An Award-Winning, Football & Baseball Student-Athlete

Is there anything Justin Fitzpatrick can’t do?

Is there anything Justin Fitzpatrick can't do?

Western Illinois University football student-athlete (check). Western Illinois baseball student-athlete (check).

Award-winning director? Check.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) awarded Justin his latest title a few weeks ago for his work on a short non-fiction piece entitled "More Than a Number: Sam Pryor's Story." The feature focuses on Sam, a fellow Leatherneck who suits up for the University's women's basketball team, and how she navigated life after her mother's battle with cancer.

He credits this video as his best work yet.

"It was scary for me," said Justin. "It was right after football season ended and I had a lot of time on my hands. I was in a broadcasting writing class, and we had to write a script, and my teacher said we could get extra credit if we made a video, so I went for it.

"I remember sophomore year, all the girls on the basketball team were going to a funeral. Sam wasn't [a student yet], but I asked them where they were going and they told me their teammate's mom had passed. I thought it would be a good story to tell so I just [direct messaged] her. It took me three days to figure out what to say. I asked my roommate probably five times just to make sure I said the right thing. It's such a sore subject to talk about, and if it weren't for her and her strength to talk about something that is just crushing, I wouldn't have been able to do it. That was really nice of her."

Justin has always had a flair for the arts; google his song "Blue Gatorade" which features the then-teen singing and rapping on the hook. He's currently a sports broadcasting major, who transitioned from aspirations in front of the camera to production. Justin's resume includes other shorts like a highlight video for the baseball team, but he says Sam's feature was "100 percent his favorite project."

He recalls several long nights were he stayed up until 3 a.m. For him, it was more than just a class assignment; it was Sam's story, and he wanted to make sure it was told correctly for her and her mom.

"I have a love for making film and everything like that so if it's something I can get into and get more practice in that would be fun. I've also been practicing with graphic design, so I want to learn that to expand my horizon."
In the fall, Justin laces up his cleats for the Leathernecks' football program, and in the spring, you can find him somewhere in the outfield with the University's baseball team.

Honestly, is there anything he can't do?

"There's a lot of things I can't do," he laughed. "I have a lot of people who have helped me along the way. I couldn't have done this project without my instructors and a couple of people who really helped me with the software and ideas of what the story should look like. If it weren't for Sam, my classmates, and my teachers, this wouldn't happen. And if it wasn't for my teammates, family, and coaches, I couldn't get through. Things get tough, and playing two sports with school gets crazy, but I have amazing people in my life who support me."

There were 10 categories in the collegiate section, and Justin will be taking home a NATAS Mid-America Regional Student Television Award for short form, non-fiction. Student pillars will be presented to the winning schools at the 42nd Mid-America EMMY Gala on September 22 at the Kansas City Convention Center.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Justin Fitzpatrick: OF; 6' 1"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#7 Justin Fitzpatrick
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/R
: OF

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Players Mentioned

#7 Justin Fitzpatrick

Players Mentioned

#7 Justin Fitzpatrick