Las Vegas Native Nominated for 44th College Television Awards

West Career and Technical Academy alumnus Danny White has been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 44th College Television Awards. The Foundation’s annual awards show recognizes and rewards excellence in student-produced programs from colleges across the country. Winners in the competition will be announced by television stars at the red carpet awards ceremony on April 5, 2025, at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California. Designed to emulate the Emmy Awards, student entries are judged by Television Academy members. Criteria for the College Television Awards reflect industry standards of excellence, imagination and innovation.

White, along with classmates from Brigham Young University, is nominated in the 'Commercial, PSA or Promo' category for writing and producing a spec commercial titled Manumalo (Victory) - Nike, which was selected from over 200 entries from universities nationwide by Television Academy members.

The Nike spec ad features the underrepresented sport of Samoan fire-knife dancing. A fire-knife dancer is a performer who dances with a flaming knife, known as a "nifo oti," by twirling, tossing and catching it in a skilled display of acrobatics. It recreates the movements of a traditional Samoan warrior showcasing their battle prowess.

“My first experience living away from home was to move to Auckland, New Zealand, and take part in a two-year-long service trip, working and living among the Samoan population there,” said White. “While there, I learned about Samoan culture and the growing efforts to preserve it. I did everything I could to listen and learn, including becoming fluent in the Samoan language. Because of this incredible experience, I wanted others to learn about Samoan culture, too.

“As a member of the BYU AdLab, we are always encouraged to create messages that mean more than mere advertising,” said White. “I wanted to create a piece that promotes a well-known sports-brand identity but subverts expectations by highlighting a cultural sport that many do not know about. I immediately called my close friend Alex Galea'i, professional fire-knife dancer, and asked him if he would be willing to be involved with the project.

“I co-wrote this project with Alex Galea'i, and was also the creative director on the piece,” said White. “Since Alex and I are both fluent in the Samoan language, I interviewed Alex based on his lived experience, then wrote the script in English. Together we then translated it into Samoan.

“This nomination means the world to me,” continued White. “I am so proud that our efforts in promoting and educating people on an underrepresented culture are being acknowledged in this way.”

White is a 2024 graduate of Brigham Young University who majored in advertising. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, he attended West Career and Technical Academy in Clark County, Nevada.