Taylor University Wins National Recognition from Television Academy Foundation

Upland, Indiana—“20 Over,” a documentary produced by Taylor University’s Film & Media Production program has won a College Television Award and $10,000 prize from the Television Academy Foundation in Los Angeles. Taylor alumni Chad Veal ’20 and Brendan Wallace ’20, completed “20 Over” while they were students in Taylor’s Film & Media Production program. The story profiles Paralympic track athlete Noah Malone, who suffers from Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy and is legally blind.

The Foundation named “20 Over” as the recipient of the Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Scholarship which recognizes and rewards the student-produced project that best portrays disability issues. The scholarship’s namesake Loreen Arbus is a leading advocate for people with disabilities, a two-time Emmy nominee, and the first woman to head programming for a U.S. television network.

“We could not be more proud of our alumni and our incredible faculty,” said Dr. Michael Lindsay, president of Taylor University. “This award recognizes and underscores the remarkable talent of Chad Veal and Brendan Wallace as well as the world-class program we have built here at Taylor.”

Veal directed, shot, and edited the project. He said, “It is such an honor for ‘20 Over’ to receive Taylor’s first national recognition from the Television Academy. Brendan and I were very grateful for the opportunity to tell this Paralympian’s story, and we’re honored by the response to the story that has come since.”

Wallace, the project’s producer, sound designer, and composer, said, “To be able to put the spotlight on such a talented athlete who is making such a positive impact on the world is what makes this award so special to us.”

Designed to emulate the Emmy Awards, student entries are judged by Television Academy members. Criteria for the College Television Awards reflect industry standards of excellence, imagination and innovation. Veal and Wallace will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles in March 2022.