David Wilhelm, a May 2010 Clarion University of Pennsylvania graduate with a degree in mass media arts, journalism and communication studies, is the winner of two bronze 2010 Telly Awards.

David Wilhelm at Niagara Falls.

            Wilhelm's television documentary "Niagara Falls:  A True Wonder?" was recognized in the student category, where he competed against students from throughout the United States; and in the TV documentary category, where he faced off against professionals in the field.

            Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web. Since 1978, its mission has been to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting, and supporting creativity. The Annual Telly Awards receive over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents.

            "This award means opportunity," said Wilhelm. "It is a boost to keep me working hard and drive for success. I enjoy graphic design and web design, but this award will have me examining multi-media design more closely."

            Wilhelm is from Clymer and is a son of Richard Wilhelm and Marlene Wilhelm. He is a graduate of Purchase Line High School.

            He worked on "Niagara Falls:  A True Wonder?" with Pakistani exchange student Mansah Pasha Memon. Wilhelm was the producer and did the filming, while Memon wrote the script, edited the film, and did the voice over. They completed the project for a field production class taught by Dr. Robert Nulph, associate professor of communication.

            "The idea for the documentary came to me on New Year's Eve 2007," said Wilhelm. "I had gone to New York City with a friend to see the ball drop in Times Square. He told me about spending the summer in Niagara Falls, N.Y., helping with a human services agency. We drove to Niagara Falls and with no prior knowledge I got the gritty details and the idea for a story."

            What Wilhelm found was the reality beyond the natural beauty of the city's namesake.

            "How misleading it was," he said. "The falls are beautiful, but when you get into the city on the United States side, you find poverty, drugs, and crime. After I saw it. I promised that I would come back and tell the story."

            That opportunity presented itself during his field production class. The chance to go back to Niagara Falls was not something he had anticipated.

            "I expected opportunity to do this type of production, but not the kind of freedom I had," he explained. "I thought I would be limited to doing a story in the Clarion area, so I was excited to be able to take the equipment and venture outside of Clarion for the production."

            With the Telly Award, "Niagara Falls:  A True Wonder?" became a multiple competition winner. During the Fall 2009 semester it won first place in the News, Documentary, or Public Affairs/Interview Video category at the National Broadcast Society Regional Conference at Millersville University.

            Attracted to Clarion by the mass media arts, journalism, and communication department's outstanding reputation and Clarion's closeness to his home, Wilhelm found opportunities to branch out into areas including media design, radio, and working on Bazaar Magazine. He was a member of Clarion's Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, where he was a team leader, led Bible study, and did the organization's media design; and participated in ultimate Frisbee.

            Wilhelm would like to open his own multi-media business doing web, multi-media, and print design.

            Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.