KTWU Television has won an Emmy Award in the 2012 competition for “2011 Washburn University Holiday Vespers.”

KTWU’s award from the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, is in recognition of the Vespers presentation in the special event coverage category. Highlights of the performance included the Washburn University choir performing traditional holiday favorites, the Washburn University orchestra and the Washburn University Jazz Combo. At the concluding musical number, when the students proceed from the stage and into the audience singing, ‘snow’ falls from the ceiling of White Concert Hall.

The Emmy award-winning program was produced by KTWU and directed and edited by Jim Kelly. Executive producer for KTWU is Eugene Williams. Producers for the television program are Ann Marie Snook, chairwoman of the music department; Kevin Kellim, director of the choir, singers and women’s chorus; Christopher Kelts, director of the orchestra; and KTWU staff members Val VanderSluis, Dave Kendall, Doug Barrington and Kevin Goodman.

The Washburn University Foundation was the underwriter for the production of the television program.

The Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards (for film), Grammy Awards (for music) and Tony Awards (for stage).

Emmy Awards are presented in various sectors of the television industry, including entertainment programming, news and documentary shows and sports programming. The winners were announced at the Heartland Chapter Emmy Awards Presentation Ceremony on July 21, 2012.