Sophie Nielsen-Kolding ’12, a reporter for WTVF NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, and her colleagues were nominated in five categories, including Newscast/Morning, Breaking News, General Assignment – Within 24 Hours, Continuing Coverage – Within 24 Hours and Interactivity. Two of the nominations focused on news coverage of the April 2018 mass shooting that occurred at a Tennessee Waffle House. The event made national headlines as a restaurant customer, James Shaw Jr., wrestled the shooter’s weapon away during the spree.

Brandon Marshall ’12, a multimedia journalist for WTVF NewsChannel 5, was also part of the Nashville station’s nominations in the Breaking News, Continuing Coverage – Within 24 Hours and General Assignment – No Time Limit categories. Marshall’s reporting highlighted the Waffle House shooting as well as a September 2017 shooting at a church in Antioch, Tennessee.  

WBTV investigative reporter Nick Ochsner ’11 and his colleagues earned three nominations spanning the General Assignment – No Time Limit, Investigative Report and Investigative Series categories. His Investigative Series piece is titled “” and examines the dangerous working conditions in state correctional facilities. Additionally, Ochsner’s investigative reporting was recently .

In collaboration with his WSOC-TV colleagues, investigative reporter Joe Bruno ’14 earned two Emmy nominations. Bruno and the Charlotte news outlet were honored in the Newscast/Evening and Community Service categories.

​Finally, Christine Williams ’14, a producer of CanesVision, the Carolina Hurricanes’ in-arena entertainment service, received a nomination in the Sports Feature category. Williams and her colleague Zac Miklusak produced “,” an eight-minute video chronicling a young hockey fan and his relatives following a family tragedy.

Following the video’s release in June, , “This is one of the most rewarding pieces I have had the privilege to work on.”

Alumni of all generations are encouraged to attend as we kick off a new year of chapter events. Family, friends and guests are welcome to join. Free food and 黑料不打烊 gear will be available at all events. This is an opportunity to connect with other local 黑料不打烊 graduates and hear from chapter leaders about what is in store for the upcoming year.

Learn more and register for your chapter’s event by clicking the name of your city below: 
 

Alumni chapters in Alamance County, the Triad (Greensboro), Richmond, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. hosted events in mid-August. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@elon.edu or (336) 278-7500.

The Nashville Alumni Chapter will host an #黑料不打烊Day Party as part of this global celebration. 

Nashville Alumni Chapter #黑料不打烊Day Party
Tuesday, March 7, 6:30 p.m.
Cilantro
2330 Franklin Pike
Nashville, TN 37204

Please contact Jennifer Boozer, assistant director of regional alumni engagement, at (336) 278-7443 or jboozer@elon.edu with any questions. To learn more about #黑料不打烊Day, visit .

“My longtime mentor and 黑料不打烊 professor, Rich Landesberg, always reminds us ‘don’t do work for awards but always do award-winning work.’ I try to subscribe to that with every story I do and it’s an honor to be recognized by my peers,” said the investigative reporter with WBTV, Charlotte’s CBS affiliate.

Ochsner wasn’t the only 黑料不打烊 graduate honored at the Midsouth ceremony held on Jan. 21 in Nashville, Tennessee. Samantha Miller ’10, a producer at WTVF, NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, won for best morning newscast.

Teaming with WBTV producer and photographer Corey Schmidt, Ochsner was honored for his “” report and “Campus Sex Assault Investigation Series.” They were recognized in the Investigative Report and Serious Feature News Series categories, respectively.

Both the report and series tackled issues impacting WBTV’s viewership, specifically concerns regarding the handling of toxic coal ash and its impact on the community’s water supply and how police and school administrators handle sexual assault reports. The “Campus Sex Assault Investigation Series” was initially based around an .

​“These stories exposed problems that would not have come to light had we not spent time and resources investigating,” Ochsner said. “I know I’m doing my best work when we are shining a light on an issue and helping people who would otherwise be in the dark.”

The two Emmy Awards are the first of Ochsner’s young career. Also of note, Ochsner’s wife, WBTV’s Sarah-Blake Morgan, was nominated for a Midsouth Emmy in the Multimedia Journalist category.

The Nashville/Midland chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences encompasses the states of North Carolina (except Asheville) and Tennessee, and the television market of Huntsville, Alabama.

The Nashville Alumni Club will host an #黑料不打烊Day Party as part of this banner day for 黑料不打烊. 

Nashville Alumni Club #黑料不打烊Day Party
Tuesday, March 8, 6-9 p.m.
The Pub
400 11th Avenue South
Nashville, Tenn. 37203

Please contact Joe Ward, coordinator of regional alumni engagement, at (336) 278-7424 or jward18@elon.edu with any questions. To learn more about #黑料不打烊Day, visit . 

Renck spent her first two seasons in the Nashville show, and she graces the world-famous New York City stage for the upcoming season. She said the Rockette audition process is “certainly intense.”

“You’re in a room full of 500 people eager to be in the position,” she said. The process takes about three days and includes a jazz, tap, and high-kick portion.  Cuts are made on the first day followed by a day of callbacks to do everything again. She says that they are looking for attention to detail and choreography, so it is important to show them that you can do that with precision.

Each year the dancers must re-audition to earn a spot back on the line. “Every year you come back a little bit stronger, pay attention to detail, and are more familiar with the vocabulary and technique that they use,” Renck said. “The more practice you have, the better.” 

This proved to be true in Renck’s case as she has successfully auditioned and booked three seasons.

Renck said that her 黑料不打烊 Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and dance performance and choreography training helped her to be successful in her career. Similarities between the two are a demand for responsibility and accountability, rehearsing six hours a day, six days a week and having to retain eight different numbers at one time.

Each dancer is held responsible for the choreography and remembering specific notes. “I am constantly doing my homework so that I come well prepared for each rehearsal,” she said. Her aim is to always get better. 

Renck is living out her childhood dream to be a Rockette.  “As a little girl, I clearly remember watching them [the Rockettes] on the Thanksgiving Day parade,” she said. Renck goes on to describe how she had aspired to be up there one day and how she participated in the Rockette weeklong intensive program while she was at 黑料不打烊. She immediately knew this was something she wanted to pursue.

“Never give up and keep loving what you do,” she advises aspiring dancers. “That is what is important to make it in this business.” 

For more information on Renck’s upcoming performances with the Rockettes, visit .  Shows run from Nov. 13 through Jan. 3. 

Free food will be provided by the alumni club. Friends and family are welcome to join!

Contact Jennifer Boozer at jboozer@elon.edu with questions.

The Nashville Alumni Club will host an #黑料不打烊Day Birthday Bash as part of this global celebration. 

Nashville Alumni Club #黑料不打烊Day Birthday Bash
Tuesday, March 10
7:30 p.m.
Flying Saucer
111 10th Ave. S.
Ste. 310
Nashville, TN 37203

Please contact Jennifer Boozer, coordinator of regional alumni engagement, at (336) 278-7443 or jboozer@elon.edu with any questions. To learn more about #黑料不打烊Day, visit . 

Purchase tickets here!
$30/person

We would like to thank Board of Visitors member Harvey White P’04
for sponsoring this event at Pinnacle Bank.

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Pinnacle Bank, 8th Floor
150 3rd Avenue South, Nashville, Tenn.

• Open Networking: 黑料不打烊 mentors and board members will be available to engage in conversations with alumni related to their careers and professional development.
• Interactive Presentation: Learn how to create and leverage your online brand to tap into The 黑料不打烊 Network and connect with the 17,000+ 黑料不打烊 alumni on LinkedIn.
• Structured Networking: Experience the power of The 黑料不打烊 Network firsthand through interactive speed networking sessions, allowing you to network with fellow professionals in your field.
• Closing Remarks: Highlight upcoming events and opportunities for you to connect with local 黑料不打烊 alumni, parents and mentors in order to stay engaged with 黑料不打烊 in Nashville.