Students from Temple University Television (TUTV) have earned a prestigious Bronze Telly Award in the General Student category at the 47th Annual Telly Awards for their original production, “Artists Among Us: The Art of Drag.”
The award-winning episode explored the rich history of Philadelphia’s LGBTQIA+ community through the powerful and expressive art of drag. Through thoughtful storytelling, creative visuals, and compelling interviews, the student production team highlighted the cultural importance of drag performance while celebrating identity, resilience, and artistic expression in Philadelphia.
Established in 1979, the Telly Awards are considered one of the premier honors recognizing excellence in video and television across all screens. This year’s competition received more than 13,000 entries from around the world. Winners were selected by the Telly Awards Judging Council, an industry body made up of more than 250 leaders from major media organizations including Netflix, HBO, BBC, Adobe, Meta Creative Shop, and IMAX.
The 47th Annual Telly Awards theme, “Capture the Original,” celebrated creators and storytellers who embrace innovation and originality in today’s evolving media landscape.
The student production team for “Artists Among Us: The Art of Drag” included:
• Director: Hadiza Mshelia
• Assistant Director: Mateo Verden
• Writer/Host: Andy Van Antwerp
• Editor/Camera Operator: Molly Keough
• Camera Operators: Tom DiDomenico and Emma Nolan
• Host: Rachel Williams
• Executive Producer: Delia Joyce
• Producers: Melanie Ascoli and Jaime Holbeck
The project was produced through Temple University Television (TUTV), Temple University’s student-operated television station that provides experiential learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in media, journalism, production, and storytelling.
“This episode explored the rich history of Philadelphia’s LGBTQIA+ community through the powerful and expressive art of drag, and I’m incredibly proud of the students and team who worked so hard to bring this story to life,” said Chelsea Scruggs, Multimedia Content Producer for TUTV. “It’s rewarding to see their work recognized on this level.”
The recognition continues TUTV’s tradition of producing award-winning student work that combines creativity, technical excellence, and meaningful storytelling. From documentary storytelling and live productions to sports, news, and entertainment programming, TUTV students continue to gain hands-on professional experience while creating content that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of the Temple community and the city of Philadelphia.
The Telly Award serves as another example of how Temple students are competing — and succeeding — on a national stage while telling stories that matter.
