The Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) recently recognized KET programs with 19 Regional Emmy Award nominations and selected the late Al Smith, former host and producer of KET’s Comment on Kentucky, as one of its 2021 Silver Circle honorees for those who’ve made lasting contributions to the industry.

The awards recognize excellence in the areas of local news, programming and individual achievement and are one of the industry’s highest honors.

“I congratulate all our talented staff members for their fine work,” said Shae Hopkins, KET’s executive director and CEO. “These Regional Emmy nominations attest to the high-quality and breadth of KET’s productions and underscore our dedication to serving the people of Kentucky.” 

KET productions received 14 nominations:

• Dafford Murals: Frank Simkonis
  Short form or long form content in Arts/Entertainment.

• Undiagnosed: The Diabetes Epidemic: Laura Krueger, Wayne Tuckson and Casey Harris
  Long form content in Health/Medical

• Remembering Julia: Chelsea Gorham and Gabriela Martinez 
  Short or long form content in Historical/Cultural

• Violins of Hope: Gary Pahler
  Short or long form content in Historical/Cultural

• Cycling Capital of Kentucky: Jim Voskuhl
  Short or long form content in Lifestyle

• The Long Walk Home: Frank Simkonis
  Short or long form content in Nostalgia

• Healing Childhood Trauma: A KET Special Report: Renee Shaw, Laura Krueger, Nick Helton and Chelsea Gorham
  Long form content in Societal Concerns

• Toying with Still Life: Frank Simkonis
  Documentary in Cultural/Topical

• Kentucky Life, episode 10: Doug Flynn, Chelsea Gorham, Valerie Trimble, Gary Pahler and Angelic Phelps
  Magazine program

• Kentucky Tonight: State of Unrest: Renee Shaw, Toby Gibbs, Gabriela Martinez and Nick Helton
  Public affairs program

• Kentucky Seasons: Justin Allen, Shae Hopkins and Nancy Southgate
  Long form content in Entertainment

• Spirit of Kentucky: Robert Elliott, Patrick Brumback and Audra Miller
  Image promotion in Non-News

• Kentucky Seasons: Justin Allen, David Dampier and Steve Shaffer
  Short or long form content in Photographer

• Kentucky Seasons: Brandon Cooper
  Live or post-produced Audio

Additionally, independent productions aired by KET received five nominations:

• Owensboro Symphony – Safe at Home for the Holidays: Tanner+West, David Grinnell and Jason Tanner 
  Long form content in Entertainment

• The Lake Bridges of Western Kentucky: Mark Crowner Productions, LLC, Mark Crowner 
  Short or long form content in Nostalgia

• The Lake Bridges of Western Kentucky: Mark Crowner Productions, LLC, Mark Crowner 
  Editor – Long form content

• The Ryan McGillicuddy Big Band: Morehead State University 
  Jeffrey Hill 
  Long form content in Entertainment

• Downstream: Lost River Cave—Bowling Green, KY: Prosper Media Group, Inc. 
  Kyle Lake and Sam McGhee 
  Short or long form content in Environment/Science

The Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences includes 13 television markets from a four-state region, including parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Kentucky.

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, where learning comes to life for more than one million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on Twitter @KET and at facebook.com/KET.