MUNCIE, Ind. -- Not many students would want to spend five hours riding in a van next to their university instructors and the dean of their college--but then few students are nominated for Emmys while still in school.

A group of Ball State University Department of Telecommunications students considered the trip part of the reward of being nominated for a regional National Academy of Television, Arts, and Sciences Emmy.

It was the first year for student work in the competition. The Ball State students were selected for "Connections," a student-produced program on WIPB-TV.

They rode to the Cleveland awards show with faculty members Jim Shasky and Stan Sollars and Scott Olson, dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media.

Shasky was nominated for "Big Men… Little Boys," an entertainment feature on model train collectors, and for his direction of "America's Hometown Symphony," a program on the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.

Sollars and another department graduate, Kurt Lahrman, were nominated for the audio of the symphony piece. Sollars graduated in 1978, and Lahrman in 1998.

None came home with a statuette, but Shasky said he thought next year would be different.

"I told them that we didn't go all that way to lose," he said. "I hate to lose with every fiber in my body. We've already got some great stuff for next year. Things are going to be different next time."

By Lori Rader, Communications Manager

(Note to Editors: For more information about this story contact Jim Shasky at 765-285-1480. )