The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences nominated seven WPSU Penn State productions for Mid-Atlantic Emmys, a slate of programs ranging from children-targeted entertainment to sports features. The nominees are represented by new and returning — last year’s individual achievement in program photography winner Mark Stitzer; and MindyMcMahon and Kristen Berg for their Telly Award-winning production “Connected for Life” — WPSU Penn Staters.

The nominees must now wait until Sept. 19, when the regional Emmy winners — representing Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia — are announced at the Philadelphia Hilton.

One notable inclusion to the list is the “Connected for Life” commercial, a promotional video for the university debuted by President Eric Barron at a September Board of Trustees meeting. The 30-second clip features the Lion leaping from its shrine.

Here’s a more comprehensive list of the nominees, as provided and summarized by Penn State News:

Children/Youth/Teen (19 and under) – Program or Special: “Science-U Oobleck!”

Kristian Berg, writer/producer/director

A collaboration between WPSU Penn State and the University’s Eberly College of Science, the “Science-U” series features campers exploring science mysteries with do-it-yourself experiments. In “Science-U Oobleck!” campers encounter a non-Newtonian solution of water and corn starch particles that changes its state of matter under pressure.

Commercial – Single Spot: “Connected for Life”

Mindy McMahon, producer; Kristian Berg, director/writer

WPSU Penn State produced a national commercial featuring an animated Nittany Lion shrine that comes to life.

Community Service: “Our Town” Project
Greg Petersen, executive producer

The “Our Town” project involves the communities and residents within the WPSU-TV coverage area and allows viewers to experience the many personalities, perspectives, and possibilities that local towns offer.

Historic/Cultural Program/Special: “As Long As We Dance”
Cheraine Stanford, producer/director/writer

“As Long As We Dance” is a 30-minute documentary that showcases the stories of American Indian dancers, drummers, vendors, and organizers who participated in a State College-based powwow.

Sports – Program Feature/Segment: “Courtside with Coquese Pink Zone Feature”
Bill Amin, executive producer; Topher Yorks, lead producer/director/writer; DaVita Raechelle Miles, producer/editor; Mark Eaton, editor; Matt Stephens, videographer; Clint Yoder, field audio; Mickey Klein, audio mix

An inside look at the Penn State women’s basketball team, “Courtside with Coquese Pink Zone Feature” shares the story of one breast cancer survivor’s fight and recovery. The annual Pink Zone event welcomes breast cancer survivors to help raise awareness for the disease.

Photographer-Program: Mark Stitzer

Stitzer, who has been recognized with two Mid-Atlantic Emmys and seven Telly Awards, works at WPSU Penn State as a director of photography and editor. Last year Stitzer garnered a Mid-Atlantic Emmy for his work on “Water Blues, Green Solutions.”

Weather – News Single Story or Series: “WeatherWhys”
Marisa Ferger, producer/editor; Jon Nese, writer/producer

An educational series that appears on “Weather World,” “WeatherWhys” highlights timely topics in meteorology and related environmental and astronomical sciences. The series, which airs on WPSU-TV, submitted four features: “Disaster on Everest,” “Wildfires and Pennsylvania,” “125th Anniversary of the Johnstown Flood,” and “Coldest Place on Earth.”

Photo by: WPSU Penn State