Thanks to an impressive lineup of programming, the University-licensed PBS affiliate, WPSU, is poised to add even more hardware to the university’s rapidly filling award cabinet.

Penn State Public Media, WPSU received six Mid-Atlantic Emmy nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, awarded annually to recognize local productions for excellence in television programming and individual achievement.

The nominated programs include:

• “Music Theatre Spotlight,” a recurring eight-year series showcasing Penn State’s renowned musical theatre degree program.

• “Our Town,” a project developed by Penn State Public Media in 1996 as an effort to involve the communities and their residents with WPSU-TV that gives residents video cameras to capture stories from their own perspective.

• “Water Blues, Green Solutions,” an interactive film project telling the stories of communities across the nation creating green solutions for issues surrounding water, such as flooding, pollution and scarcity.

• And “Penn State Football: The Next Chapter,” a weekly review of the previous week’s game which includes a look at game week preparation, film breakdown, an all-access look at the coaching staff, and visits with selected players on and off the field throughout the season.

“It’s definitely an honor to have our work at WPSU recognized by the regional Emmy awards,” says executive producer Jeffrey A. Hughes, who has worked with Penn State Public Media for the past 27 years. “The awards are judged by our peers at the highest level of our profession, so it means a lot to all of us.”

Hughes, who started as a part-time production assistant at WPSU during his time as a student in the College of Communications, says the program’s success is a tribute to the team’s skilled and talented staff, as well as the support it receives from both the university and communities they help serve. In addition, he says student interns play a significant role in contributing to the overall success of the award-winning programs.

“There is no shortage of inspiring stories and exceptional individuals here at Penn State to feature and draw inspiration from,” added Hughes.

The nominations represent yet another impressive achievement for communications at Penn State during the 2013-2014 calendar year. Penn State recently became the first school ever to win the national Hearst Journalism competition for three consecutive years and swept the individual competitions in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, Penn State’s journalism school was ranked second nationally by College Magazine, topping the likes of Syracuse’s Newhouse School and Northwestern’s Medill School. Additionally, The Centre County Report, produced entirely by students in the College of Communications’ state-of-the-art newsroom and multimedia production facility, recently took home the Mid-Atlantic Emmy for Best College/University Newscast for their episode on Nov. 2, 2012.

WPSU will be represented by 25 individuals across six nominations, and is competing for a top spot in the following categories:

Arts Program/Special: “Music Theatre Spotlight 2013.” Jeffrey A. Hughes, producer/director; Whitney Chirdon, associate producer; Michael Klein, audio mixer.

Community Service: “Our Town.” Kate Domico, executive director; Greg Petersen and Jeffrey A. Hughes, executive producers; Whitney Chirdon, producer; Jessica Peters, producer; William Wallace, videographer.

Health/Environment/Science Program/Special: “Water Blues, Green Solutions.” Jeffrey A. Hughes, executive producer; Frank Christopher, producer/director; Cheraine Stanford, producer; Cole Cullen, editor; Patrick Baxter, associate producer.

Sports – Program Series: “Penn State Football: The Next Chapter.” William Amin, executive producer; Topher Yorks, lead producer; Don Hampton, producer/director; DaVita Miles, associate producer; Folashade Olasimbo, associate producer; Matt Stephens, videographer; Jud Mantz, editor; Jorge Jovel, editor; Jen Bortz, audio mix; Michael Klein, audio mix; Clint Yoder, field audio; Charles Dumas, narrator.

Photographer – Program: Mark Stitzer for “Water Blues, Green Solutions.”

Writer – Program: Frank Christopher for “Water Blues, Green Solutions.”

The 32nd annual Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Philadelphia Hilton on City Avenue. Congratulations and good luck to WPSU!