School
Geneva High School
Student Entrant
Jacob Wood
4 – Arts & Entertainment / Cultural Affairs
Entry Title
Magicians in the Shutdown
School
Deerfield High School
Student Entrants
Jack Gordon, Simon Blaustein, Michael San Jose, Sam Brody-Goldberg
4 – Arts & Entertainment / Cultural Affairs
Entry Title
BHS Winter Wonderfest
School
Barrington High School
Student Entrants
Anna Hauk, Sahil Mittal
5 – Music Video
Entry Title
Formula
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student EntrantS
Hannah Stettler, Maya Mladenovic, Talia Massarelli
6 – Short Form – Non Fiction
Entry Title
Dear Future Self
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student Entrant
Kevyn Kerwin
7 – Short Form - Non Fiction
Entry Title
Drive-In Movie Theater
School
Deerfield High School
Student EntrantS
Simon Blaustein, Michael San Jose, Sam Brody-Goldberg
8– Sports Story or Segment
Entry Title
Max Iida
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student EntrantS
Tina Moran, Sophie Cotton
8– Sports Story or Segment
Entry Title
Sheena Graham
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student Entrants
George Sladoje, Jane FitzGibbon
9 – Sports—Live Event
Entry Title
Titan Sports: Resilience
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student Entrants
Sophie Cotton, Jane FitzGibbon, Michael Cunningham, George Sladoje
11 – Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Entry Title
Pandemic Pandemonium
School
Glenbrook North High School
Student Entrant
Mariel Mudrik
12: Public Affairs / Community Service
Entry Title
Signs of Suicide
School
Geneva High School
Student Entrant
Tessa Balc
12: Public Affairs / Community Service
Entry Title
BHS Pride Student Stories
School
Barrington High School
Student Entrant
Anne Thyfault
13 – Magazine
Entry Title
Wildcat Weekly
School
Neuqua Valley High School
Student Entrants
Sam Appelbaum, Dominick Liacone, Alexis Muoghalu, Lauren Verdun
14 – Commercial
Entry Title
Smartfood
School
Deerfield High School
Student Entrants
Aidan Culver, Simon Blaustein, Michael San Jose, Sam Brody-Goldberg
15 – Director
Entry Title
LATE! a silent film
School
Mount Carmel High School
Student Entrant
Noah Sanchez
16 – Editor & 17 Photography
Entry Title
Liam Briese - Editing Reel Liam Briese - Photography Reel
School
Neuqua Valley High School
Student Entrant
Liam Briese
2020 regional HIGH SCHOOL WINNER VIDEOS
1 - Newscast
Entry Title
CPTV
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrants
Sarah Frey, Zachary Jones, Kirsten Robinson, Ramsey Harkness, Armando Bracco
2 – News General Assignment – Serious News
Entry Title
Anonymous Tipline
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrants
Rocco Jann, Jenna Milosh, Alex Kretz
3 – Arts & Entertainment / Cultural Affairs
Entry Title
Ryan Baer Arts and Cultural Affairs Compilation
School
Glenbrook North High School
Student Entrant
Ryan Baer
4 – Music Video
Entry Title
John and Nancy
School
South Elgin High School / Beacon Academy
Student Entrants
Jack Hueckstaedt, Anthony Reyes, PJ Spitzer, Rafael Manjarrez
4 – Music Video
Entry Title
Neptune Sleeping at Last
School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Student Entrants
Juliette Benjamin, Jazz Jubalani
5 – Short Form – Fiction
Entry Title
Paper Boys
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student EntrantS
Tom Fay, Helen Neppl, Maggie Snyder, Natalie Kahan
4 – Music Video
Entry Title
Somnum (Sleep)
School
Mundelein High School
Student Entrant
Allan Rodriguiez
6 – Short Form – Non Fiction
Entry Title
Worthy
School
Neuqua Valley High School
Student Entrant
Riley Ebert
6 – Short Form – Non Fiction
Entry Title
Power of Forgiveness
School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Student Entrant
Jacob Goldberg
7 – Sports
Entry Title
Phase One
School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Student Entrant
Ben Hamer, Jonathan Kriarakis
8 – Sports—Live Event
Entry Title
Portage vs. Crown Point Boy’s Basketball
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrants
Pysh Blake, Ramsey Harkness, Jon Lieber, Kirsten Robinson, Armando Bracco
9 – Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Entry Title
Rethink Your Drink
School
Glenbrook North High School
Student Entrants
Ethan Levy
10 – Public Affairs / Community Service
Entry Title
World Smile Day 2019
School
Riverside Brookfield High School
Student Entrant
Zach Cameron
11 – Magazine Program
Entry Title
The Mane
School
Metea Valley High School
Student Entrants
Elena Buscher, Chris Zaras, Camara Thomas
12 – Commercials
Entry Title
The Dog Radio
School
Crown Point High School
Student Entrant
Kirsten Robinson
13 – Animation / Graphics / Special Effects
Entry Title
Brutus
School
Barrington High School
Student Entrant
Julia Samborski
14 – Director
Entry Title
2020 Variety Show – “Vision”
School
Glenbrook North High School
Student Entrants
Ethan Levy, Ryan Baer, Ben Pekay, Logan Rosengard, Nathan Fasbender
15 – Editor
Entry Title
MSFB: The Vision
School
Maine South High School
Student Entrant
Mackenzie Kron
15 – Editor
Entry Title
McDonnell Editing Reel
School
Neuqua Valley High School
Student Entrant
Matthew McDonnell
16 – Photographer
Entry Title
Katie Itaya Photography Composite
School
Glenbrook South High School
Student Entrant
Katie Itaya
17 – Talent
Entry Title
Derryl Barnes Jr. Talent Reel
School
South Elgin High School / Beacon Academy
Student Entrant
Derryl Barnes Jr.
The mission of NATAS Chicago Foundation is to provide scholarships to deserving high school and college students who are studying or intend to study journalism, broadcast television, television production and communications. The foundation is the charitable arm of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) - Chicago/Midwest Chapter, Inc. and is a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Chicago/Midwest Chapter’s scholarship program has distributed more than $680,000 in scholarships to students since the mid-1990s. We are one of the strongest NATAS chapters in the nation in regard to scholarship funds distributed.
Past Chicago/Midwest scholarship recipients include NBC’s Peter Alexander, WGN’s Michael Lowe, ABC7 Chicago’s Jessica D’Onoforio and Jesse Kirsch, WNDU’s Joshua Short, WDJT’s Drew Burgoyne, and NBC6 Miami’s Laura Rodriguez.
DONATE VIA PAYPAL:
You can use the PayPal Donate button:
Or scan the following code with the PayPal mobile app:
DONATE BY MAIL:
To make a scholarship fund donation by check, send to:
NATAS Chicago/Midwest Chapter
c/o Columbia College, Communication Dept
33 East Ida B. Wells Dr., Ste. 535
Chicago, IL 60605
Checks should be made out to:
NATAS Chicago Foundation
Upon receipt, an acknowledgment letter of the donation will be mailed to the donor.
The Foundation accepts donations from individuals and/or corporations on an ongoing basis.