UA Little Rock Shines at Mid-America Emmys with Wins from Student and Alumni
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is celebrating the achievements of two alumni and one current student from the School of Mass Communication who earned top honors at the 2025 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Mid-America Emmy Awards on Saturday, Oct. 25. Current student Dillion Jackson, along with alumni Kwasi Harshaw and Brandon Ramirez, were recognized for their excellence in broadcast media.
Dillion Jackson, Senior, Wins Emmy for Weekend Newscast – All Markets
Dillion Jackson, a senior mass communication major from Little Rock, won an Emmy for Weekend Newscast – All Markets for his work as producer on “The Healing Begins in Fordyce,” a project for KARK 4 News. The story covered the mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store and how the community was attempting to heal from the tragedy.
“This win validates changing my major from political science to media production,” Jackson said. “It tells me I’ve learned a lot and can do a lot; now it’s just time to keep doing more and learning more.”
Jackson credits courses such as Studio Production and Lighting and Cinematography at UA Little Rock for preparing him for the award-winning project.
“UA Little Rock helped me by providing the Studio Production class where I was pushed into a role I didn’t think I would be good at — directing — and forced to learn it,” he said. “After a few class projects of directing, I found I really enjoyed it and was somewhat good at it.”
He also credited Dr. Kiel Thorlton, director of mass communication at UA Little Rock, for his mentorship.
“He is the professor that pushed me outside of my comfort zone and taught most of my media production classes,” Jackson said. “He was extremely approachable, but what I enjoy most about the interactions we have is his honesty. He doesn’t bring an air of superiority to the classroom. It’s light, fun, and technologically and theoretically educational.”
Jackson added that Nick Blanford, director of broadcast media and content development for the Little Rock Trojans, also had an impact on his time at UA Little Rock.
“We were in classes together, worked on a lot of projects together, and worked ESPN+ together,” Jackson said. “We were able to brainstorm ideas with each other and constantly help each other whenever needed.”
Brandon Ramirez, Class of 2022, Wins Emmy for Weekend Newscast – All Markets
Brandon Ramirez, a 2022 UA Little Rock graduate originally from Southern California and raised in Cabot, also won an Emmy Award for Weekend Newscast – All Markets for “The Healing Begins in Fordyce,” serving as the photographer and editor.
Ramirez said he worked alongside reporter Gary Burton Jr. on the project.
“We went to other local grocery stores and interviewed customers on if they may have been more cautious going shopping today and how the event impacted their community and changed the way they shop,” he said. “That night we did a complex live shot and had two reporters at once discuss the aftermath of the shooting in the town.”
Before attending UA Little Rock, Ramirez had never picked up a camera. He began working at ESPN+ and developed his skills both there and in the classroom, preparing him for his current role at KARK 4 News.
Ramirez said Thorlton greatly influenced his storytelling.
“He was the best professor I ever had, and he was very hands-on and willing to answer any question and go out of his way to teach his students,” Ramirez said. “He broke down how to tell stories with visuals and how to show and not tell when it comes to storytelling.”
Kwasi Harshaw, Class of 2021, Earns Emmy for Team Coverage
Kwasi Harshaw, a 2021 UA Little Rock graduate from Little Rock, earned an Emmy Award for his work as a photographer on Total Solar Eclipse: Arkansas 2024. Harshaw provided live and recorded coverage of the eclipse from the First Security Amphitheater in downtown Little Rock and edited the broadcast.
“UA Little Rock helped shape my career path by teaching me about the art of cinematography, lighting, editing, and media production,” Harshaw said. “In my two years there, I learned a lot about working and collaborating as a team. I also credit the university for helping me to understand the importance of working in a timely manner and being efficient during tight deadlines.”
Harshaw credited several UA Little Rock faculty and mentors for influencing his storytelling, including Thorlton; Dr. Tim Edwards, professor of mass communication; Brandon Colvin, former assistant professor of mass communication at UA Little Rock; and Corrigan Revels, assistant director for student leadership & development.
“I’d like to shout out Professor Kiel Thorlton for teaching me about filmmaking,” Harshaw said. “Dr. Edwards’ lectures on mass media and the different career paths available were definitely appreciated. Professor Brandon Colvin taught me the art of storytelling. I was fortunate to also have the following mentors, like Corrigan Revels who was and continues to be a big inspiration. I appreciate him following my journey.”
He also offered advice for current UA Little Rock students pursuing the field.
“To current UA Little Rock students, I advise them to become interns at local stations, which will allow them to get a real feel for TV news journalism,” Harshaw said. “They should go out and shoot their own content to sharpen their skills, which will enable them to practice the craft. They need to collaborate with others in order to experience what it is like to work with a team that may not share their mindset or values, which is mandatory in the industry.”