Producer/directors in WVIA Public Media’s production division, Via Studios Global in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton television market, have received two Emmy Award nominations. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has announced the nominees for the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards, which will be presented Oct. 13 in Philadelphia.

WVIA Chief Operations Officer Ben Payavis was nominated for a 2018 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award in the Director Live or Live to Tape category for the production of “Christmas at Susquehanna: The 50th Anniversary Candlelight Service.”

Recorded in December 2016, the program captured the voices of students, faculty, alumni and community members joined together on the campus of Susquehanna University in historic Selinsgrove to celebrate 50 years of a cherished tradition. The program was produced by VIA Studios Global in partnership with Susquehanna University and distributed by American Public Television.

Producer/Director John Mikulak and Executive Producer Tom Currá were nominated for a 2018 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award in the Public/Current/Community Affairs category for production of a short-form documentary “War Stories Vietnam: The Walls that Heal.”

The documentary was part of WVIA’s multiplatform content initiative spotlighting regional Vietnam veterans in conjunction with the release of the PBS Ken Burns documentary “The Vietnam War.”

“The WVIA programs honored this year by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences show Via Studios Global’s and WVIA’s commitment to proudly showcase local stories and bring them to national audiences.” Currá said, president/CEO and executive producer at WVIA Public Media. “Our Emmy-nominated Via Studios Global production team continues to produce programs that showcase the dedication and professionalism that members and viewers of WVIA have grown to expect.”

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences was founded in 1957, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter was chartered in 1981.

It is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry.

It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Award for News, Sports, Programming, Public Service and Technology.