Airmen win nine National Guard media awards

  • Published
  • By Air National Guard Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
  • I.G. Brown Training and Education Center
LOUISVILLE, Tenn. --  The Air National Guard’s I.G. Brown Training and Education Center was named a winner Friday of nine awards in the 2017 National Guard Bureau Media contest, including awards for videography, graphic design, and writing.

“TEC has talent!” said Col. Kerry Lovely, commander, in a staff-wide email congratulating the awardees.

Awardees will compete in the service-level awards. TEC has received more than two dozen broadcast and video production awards since 1998 from the Department of Defense’s media competitions, not including a significant amount of individual awards earned by former and current staff.

The recognition announced by the National Guard Bureau on March 23 includes a team video production that trained service members on how to report critical information and threats, and another that marketed the Air Guard through a narrated presentation with graphics, animation, B-roll, and images.

Individual honors recognized efforts in graphic design, animation, and journalism.

“We applaud the dedication and efforts that your Soldiers, Airmen, and civilians give to our nation every day to bring the Guard story to the American public,” said Army Col. Les’ A. Melnyk, director of Public Affairs for the National Guard Bureau, in his contest announcement.

First place entrants get notified if selected for higher awards.

The TEC winners are:

Best Short-Form Production Video:

TEC earned 1st Place for the ANG 101 public service announcement, produced by the Professional Continuing Education Division and directed by Master Sgt. Kelly Collett, which senior leaders used to market the Air Guard.

Best Long-Form Production Video:

TEC earned 1st Place for the collect and report training video, produced by the Professional Continuing Education Division and directed by Master Sgt. Timothy Kinnan, which instructed Airmen nationwide on how to maintain awareness, identify, and report information.

Military Graphic Designer of the Year:

Master Sgt. Timothy Kinnan was judged as the top graphic designer in the Air Guard based on his design samples, career biography, and command recommendation.

Best Identity Design:

Master Sgt. Timothy Kinnan earned 1st Place for the TEC commander's coin - an award coin with the TEC logo, a backdrop of the Smoky Mountains, and the Colonels’ eagle rank.

Best Layout and Design:

Master Sgt. Timothy Kinnan earned 1st Place for the timeline mural that identifies TEC’s 50-year history through photos and events.

Best Animation:

Master Sgt. Kelly Collett earned 1st Place for the animation of a computer targeting an actual bullet, which was used in the Introduction to Bullet Writing Course.

Military Writer of the Year:

Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith was judged as the top military writer in the Air Guard, based on his writing samples, career biography, and command recommendation.

Best Blog Post:

Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith earned 1st Place for his conversational-style blog post on how similarities between past and present patriotism can offer inspiration during times of national crisis.

Second Best Commentary:

Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith earned 2nd Place for his commentary that reveals how service members may see military discounts and gestures of appreciation from the community.