Broadcast Awards for Senior High Returns to Stony Brook University

More than 20 high schools from Nassau and Suffolk counties participated in the annual Broadcast Awards for Senior High (BASH) at Stony Brook University on April 28 – the first in-person BASH since 2019.

In addition to celebrating the students’ work, attendees heard from keynote speaker Nicole Sganga, CBS News homeland security and justice reporter. Sganga, a Long Island native, started her journalism career as a reporter with the School of Communication and Journalism’s Robert W. Greene Insitute for High School Journalism. During her address, she reflected on her career, offered advice, and acknowledged the incredible work the students produced during a challenging few years.

“I want you to know that even if you can’t see and feel it right now, some of that trauma – that news feed that never seems to let up, the nights where you find yourself doom-scrolling Twitter or Instagram because you can’t sleep – that’s also going to be your superpower one day,” she said. “The raw experiences mean that no one can tell you, ‘Well you’ll understand when you grow up,’ or ‘You’re too young.’

“And that hardship will become an asset to you, to the newsrooms or offices you will one day join, in the same way that the unthinkable tragedy of 9/11 charged my generation.”

This year, BASH received nearly 100 submissions to the Best of … Contest. Entries were judged by Rosemary An, multimedia journalist at Lead Stories; Brandon Baiden, producer at NBC’s Today Show; Rachael Eyler, multimedia journalist at ABC affiliate WJRT; Frank Posillico, senior producer at Cheddar News; Joseph Ryder, freelance cinematographer and NYPD Officer; and Jamie Stuart, sports reporter and Stony Brook University instructor.

“I am impressed by the work of these students and their teachers to keep their schools informed and entertained,” said Laura Lindenfeld, dean of the School of Communication and Journalism and executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. “The judges and I were blown away by the quality of this year’s submissions, and I hope these students are inspired to continue their work in media during the rest of their education and even professionally.”

The event, which was founded by Southold High School in 2017, celebrates the best of Long Island High School video production and broadcast journalism. Westhampton Beach served as emcees of the 2022 BASH, while Newsday, along with the Stony Brook School of Communication and Journalism, served as sponsors.

The full list of 2022 BASH award winners is below:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Kirsten Mett

Presented in appreciation and recognition of her 15 years teaching the Hurricane Watch production at Westhampton Beach High School, serving as an inspiration for countless school broadcast teams, and for her willingness to listen, learn and lead her students to success.

Best Opening Segment

3rd Place: East Islip High School

2nd Place: Hauppauge High School

1st Place: Mattituck High School

Best Anchor Team

3rd Place: Shelter Island High School

2nd Place: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School

1st Place: Mepham High School

Most Entertaining Package

3rd Place: Hauppauge High School

2nd Place: Southold High School

1st Place: Mepham High School