UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — WPSU’s "Our Town: Big Valley" has been honored with a 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Award from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In "Our Town: Big Valley" volunteers from the Kishacoquillas Valley, also known as Big Valley and located in Mifflin and Huntingdon counties of Pennsylvania, share stories about the community. The program highlights the organizations, arts, schools, attractions, local folklore, places, history and people that make the central Pennsylvania community unique. It took home the Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Award in the Community Service category.

The win hit home for producer Cole Cullen, because Big Valley is where he lives.

“Obviously, I’m excited that the show and WPSU were recognized by this award,” Cullen said. “But this program is extra special to me because not only did I grow up in Big Valley, but I chose to move back and raise my own family in this area.”

WPSU’s "Our Town" series has been capturing the spirit of local communities from the perspective of the residents for 25 years.

“In that time WPSU has told hundreds of stories from the people who live in the small towns that cover our viewing area,” Cullen said. “These are towns that are often overlooked unless there is bad news that happens there. 'Our Town' has always given community members the opportunity to shine a light on the great things about their towns.”

Cullen said he was grateful for the opportunity to showcase his community this way. He said he gained an even greater appreciation for the area. 

“When you produce a program like 'Our Town,' you spend a lot of time looking for the beauty of the area. And when you live in a town, you tend to take it for granted. When I began working on the project, I was able to step back and truly appreciate what a beautiful, peaceful place this is. I noticed several things that I never saw before, and I’m grateful to be more ‘aware’ of the beauty that is in my hometown,” Cullen said

"Our Town: Big Valley" was one of five WPSU programs honored with nominations for regional Emmys this year. The other four programs that received nominations include:

• "Keystone Stories: State Parks" 
• Science-U: "Stream Health Survey," "Hominin Skulls" and "Bitter Taste" 
• "Culinary Connections: Everything Comes from Mama" 
• "The Local Groove Presents: Eric Ian Farmer & Friends" 

WPSU-TV serves 24 counties in central Pennsylvania and reaches 515,000 households, and WPSU-FM is accessible to more than 450,000 listeners in 13 counties. The public media station also includes WPSU Digital Studios, which offers original web series that explore science, arts and culture. WPSU is a service of Penn State Outreach.

Visit the WPSU website to learn more about central Pennsylvania’s public media station.