As many students have their eyes set on summer break at this time of year, the Porter County Career Center (PC3) students have poured their excitement into the annual awards ceremony. This marks the third year that the PC3 has put this event together. The event was held at Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso.
Josh Harvoth, head radio and television instructor at the PC3, was enthusiastic to showcase the students’ excellence at the Porter County Career Center throughout the year.
“At the end of every year, we do this celebration to honor the students and their achievements,” Harvoth said. “There’s over 25 different categories that we honor the students with in film, radio, PSA’s, commercials, and movie trailers. It’s a great night for the students, their families, and close ones to come together for a fun evening.”
This is the best night of the year for the PC3. It’s one thing for the students to see their progress over the course of the year, but it reaches a whole new level when the students can share their work with the people they care about the most.
One of the most unique features of this award show that you might not find at many others is the incorporation of niche recognitions. Another element that makes this show special for the students is that they are the ones who get to vote on these award winners.
“There’s an award for the Most Unusual Segment, Best Game Show, and Most Comedic Segment that the students really like,” Harvoth said. “The major categories are Best Feature Segment, Best Short Film, Best Radio Show, Best Sports Talk Show, and Best Live Camera Work. There’s all kinds of different categories and the students love it.”
Rich Jennings, radio lead at the PC3, has seen the progression of these students over the course of the year. He’s grateful for another strong year and knows it took a collaborative effort, from the students to the sponsors of the PC3.
“It’s been incredible to watch the kids as they continue to grow,” Jennings said. “We could not have done it without the help of our sponsors and supporters. Every year, we try to find everybody’s passion. It’s fulfilling to see how these students can find what makes them happy and do something fun with it.”
“This evening is such a cool night because we get the opportunity to see the talents on the big screen,” Audra Peterson, director at the PC3, said. “The experiences that our students have had the opportunity to experience this year, from Notre Dame’s Senior Night to the Chicago Bulls game, it's been absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to see where these students go.”
The winners for this year’s award ceremony include:
Best Featured Segmen: “Notre Dame Senior Night” — Matt Isley
Best Writer: “The Macabre Trials” — Owen Heeren
Best Cinematography: Asher Vander Woude
Best Live Camera: Emerson Foster
Best Sports Talk Show: “Toeing The Rubber” — Devin Alsman and Jonny Klumpe
Most Unusual Segment: “Creepypasta” — Rocco Carden
Best Game Show: “$5 Hola” — Emma Kampwirth and Franki Dexter
Most Comedic Segment: “Dr. Bill” and “Secret Santa”
Best Radio Show: “Pop Off” — Emma Kampwirth and Teagan Crostreet
Voices Of PC: Devon Alsman, Brendan Gaghan, Jonny Klumpe, Brody Kosiara, Noah Sena
Best Interview: “WWE NXT Superstar Brooks Jensen” — Jillian Young
Best Editor: Owen Heeren and Asher Vander Woude
Best Commercial: “Parlor Doughnuts Santa Is Coming To Town“ — Owen Heeren and Harley Beshears
Best Short Film: “The Last” — Jude Parker and Francesca Plata
Best PSA: “Suicide” — Hailey Stalion and Chloe Blunk
Best Cameo: Harley Beshears and Timothy Klimek in “Dr. Bill”
Best Actress: Jude Parker
Best Holiday Segment: “Would We Survive” — Jackson Minder, Owen Heeren, Harley Beshears
Best Review Segment: “Severance” — Francesca Plata, and “Deadpool VS Wolverine” — Emerson Foster
Best Actor: Demari Gordon
IASB Award Recognition: Jude Parker and Francesca Plata (Honorable Mention, Short Film); Chris Boehringer (Honorable Mention, Adapted Radio Drama); Asher Vander Woude (Honorable Mention, Cinematography); Devon Alsman, Brendan Gaghan, Jonny Klumpe, Brody Kosiara (Third Place, Live Sports Coverage); Owen Heeren (First Place, Original Radio Drama)
Radio Legacy Award: Sophia Foyer
Count On Me Award: Franki Dexter, Timothy Klimek, Max Wojciechowski
AM Rookie of the Year: Hailey Stalion
PM Rookie of the Year: Emma Kampwirth
AM Most Improved: Brendan Gaghan
PM Most Improved: Stacy Clark and Olivia Ozhanics
2025 PC3 MVP: Harley Beshears
“The students put in a lot of hard work from live streaming the basketball and football games,” Harvoth said. “They’ve done a lot of community events and worked at the Memorial Opera House. You’ve got students coming from 10 different schools with all kinds of different interests, and it’s a joy to be able to work with them.”
Chuck Swirsky, radio play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Bulls, congratulated the students of the PC3 on their success this year. He got a chance to meet many of the students when the Chicago Bulls defeated the Toronto Raptors on April 1. He left the students with a video message for the award ceremony.
“Be you, and be the best version of you,” Swirsky said. “If you do that, I think you’re going to be just fine.”
For more information on the Porter County Career Center, you can visit pccte.org.