Glenbrook North High School Alum Nominated for College TV Award

Glenbrook North High School alumna Stella Balaskas has been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 44th College Television Awards. The Foundation’s annual awards show recognizes and rewards excellence in student-produced programs from colleges across the country. Winners in the competition will be announced by television stars at the red carpet awards ceremony on April 5, 2025, at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California. 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

Balaskas, along with three classmates at Syracuse University, is nominated in the Sports category for writing a project titled Syracuse Women’s Basketball vs. Northeastern Pregame Show, which was selected from over 200 entries from universities nationwide by Television Academy members.

The Syracuse Women’s Basketball vs. Northeastern Pregame Show previewed the Dec. 4, 2023, matchup between the Syracuse Orange women's basketball team and the Northeastern Huskies. From highlights and statistical breakdowns of both teams’ previous games to an analysis of star players, the program informed viewers on the matchup. It aired live from the JMA Wireless Dome on cuse.tv.

Balaskas is currently a senior at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University majoring in public relations. She has held communications roles with Syracuse Athletics, Marquee Sports Network and United Airlines. She also represented the Newhouse Sports Media Center at Super Bowl LVII's media week. She is a native of Northbrook, Illinois, and attended Glenbrook North High School.

“I have been a part of the ACCNX studio shows since my freshman year,” said Balaskas. “I started producing my sophomore year. And now, alongside the other three nominees, I have been part of the leadership team the last two years. We oversee and execute the live production of 25+ studio shows a semester.

“I think the most difficult thing with this show, as with any show, is that it's live,” continued Balaskas. “We have to be on top of timing and make sure everything is correct, because there is no going back. That's the thrill, and difficulty, of live sports production and why I love it so much.”

Attending nominees of the 44th College Television Awards will also participate in professional development events with media and industry leaders and a special screening of their projects for Television Academy members prior to the awards show on April 5.