ORU Cinema and Media Arts Students Earn Seven Awards at Oklahoma Broadcasters Conference

Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 27, 2026—Oral Roberts University (ORU) Cinema and Media Arts students claimed seven awards and two scholarships at the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters (OAB)/Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association (OBEA) Conference. The annual OAB/OBEA Conference brings together broadcasting professionals, educators, and students from across Oklahoma for networking, professional development, and competition.

ORU students competed against entries from universities across Oklahoma, including Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, Rogers State University, and Oklahoma Baptist University, earning recognition in multiple categories:

Narrative Short Films:

1st Place: Joel Foga for "Trial of Man"
2nd Place: William Rensel for "Pure Dumb Luck"

Feature Stories:

• 2nd Place: Sophia Spann for "Nails"
• 3rd Place: Lifted Lamai for "Hearing Aids"

Scriptwriting:

• 2nd Place: Caleb Brown for "Playback"
  3rd Place: Malachi Biby for "What Stays After"

Music Video:

• 3rd Place: Callie Workman and Kenneth Reyna for "Sweet & Salty"

Scholarships:

• Audrey Chee received the $2,000 J. Douglas Williams Scholarship (Broadcast Education)
• Fenix Chavez received a $2,000 Oklahoma Educational Television Authority Scholarship

“I’m honestly just grateful for this recognition,” said ORU Senior Joel Foga, Cinema and Media Arts major. “This means a lot, but more than anything, it reminds me how many people poured into this—cast, crew, friends, and everyone who believed in the story. I’m still learning, still growing, and I don’t take any of this for granted. I’m grateful they saw something in the work."

 

 

 

Christopher L. Holt, M.A., Assistant Professor of Media in the School of Worship, Media and Performing Arts, praised the students' achievements.

"Our students demonstrated exceptional creativity and technical skill at this year's conference," said Holt. "These awards reflect not only their individual talents but also the collaborative, Christ-centered environment we foster in our Cinema and Media Arts program. We're seeing tremendous growth in both the quality of our students' work and our recognition within the professional broadcasting community."

For more information about ORU's Cinema and Media Arts program, visit ORU’s department webpage.

 

 

 

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a “Leadership for Public Purpose” award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 176 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.