30th EVVY Awards break attendance records

During the show, which recognizes student work in communication and the arts, awards are presented in dozens of categories, interspersed with lively musical numbers, comedy, and special appearances.

Long-time faculty member Rex Trailer presented his former student, Emerson alumna Maria Menounos ’00, with the Alumni Award of Distinction. In his remarks, he recalled meeting her at a county fair when she was 16 years old and encouraging her to come to Emerson because she said she wanted to be in television.

Menounos is currently with NBC as the West Coast contributor for the Today show, a reporter for Access Hollywood, and a correspondent for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. She holds the distinct honor of having conducted the only interview with the entire Obama family. She is the author of The Everygirl’s Guide to Life.

Other highlights of this year’s show was a hilarious tribute to President Jackie Liebergott, who is stepping down as Emerson’s leader after more than 18 years; a cast performance from the show Poison Apple; and a vocal competition featuring three talented signers: Paige Newman ’14, Alex Wright ’13, and Claire Kaiser ’11. (The audience voted via text message and gave the EVVY for best vocal performance to Kaiser.)

More than 500 Emerson students helped produce this year’s show, which was hosted by Rosie Moan ’11 and Collin Kittredge Smith ’12. The executive producers were Emma Klein ’12, Jared Wyso ’11, and Pat Lambert ’12.

The advisors were faculty member, Trustee, and alumnus Kevin Bright ’76, along with Eric Fox and Diana Barton.

The EVVY Awards is like no other college production in the country. Modeled after professional shows such as the Emmys and Oscars, the EVVY Awards has become the largest multi-camera, live switch event any college has to offer. The show has become nationally recognized, having won a first place award from the National Association of College Broadcasters and two Telly Awards.