IDVP Students Win Three Crystal Pillars
Brooklyn Park, MN, April 23, 2025 — Hennepin Technical College is pleased to announce that students from its Interactive Design and Video Production program have been honored with three 2025 Crystal Pillar Awards by the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).
The Crystal Pillar Awards are part of the Student Production Awards, which recognize exceptional student work in video, animation, and multimedia production. These awards are presented annually by NATAS to high school and college students across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and western Wisconsin. The awards highlight innovation, technical skill, and creativity in visual storytelling.
Hennepin Technical College received the following honors:
Public Affairs/Community Service
Title: Remember Them – Honor Them
Student Contributors: Aaron Bennett, Patrick Erickson, Logan Frovarp, Angelo-Jason Gbeve, Jakob Halberg, Abram Hall, Lyle Hoffmeister, Ellie Mae Knudsen
Faculty Advisor: Richard Oxley
Interview/Discussion
Title: Reel 2 Real – Monster Summer
Student Contributors: Ellie Mae Knudsen, Aaron Bennett, Dan Wilder, Angelo-Jason Gbeve, Nathan Petersen, Logan Frovarp, Abram Hall, Lyle Hoffmeister, Tanner Miller, Kobe Session
Faculty Advisor: Richard Oxley
Animation/Graphics/Special Effects
Title: Smooth Moves
Student Contributors: Biago Guagliardo, Dylan Johnson, Adam McKibbon, Liam Barnett, Claire Minnehan, Scott Murray, Carter Frandsen, Julian Velez, Derriana Yankaway
Faculty Advisor: John McCaffrey
“These awards reflect the outstanding quality of work produced by our students and the dedication of our faculty,” said Rich Oxley, Interactive Design and Video Production faculty at Hennepin Technical College. “It is a significant achievement for our program and further demonstrates the real-world skills our students gain during their education.”
The Student Production Awards are part of NATAS’s mission to recognize excellence in visual media and to support the future of the television and digital media industry.
For the full list of award recipients and more information, visit the NATAS Upper Midwest website.
About Hennepin Technical College
Founded in 1972, Hennepin Tech is the largest stand-alone technical college in Minnesota. With campuses in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie, the college offers degree and non-degree courses in over 40 programs in the skilled trades and high-demand career fields. Achieving a high job placement rate, Hennepin Tech prepares students for high-paying employment opportunities.