Student earns international Platinum Viddy Award for Lewis Honors College video

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 19, 2026) — A University of Kentucky student has earned international recognition for a video created for the UK Lewis Honors College.

Alex Masterson, a UK sophomore and honors student, received a Platinum Award in the 2025 Viddy Awards for a long-form recruitment video titled “Experience Honors Education.” The Platinum Award is the competition’s highest honor and is awarded to projects that demonstrate exceptional quality. Approximately 19% of entries earn Platinum recognition. StoryVid, Masterson’s production company, also earned a Gold Award for a separate commercial project.

After nearly a year spent planning, filming and editing the project, the recognition was a major milestone for Masterson. 

“Winning the Platinum Award was honestly surreal,” Masterson said. “It felt like everything we put into it really paid off.”

Masterson, 19, is a Lexington native who will graduate in May 2026 with a degree in business management from the Gatton College of Business and Economics. He began working with the Lewis Honors College in September 2024 after connecting with Adrienne Clarke, the honors college communications director, and receiving guidance from Carey Higgins-Dobney, an instructor in the UK School of Journalism and Media. What started as an effort to update an outdated promotional video turned into an 11-month project that included filming interviews, capturing campus events and shaping a narrative that reflected the student experience.

“When you’re interviewing faculty and filming behind the scenes, you start to see how intentional everything is,” Masterson said. “It gave me a completely different perspective as a student.”

Masterson said his experience in the Lewis Honors College also helped shape how he approaches storytelling and leadership.

“LHC also pushes you to think critically and interdisciplinarily,” he said. “Running a video production company isn’t about the cameras you use. It’s about understanding people, messaging, structure and problem-solving. Honors gave me the space to develop those skills while actually applying them in meaningful ways.”

Clarke said Masterson’s work ethic and creativity stood out throughout the process. 

“Alex has distinguished himself at the Lewis Honors College with his exceptional work ethic and creative vision,” she said. “His initiative and commitment to continuous improvement have made him an invaluable asset in elevating the college’s voice and impact.”

The Viddy Awards receive thousands of entries each year from agencies and production companies around the world and are judged by industry professionals, said Masterson.

“You’re not being judged against other students. You’re being judged against established production companies. That’s what makes it meaningful.”

For Masterson, the award reflects the level of work UK students are capable of producing and shows that student-led projects can compete at a national and international level.

“For me personally, it’s meaningful because one of the winning projects was created during my freshman year for the same college I attend,” Masterson said. “It shows that student-led work can compete at a professional level.”

The recognition in the recruitment category highlights how the video communicates the distinct benefits of the Lewis Honors College and encourages prospective students to learn more, whether by watching the video, scheduling a visit or applying. The award-winning video, “Experience Honors Education,” can be viewed at storyvid.com.