Two recent Coweta County School System graduates have been recognized by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as nominees for the 2017 National Student Production Awards.

Nominations for the student awards, which were announced on September 17, are the highest NATAS recognition of student-produced television work.

The students nominated for their work by NATAS include Skylar Nicholson, a 2017 graduate of Newnan High School, and Katarina Sibley, a 2017 graduate of East Coweta High School.

Both students studied in the Audio Video and Film Production program at Central Educational Center while in high school. Nicholson and Sibley were both nominated for their program - “Backstreet Community Arts” - in the Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs category. Nicholson was also nominated in the National Student Production Awards’ Talent category

More than 200 high school students were nominated for national recognition from among 1,500 works entered. These represented works completed from among 19 regional chapters of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences were narrowed down from 1,500 entries. Industry professionals judged these entries to advance them to the national awards.

This marks the first time that Coweta County students have received national NATAS nominations, though several CEC students have been recognized in recent years by NATAS’ southeastern chapter, which covers markets in Georgia, Alabama Mississippi, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina.  CEC students have garnered 13 NATAS Southeast student production recognitions since 2013.  CEC students received 4 of those last year, tying for the most received within the Southeastern chapter.

“The work of my team members continues to amaze me,” said Michael Britt, Director of Film and Television Production at CEC. “Skylar and Katarina exemplify the level of professionalism and work ethic that we strive for, and I’m excited they have received this national recognition and the spotlight it places on our program.”

Following their graduation from high school last year, Nicholson and Sibley are furthering their career in film and television. Sibley is currently enrolled at Ithaca College in New York, one of the nation’s most respected collegiate institutions for the study of film and television. Nicholson - who participated in the dual enrollment program at CEC and only graduated high school last year - has begun her junior year at the University of Georgia and is studying journalism in UGA’s renowned Grady College of Journalism.  

“We’re delighted that CEC is making an impact on the future of television by training competitive and leaders who will bring innovation to 21st century programming,” said Mark Whitlock, CEO of Central Educational Center.

The presentation of final awards will be live-streamed on Tuesday, October 3rd at noon, PDT and will be hosted by Tom Bergeron, star and host of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars”. Viewing of the National Student Production Awards program can be seen at the following:

Student Production Awards Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NATASSPA

Student Production Awards Twitter: https://twitter.com/NATASSPA

NATAS Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheEmmys

Pre-recorded messages from television personalities from across the industry will announce the categories and nominees prior to the honorees being announced by Tom Bergeron. Honorees will receive a NATAS certificate and a crystal pillar award.