RSU Senior Named Outstanding Broadcast Student in Oklahoma

A Rogers State University student was named one of three outstanding broadcast students in Oklahoma during the annual OETA Public Television and Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Student Seminar, held recently at the OETA studios in Oklahoma City.

Candice Nivison, an RSU senior from Tulsa majoring in communications, was named outstanding student at the event and received a $1,000 scholarship in honor of the late Gene Dillehay, a well-known broadcaster at OETA.

Robert Allen of the OETA Foundation and Shaun Dillehay, daughter of Gene Dillehay, presented the check to Nivison. Students Patrick Ball from Oklahoma State University and Kacee McCulley from Northwestern Oklahoma State University also received cash scholarships.

Nivison currently co-hosts the morning show “This Morning” on RSU Radio, along with RSU seniors Ryan Floyd and Kyle Olson. She is the president of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, senator in the RSU Student Government Association, treasurer of the RSU Student Broadcasting Association and secretary of the College Democrats. She is employed at the RSU Office of Academic Computing Services.

Nivison has produced several news stories for the RSU student-produced “Happenings on the Hill” television newscast. She also has produced weekly “News You Can Use” briefs for RSU Radio and served as an on-air host of the RSU Public Television “Winterfest” pledge drive. She also worked for RSU Radio as Traffic Manager for several years.

“I was so happy to see Candice receive this honor,” said Cathy Coomer, RSU instructor and OBEA member, who accompanied Nivison along with five other RSU students to the event. “She has won several OBEA awards for her work in radio and last year she received an educational scholarship from the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Candice receiving this scholarship only reinforces what we already knew about her and hopefully it will also inspire other students to set their goals high, not only academically but also in the work they produce in and out of the classroom.”

The awards were presented at the conclusion of the seminar. Professionals from the Oklahoma City, Dallas and Tulsa television and radio markets advised students on several topics including “Small Market Media and Your Career,” “2008 State and Local Election Coverage,” “From Sports to News,” and “Tools for the 21st Century: New Media and Convergence.” More than 85 students from 15 Oklahoma colleges and universities attended the seminar.

For more information on the RSU Student Broadcasting Association or RSU communications programs, contact (918) 343-7571.