24th AnnualUPPER MIDWEST REGIONAL
EMMY® AWARDS
October 14, 2023
OCTOBER 14, 2023
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH
This televised ceremony will be streamed for online and mobile devices on the Upper Midwest Emmy® YouTube channel and The Emmy® App.
The Emmy® App, is a dedicated platform powered by Vimeo. All programming is available watch.TheEmmys.TV and via The Emmy® apps for iOS, tvOS, Android devices. FireTV, AndroidTV and Roku (full list at apps.theemmys.tv).
EMMY® AWARDS GALA HOSTS
Join our show hosts Alyx Sacks, Scott, Carpenter, Jaso Sydejko and Nicole Tam from KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa as we celebrate Outstanding Achievements of media professionals across the Upper Midwest Emmy® Region.
Pictured left to right: Nicole Tam, Scott Carpenter, Alyx Sacks, Jason Sydejko
Alyx Sacks co-anchors KCCI 8 News This Morning. Alyx called seven states home before arriving in Iowa in April 2015. The daughter of a college football coach, Alyx played a different kind of football at the collegiate level. She was a member of the University of Nevada Wolf Pack women’s soccer team. After graduating with a degree in journalism and sociology, Alyx kicked off her career as an MMJ for NBC Montana in Butte before returning to Reno as an anchor/reporter for KRNV, News 4.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Alyx coaches youth soccer and loves outdoor adventures with her husband and kids.
Scott Carpenter reports on breaking news and traffic for KCCI 8 This Morning. A former sports anchor in Columbus, Georgia, Scott joined KCCI as a news anchor/reporter during the disconnected times of COVID in December of 2020. He was an immediate hit with viewers, covering all kinds of stories as a general assignment reporter before joining the morning show team.
Hailing from Westerville, Ohio, Scott is graduate of Heidelberg University. He majored in Media and Communication while competing on the men’s golf team.
Jason Sydejko is a 5-time Upper Midwest Emmy-nominated Meteorologist. has been delivering reliable forecasts since joining in January 2015. He was promoted lead Storm Team 8 as Chief Meteorologist in August. Prior to joining KCCI, Jason was a weekend meteorologist in Jackson, Mississippi and Chief Meteorologist in Duluth at KQDS, Fox 21.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth and Mississippi State, Jason’s passions outside of weather include drawing cartoon eyeballs, hiking and his cat, Shelby.
Nicole Tam is a seasoned reporter hailing from Honolulu, who brings a wealth of experience to Central Iowa. Her coverage spans medicine, healthcare, education, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicole’s fluency in Cantonese and Mandarin unearthed the hidden world of “maternity tourism” while she was still a student the University of Hawaii at Manoa, earning her a first place award in Student Investigative Reporting from the Hawai’i SPJ.
When not reporting or anchoring KCCI 8 This Morning Weekends, Nicole indulges both her puppy and her love for culinary exploration with family and friends.
2023 HONORS SHOW
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14th, 7PM
CIRCLE HONORS SHOW HOST
Larry Wentz
KTIV - Sioux City, IA
GOLD CIRCLE HONOREE
Chuck Sibley
KTTC
Silver Circle HONOREEs
Dave Anderson
KBJR/KDLH - Duluth, MN
Steve Betchkal
Storytime w/ Steve & Micah - Eau Claire, WI
Mark Ovenden
KSFY/KDLT - Sioux Falls, SD
Donna Smith
KCCI - Des Moines, IA
Social Media
Go to @MidwestEmmys FaceBook page for animated nomination postcards to share with family & friends
Share & Tag! @MidwestEmmys, #MidwestEmmys
Missing Name on EMMY® entry?
To add a name after nominations September 1st through September 6th, a written application is required and the fee is $250 per-name.
Any names requested to be added to member-rate entries must be members for entry to retain member rate.
Absolutely no names can be added to entries once Regional Emmy® Awards are announced
Award Store
Use your current membership for discounts on past Regional Emmy® Awards! Anyone listed on official nominated or recipient entries from 2000 — present may purchase awards. Nomination Plaques and Regional Statuettes come engraved with entrant’s name and role on entry.
REGIONAL EMMY®
DIRECTOR CAST
Eligibility Area
All broadcast, cable, broadband, cable / community / government access and video content providers (not close circuit or venue specific) located within the following Designated Market Areas (DMAs):
UPPER MIDWEST CHAPTER NOTE:
Traditional broadcast & New Media must be intended for consumption and be of interest to this regional audience
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH
This televised ceremony will be streamed for online and mobile devices on the Upper Midwest Emmy® YouTube channel and The Emmy® App.
The Emmy® App, is a dedicated platform powered by Vimeo. All programming is available watch.TheEmmys.TV and via The Emmy® apps for iOS, tvOS, Android devices. FireTV, AndroidTV and Roku (full list at apps.theemmys.tv).
EMMY® AWARDS GALA HOSTS
Join our show hosts Alyx Sacks, Scott, Carpenter, Jaso Sydejko and Nicole Tam from KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa as we celebrate Outstanding Achievements of media professionals across the Upper Midwest Emmy® Region.
Vineeeta & Rusty enjoyed many years together co-anchoring a Twin Cities morning TV news newscast. Now they team up again to honor this region's video content creators.
Vineeta Sawkar
Vineeta Sawkar is a 5-time Regional Emmy® award-winning journalist who has focused her career on reporting and anchoring in the television news business.
Active involvement in the community has also been a cornerstone of her career. Event emcee, non-profit board member and adviser to charitable groups are all part of her profile. After leaving the TV business, she spent several years at Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
She is now the on air host of The Morning News on News Talk 830 WCCO.
RUsty Gatenby
Rusty is a 5-time Regional Emmy® Award Winner, 4 for Morning News Talent AND one for writing producing and talent for promotional spot.
A Wayzata boy, Rusty graduated Wayzata High School in 1979. Graduated UW Madison in 1983, after which Gatenby immediately started at KSTP, working on the Morning News, and Good Company with Steve and Sharon. In 1987 Rusty became the first full time helicopter traffic reporter.
Rusty became a feature Reporter and Entertainment Reporter, and fill in host for Good Company and Twin Cities Live. 31 years at KSTP. In 2014, he joined WCCO and its morning show as the Movie Guy.
Pictured left to right: Nicole Tam, Scott Carpenter, Alyx Sacks, Jason Sydejko
Alyx Sacks co-anchors KCCI 8 News This Morning. Alyx called seven states home before arriving in Iowa in April 2015. The daughter of a college football coach, Alyx played a different kind of football at the collegiate level. She was a member of the University of Nevada Wolf Pack women’s soccer team. After graduating with a degree in journalism and sociology, Alyx kicked off her career as an MMJ for NBC Montana in Butte before returning to Reno as an anchor/reporter for KRNV, News 4.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Alyx coaches youth soccer and loves outdoor adventures with her husband and kids.
Scott Carpenter reports on breaking news and traffic for KCCI 8 This Morning. A former sports anchor in Columbus, Georgia, Scott joined KCCI as a news anchor/reporter during the disconnected times of COVID in December of 2020. He was an immediate hit with viewers, covering all kinds of stories as a general assignment reporter before joining the morning show team.
Hailing from Westerville, Ohio, Scott is graduate of Heidelberg University. He majored in Media and Communication while competing on the men’s golf team.
Jason Sydejko is a 5-time Upper Midwest Emmy-nominated Meteorologist. has been delivering reliable forecasts since joining in January 2015. He was promoted lead Storm Team 8 as Chief Meteorologist in August. Prior to joining KCCI, Jason was a weekend meteorologist in Jackson, Mississippi and Chief Meteorologist in Duluth at KQDS, Fox 21.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth and Mississippi State, Jason’s passions outside of weather include drawing cartoon eyeballs, hiking and his cat, Shelby.
Nicole Tam is a seasoned reporter hailing from Honolulu, who brings a wealth of experience to Central Iowa. Her coverage spans medicine, healthcare, education, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicole’s fluency in Cantonese and Mandarin unearthed the hidden world of “maternity tourism” while she was still a student the University of Hawaii at Manoa, earning her a first place award in Student Investigative Reporting from the Hawai’i SPJ.
When not reporting or anchoring KCCI 8 This Morning Weekends, Nicole indulges both her puppy and her love for culinary exploration with family and friends.
2023 HONORS SHOW
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14th, 7PM
CIRCLE HONORS SHOW HOST
Larry Wentz
KTIV - Sioux City, IA
GOLD CIRCLE HONOREE
Chuck Sibley
KTTC
Silver Circle HONOREEs
Dave Anderson
KBJR/KDLH - Duluth, MN
Steve Betchkal
Storytime w/ Steve & Micah - Eau Claire, WI
Mark Ovenden
KSFY/KDLT - Sioux Falls, SD
Donna Smith
KCCI - Des Moines, IA
Social Media
Go to @MidwestEmmys FaceBook page for animated nomination postcards to share with family & friends
Share & Tag! @MidwestEmmys, #MidwestEmmys
Missing Name on EMMY® entry?
To add a name after nominations September 1st through September 6th, a written application is required and the fee is $250 per-name.
Any names requested to be added to member-rate entries must be members for entry to retain member rate.
Absolutely no names can be added to entries once Regional Emmy® Awards are announced
Award Store
Use your current membership for discounts on past Regional Emmy® Awards! Anyone listed on official nominated or recipient entries from 2000 — present may purchase awards. Nomination Plaques and Regional Statuettes come engraved with entrant’s name and role on entry.
REGIONAL EMMY®
DIRECTOR CAST
EMMY® SILENT AUCTION
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences — Upper Midwest Chapter and its Foundation is proud to support the next generations of media content creators. Each year, we hold a fundraising drive and a silent auction to raise money for our 501 (c) 3 non-profit Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation (Fed. Tax ID# 20-1848994).
This Foundation provides scholarships and classroom grants to high school and college media students and programs across our region of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa & western Wisconsin.
ALL auction money goes directly to scholarships.
SCHOLARSHIP/CLASSROOM GRANT DONATIONS
Mobile Donations
Help local media students & teachers.
Text "midwestemmys" to phone number 56651 and follow prompts to donate to Emmy® scholarships & classroom grants."