Palomar College’s Media Studies Program Earns National Recognition for Student Emmy Wins

Students in Palomar College’s Media Studies department have consistently achieved recognition for their work in film and television, recently demonstrating an impressive record of awards. Data analysis reveals the extent of their success, solidifying the program’s position as a leader in student production.

Exceptional Emmy Success

The student Emmy Awards are presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, honoring excellence in student-produced content. According to calculations by Scott Richison, a Digital Broadcast Arts professor at Palomar College, 47 students were nominated for awards, and 35 were honored between 2022 and 2026.

Richison’s comparative analysis of Emmy wins against other community colleges and four-year universities within the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ 19 chapters nationwide revealed Palomar College’s outstanding performance. The college secured more Emmy Awards than any other community college in the United States over the past three years and surpassed all community colleges and four-year universities in the Pacific Southwest region.

“This is so cool,” Richison stated after completing the data analysis. “Now I’m going to approach back down to earth.”

Program Overview and Student Achievements

The award-winning students hail from the Cinema and Digital Broadcast Arts courses within Palomar College’s Media Studies program. The Cinema program concentrates on film production, while Digital Broadcast Arts focuses on television and streaming media. These two disciplines collaborate closely, fostering a comprehensive learning environment.

Lisa Cecere, a Cinema professor, emphasized that the recent Emmy analysis represents only a fraction of the accomplishments of Palomar College students. She noted that students’ films have been showcased at prominent film festivals, and many have secured employment in the industry.

“I’m exceedingly proud of our students,” Cecere said.

Cecere explained that the Cinema program adopts a hands-on approach, teaching students both the technical aspects of filmmaking and the broader context of the film industry. “We teach technique as well as application of the equipment. You learn how to analyze films and things that are important to making a short or a feature,” she added.

Student Success Stories

Palomar College graduate Luis Aguilar discovered his passion for television while enrolled in Richison’s broadcast class. He actively sought opportunities to gain practical experience, filming events for his church and a women’s football team.

Aguilar’s work as a technical director for Palomar College student newscasts earned him a student Emmy for outstanding achievement in student programming in November 2022. He too played a key role in establishing Palomar College’s Stream Team in Fall 2024, a program that provides advanced broadcast students with on-the-job training opportunities. Since its inception, the Stream Team has delivered over 1,500 hours of practical training, covered more than 80 events, and garnered over 45,000 views.

Since early 2025, Aguilar has been working as a technical director for Telemundo in Miami. He credits his success to the foundation he received at Palomar College, stating, “All I learned there brought me to where I am today.”

Palomar College Media Studies Department Contacts

• Department Chair: Scott Klinger, sklinger@palomar.edu, (760) 744-1150, ext. 3628
• Academic Department Assistant: Rita Walther, rwalther@palomar.edu, (760) 744-1150, ext. 2441
• Digital Broadcast Arts Professor: Scott Richison, srichison@palomar.edu, (760) 744-1150, ext. 2492