SCAD Atlanta posts big wins at 45th College Television Awards
SCAD students win Best Drama Series and the Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Award
ATLANTA — Students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) captured two major awards at the 45th College Television Awards, including Best Drama Series for the capstone film Óménàlà. Written and directed by alum Stephanie Byron-Ene (B.F.A., film and television, 2025) and produced by alum Sydney Brooks (B.F.A., film and television, 2025), the film was shot on location in Nigeria and chronicles a man who returns to the country after the death of his father, grappling with family politics and traditional Igbo burial rites.
Current SCAD students Danzheng Chen (M.F.A. motion media design; B.F.A., animation, 2025) and Yangshiyi "Mavis" Liu (M.A. motion media design; B.F.A., animation, 2025) received the Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Award, which celebrates student storytellers whose work sheds light on people with disabilities, for their animated film Step Forward. Produced by Chen and written and directed by Liu, the film follows Ollie as he learns how to move forward after losing his leg in a car accident, exploring how animation can become a language for representation, courage, warmth, and inner healing. The award also includes a $10,000 prize underwritten by the Loreen Arbus Foundation.
"As SCAD Atlanta continues to grow our film and television and acting programs, we are proud to have our students receive these honors from the Television Academy," said Karl Rouse, associate dean of the SCAD School of Film and Acting. "Whether it is mentorship by the best professionals in the industry or access to the latest technology, we are dedicated to providing our students the foundation for successful and award-winning careers."
The degree programs of the SCAD School of Film and Acting and the SCAD School of Animation and Motion are consistently lauded among the best in the U.S. SCAD is one of The Hollywood Reporter's Top 25 Best Film Schools and is ranked among the top schools in the publication’s costume design, drama, film, and animation categories. The Rookies ranked SCAD the no. 1 motion graphics school in the world for four consecutive years, and the university has been named a top animation program in the U.S. year after year by Animation Career Review.
The Television Academy Foundation announced the winners of the 45th College Television Awards, which recognize and reward excellence in student-produced programs from colleges nationwide, at an awards presentation Saturday, March 28, at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif.
SCAD School of Film and Acting
With resources that rival Hollywood studios, award-winning professors, stunning locations, professionally run casting offices, and stellar film and television festivals, the SCAD School of Film and Acting is the ideal place to launch into the film and television industry. Students are prepared to command roles on stage, screen, and behind the scenes in live performances, sitcoms, dramatic series, music videos, commercials, and more.
SCAD School of Animation and Motion
SCAD School of Animation and Motion students deliver captivating moments across multiple platforms. From illuminating fantastical realms and characters to expertly integrating motion media in virtual studio environments and public spaces, students develop the acumen, creativity, and dexterity necessary to launch their creative careers.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls approximately 18,500 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university’s renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. A 2025 study found that 99% of recent SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 12 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more.
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