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Previous Nominations

Nominees & Recipients

During the Annual CAS Awards, we are proud to celebrate all 5 finalists who exceed our expectations. These outstanding examples of the future of sound are listed below. We look forward to adding next year’s nominees and recipient to this group.

Past Nominees & Recipients continue to stay involved in exciting work and projects. Read more about where they are now by clicking on “Learn More” when available.

12th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 62nd annual CAS Awards on March 7, 2026.

Recipient

Mingxi Xu

National Film and Television School

I'm very happy to share that I've recently joined my first feature film as an Assistant Sound Editor. The supervising team includes  2 Academy Award-winning sound professionals, so it has been an incredible learning experience. Although the role isn't Assistant Mixer. It's giving me a much deeper understanding of complex sound workflows and editorial problem solving, which I believe will ultimately make me a stronger mixer in the future.

I'm also currently in the second round of interviews for an assistant mixer position at The Post Republic (Germany/UK post house). Fingers crossed! If there is any good news, I'll be sure to let you know.

Also I've started preparing for O1b and GTV visa application. Ever since attending the CAS Student Recognition Award event, I've become even more excited about gaining experience and eventually exploring the career opportunities available to mixers in the United States. It's a path that I'm working steadily toward, and I hope I'll have the chance to see you again in the US before too long.

Nominees

Joseph Crews

Belmont University

Aidan Jones

Savannah College Of Art And Design

Linnan Liu

University of Southern California

Evan Nowack

Chapman University

Previous Awards

11th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 60th annual CAS Awards on March 3, 2024.

Recipient

Guillermo Moya

Full Sail University

Nominees

Aidan Jones

Savannah College Of Art And Design

 

Kat Frazier

Ohio University

Since my CAS nomination, I have launched my career in location sound and now work primarily in Atlanta, Georgia. My work has also taken me across the country, including projects in Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, and Michigan. I’ve contributed to a range of productions such as commercials, independent feature films, and documentaries. While I enjoy the variety of each project, documentary work has been especially rewarding, allowing me to help capture compelling real-world stories and experiences. Whether the subject matter is lighthearted or challenging, I am continually inspired by the opportunity to travel, collaborate with talented crews, and document meaningful moments.

Trinh Vo

Depaul University

 

Tejumoluwa Olarewaju

Savannah College Of Art And Design

I recently concluded my Master’s degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design. During my studies, I had the opportunity to work on "Heinz Wake it Up," which recently won the Commercial category at the 2026 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Southeast Student Production Awards (administered by the Southeast Regional Emmy Chapter).

I have also been heavily focused on music technology. I recently created Nigeria’s first professional audio plugin, which led to a feature in Rolling Stone Africa and an interview with The Guardian Nigeria. Following that, I developed and released the Cosmic Suite, a free collection of 26 audio plugins.

I am continuing to develop new music software, and there are some very exciting things on the horizon!

10th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 60th annual CAS Awards on March 3, 2024.

Recipient

Yushu “Doris” Shen 

University of Southern California

Allison Blum

Savannah College of Art and Design

 

Shubhi Sahni

University of Southern California

Eunseo “Bella” So

Savannah College of Art and Design

 

William Tate

Georgia State University

9th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 59th annual CAS Awards on March 4, 2023.

Recipient

Timo Nelson 

The University of Texas at Austin

Nominees

Chelsea Rae Adams

Savannah College of Art and Design

Colette Grob

Chapman University, Dodge College

Sophia White

Utah Valley University

Marîa Clara Calle Jiménez

Universidad de San Buenaventura

Thanks to the CAS Awards, the incredible networking opportunities led me to connect with professionals like Jeffrey Roy, Teddy Salas, Elmo Ponsdomenech, Katie Halliday, and Danielle Dupre, among others, and visit studios like Warner Bros., Sony, and Aura Sound and Color. After continuing my work on films and series in Colombia, I completed my MA in Sound Design at SCAD. Currently, I am really happy working full-time in production with a strong emphasis on audio for a church in Savannah.

8th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 58th annual CAS Awards on March 19, 2022.

Recipient

Lily Adams

Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia

Nominees

Lindsey Ellis

Chapman University – Orange, CA


Berenice Chu

Sheridan College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Oakville, Canada

I'm a Toronto based freelance post-production sound editor and mixer. I am also an assistant sound editor / trainee in the DGC (DGC is the union that represents sound editors in Ontario). You can find out more of my work at www.bernicechu.com

Karthik Vijay Mohan

Chapman University – Orange, CA


Shehryar Khan

Universidade Lusófona, Lisboa,
Portugal

7th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 57th annual CAS Awards on April 17, 2021.

Recipient

Brandyn Johnson

University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA 

Nominees

Anna Cassady

University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA

 

Lindsey Ellis

Chapman University – Orange, CA

Yan “Carol” Li 

School of Visual Arts
– New York, NY

 

Vandana Ramakrishna

Annapurna College of Film and Media – Hyderabad, India

6th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 56th annual CAS Awards on January 25, 2020.

Recipient

Bo Pang

Chapman University – Orange, CA

I’m Bo Pang, the 2019 CAS Student Recognition Award recipient. Being a member of the CAS Student Recognition Award community continues to be a meaningful part of my journey. Since graduating from Chapman University, I’ve had the opportunity to work in post-production sound on a variety of film, television, and interactive media projects, including AKA Jane Roe, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Apple’s WWDC special series, and Evotinction.

Today, I’m not only a sound designer and mixer but also a proud mom. Balancing career and family has been both challenging and rewarding, and I feel incredibly grateful to continue pursuing the work I’m passionate about while enjoying this fulfilling chapter of life.

Nominees

Jiaqing (Audrey) Gu

University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA

 

Andree (Hsiao-Chu) Lin

Chapman University– Orange, CA

Karthik Vijay Mohan

Chapman University
– Orange, CA

 

Emma Trujillo

Emerson College – Boston, MA

5th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 55th annual CAS Awards on February 26, 2019.

Recipient

Anna Wozniewicz

Chapman University – Orange, CA

Nominees

Maria Cecilia Ayalde Angel 

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
– Bogata, Columbia

 

Allison Ng

University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA

I have been working at Skywalker Sound since 2022 as an assistant editor and foley editor. It has been an awarding experience contributing to some amazing films and learning from some of the best in the industry.

Bo Pang

Chapman University
– Orange, CA

 

Kaylee Yacono

Savannah College of Art and Design
– Savannah, GA

4th Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 54th annual CAS Awards on February 24, 2018.

Recipient

Xiang Li

Chapman University – Orange, CA

Nominees

Hayey Bowers

Savannah College of Art and Design
– Savannah, GA

 

Brendan Gates

Loyola Marymount University
– Los Angeles, CA

Currently I am pursuing a master's degree in marriage and family therapy at CSUN. Previously I spent 7 years as a mix assistant and assistant producer at Formosa Group.

Danielle Price

Savannah College of Art and Design
– Savannah, GA

 

Anna Wozniewicz

Chapman University
– Orange, CA

3rd Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 53rd annual CAS Awards on February 18, 2017.

Recipient

Wenrui “Sam” Fan

Chapman University – Orange, CA

Nominees

Jeremy Culver

Baylor University
– Waco, TX

 

Sammy Duff

Savannah College of Art and Design
– Savannah, GA

Lauren Johnson

University of Southern California
– Los Angeles, CA

 

Matthew Kluchin

The University of Texas – Austin, TX

2nd Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 52nd annual CAS Awards on February 20, 2016.

Recipient

Matt Yocum

Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, GA

I’ve been very fortunate these past few years. I’ve been nominated for 3 Emmys and won 1 of them, I am now a two time participating Grammy Winner for Music Videos of the year that I did sound design and mixes for, and most recently I mixed The Boroughs on Netflix which is currently the number one show in the world for streaming, and I supervise Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay which is releasing its season finale today!

Nominees

Joseph Elfanbaum

Savannah College of Art and Design
– Savannah, GA

 

Lauren Johnson

University of Southern California
– Los Angeles, CA

Joanna Zachariasz

Edinburgh Napier University
– Scotland, UK

 

Gerrald Vazquez

Chapman University
– Orange, CA

Since being nominated for the CAS SRA, I proceeded to win the MPSE Verna Fields award the following year (2016). After that, I joined IATSE Local 700 and began working closely with supervisors at Formosa Group. Over the last decade I have primarily worked as a sound effects editor and sound designer for episodic series. Notable credits include The Morning Show (Seasons 3 & 4), The Lincoln Lawyer (Seasons 2, 3 & 4), Yellowstone (S5), Dutton Ranch (S1), and Carnival Row (S2). Simultaneously, I have continued to build my own clientele so that I can keep mixing. I frequently do commercial work which I design and mix on my own — and have also supervised several feature films.

The CAS SRA opened many doors for me as a student and helped develop my expectations and standards for my professional career. I fully intend to continue growing as a mixer and hope to do more mixing in the future.

1st Student Recognition Award

Presented at the 51st annual CAS Awards on February 14, 2015.

Recipient

Danny Maurer

University of Colorado-Denver

Nominees

Alyssa Schwartzberg

Brooklyn College

 

Michael Cullen

Chapman University
– Orange, CA

I’m working at Zynga as an Audio Director. My team works on a variety of mobile games from Words with Friends, to Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, to Game of Thrones Slots, to Farmville. We compose original music, design original sound effects, and mix for a wide variety of mobile devices. In my free time, I lecture at various universities on Game Audio and create videos for my Film Sound Tutorials Youtube channel.

John Harton

Savannah College of Art and Design
– Savannah, GA

Heather Fink

New York University
– New York

I'm currently a Utility Sound Technician on Grey's Anatomy and also continue to direct independent films.

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