​Nardin Academy Alumna Nominated for 44th College Television Awards

Nardin Academy alumna Maura Ende 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.

Ende, along with two classmates from the University of Southern California, is nominated in the Comedy Series category for producing a project titled Failure to Launch, which was selected from over 200 entries from universities nationwide by Television Academy members.

Failure to Launch is a sitcom whose main character “Jay” is a 32-year-old Indian American who finds it financially easier to live at home with his family. Jay hilariously pushes back against his parents’ traditional beliefs — like arranged marriage — until his mother Reva brings a devout and attractive young woman home from the temple; then Jay begs for her to arrange his own.

“As an ardent fan of television, especially sitcoms, I feel as though I have learned plenty about the world through a screen,” said Ende. “Just as Modern Family introduced my 10-year-old self to family dynamics I had not known, Failure to Launch dismantled a false image I had of arranged marriages in Indian culture. At the end of the day, television — but television comedy in particular — is a unifying, enlightening force that I deeply admire; and to be able to help tell this unique story was an honor.”

From Buffalo, New York, Ende attended Nardin Academy in Buffalo. She recently completed her Bachelor of Arts in cinema and media studies at the University of Southern California, with a minor in comedy, her truest passion. She wrote, produced and directed several comedic short films during her time at USC but found particular success producing and writing for the university’s live sketch comedy show, USC Comedy Live!

Attending nominees of the 44th College Television Awards will participate in professional development events with media and industry leaders and a special screening of their projects for Television Academy members prior to the awards show on April 5.