Former Oakville High School students Louis Luong and Caden Turner were honored as winners of a 2019 Student Award for Excellence at the 43rd annual Mid-America Emmy Gala Saturday night, Oct. 5, at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Missouri.

“It was awesome!” said Turner. “All of us were dappered up for the occasion.”  

Luong and Turner earned this award in the Animation/Graphics/Special Effects category for their editing and production on “The Broadcast Civil War,” a feature that appeared on the OHS school broadcast, Channel 97 News, in May of 2018. They were the only students from the St. Louis area to receive this recognition from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

“We got to see and experience a lot of cool things, including the backstage where there were well over a hundred Emmys stored, a red carpet interview with two hosts, and a delicious dinner that was included with our ticket,” said Luong.

Luong, a 2018 Oakville graduate, now attends Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Turner, a 2019 graduate, is studying Drama at New York University.

“We initially weren’t planning on getting together to go there because we are all off at college,” said Turner. “But thankfully, it all ended up working out.” 

OHS broadcast adviser Mr. Jeff Kuchno accompanied the two students at the award ceremony. 

“I’m very proud of Caden and Louis,” Kuchno said. “They are both extremely talented and have bright futures ahead of them. They are also best of friends, so it was great to see them get together again.”  

This is the second NATAS student award the OHS broadcast program has earned during its 10-year history. Ryan Huegerich was the first winner in 2013.

Luong said, “Even though Caden and I are both in college now, winning this award was a really nice way to conclude our high school chapter.”