The award-winning student broadcast Centre County Report earned yet another trophy to place on its mantle.

“Centre County Report en Cuba” won the first place award in the Outstanding Magazine Show category at the College Television Awards ceremony in the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on Thursday. Melanie Lynskey, the actress best known for her role as Rose on Two and a Half Men, presented the award to CCR anchors Christian Heilman and Rachel White. Heilman and White traveled to Havana, Cuba last year with COMM 402 (International Reporting) to tell stories of the country’s culture, politics and economy. Check it out here:

This is not the first time CCR has been recognized for its work. CCR anchors Cat Janisko and Johanna Rojas won the Broadcast Education Association award for Best Anchor in 2013 and 2014, Director of Student Television and Online Operations Steve Kraycik said. CCR has also received Best Newscasts awards in the regional Emmys and Society of Professional Journalists awards.

With the College Television Award in the Magazine category serving as the top honor thus far for the program, Kraycik complemented the staff’s work over the last year.

“Christian and Rachel are not only talented journalists, they also care deeply about the work they do and their careers,” Kraycik said. “I also see that kind of attitude in the other students who work on the Centre County Report staff. They continue to raise the bar on quality and it shows.”

Looking to the future, Kraycik sees CCR continuing to produce “quality newscasts and stories,” giving students a chance to build upon their résumé.

“I want to give more students the opportunity to produce work that wins other regional and national awards like this,” he said. “I’d also love to see them win this College Television Award again next year – sure would be great to take two more students to Hollywood for a repeat performance.”

Photo: Penn State