Alumni Association

Student-produced video honoring Penn State tradition earns four national awards

Video conveys how traditions connect students, alumni across generations

Students in Nittanyville often hold up the shakers prior to Penn State kicking off after a score.  Credit: Penn State Alumni Association/Steve Manuel. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A video produced for the Penn State Alumni Association by students in CommAgency, the student-run communications agency housed in Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, has earned four national awards.

“Alumni Association Shakers Video” earned two Silver Telly Awards in the 47th annual Telly Awards competition, one in the Non-Broadcast – Educational Institution category and one in the Non-Broadcast – Student category. The video also was honored by the Communicator Awards for distinction in both the General-Schools and Universities category and in the Craft Categories – Cinematography & Videography.

The video highlights the deep-rooted tradition of the distribution of shakers by the Blue & White Society (the Alumni Association’s student membership organization) to students at home football games. In just over 70 seconds, the video conveys how such traditions connect students and alumni across generations.

Game day at Beaver Stadium is an experience that stays with you, with Penn State Alumni Association student groups playing a key role. Blue & White Society leaders hand out shakers before kickoff, energizing the best student section in the country. The shakers are the perfect complement to the S-Zone, which the Lion Ambassadors organize each home game above the South Tunnel. 

The Alumni Association has partnered with CommAgency for more than five years, working with different teams of students each semester to produce videos in support of the association’s mission to connect, engage and inspire Penn Staters.

“The Penn State Alumni Association has been a repeat client with CommAgency for several years, and every project brings new challenges and opportunities to our students,” said Catie Grant, director of CommAgency and faculty member in the Bellisario College. “They aren’t just producing content; they’re learning what it means to listen to a client, understand a mission, and translate it into something that moves people.

“We’re so grateful the Alumni Association trusts us to bring their vision to life — it gives our students a chance to not only get real-world experience but see new parts of Penn State and meet amazing alumni. And the ‘Shakers’ video allowed the team to script and direct actors, and be on the field during a football game.”

“We are thrilled to see these students receive this well-deserved recognition,” said Cathy Leonard, executive director of marketing communications and operations at the Penn State Alumni Association. “They beautifully captured how a simple shaker can symbolize the pride, connection and collective spirit of the Penn State community. It’s especially rewarding to see their creativity and storytelling honored while highlighting the impact of experiential learning at Penn State.”

The Telly Awards, established in 1979, honor video and television across branded content, commercials, social media, corporate video, film, animation and more. The 47th annual competition received more than 13,000 submissions from all 50 states and five continents.

The Communicator Awards, a competition sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, attracts more than 3,000 entries from around the world and ranks as the most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals.

For more information about CommAgency, visit bellisario.psu.edu/commagency/.

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