Jessica Fink Blaine, of Phoenix, has been nominated for the prestigious Television Academy Foundation’s 43rd College Television Awards.

The awards recognize and reward excellence in student-produced programs from colleges nationwide. Designed to emulate the Emmy Awards, student entries are judged by Television Academy members.

Blaine has been nominated in the Animation Series category, along with classmate Abby Staker, for a piece she produced titled “The Witch’s Cat,” while attending Brigham Young University.

“The Witch’s Cat” centers on the story of a witch named Maggie whose cat named Singe gets jealous when Maggie gets engaged to her boyfriend Kelleth. Singe decides to steal the engagement ring and a major fight ensues. During the scuffle, Maggie’s wand breaks releasing a magical explosion that gives Singe special powers. Singe then turns Kelleth into a frog.

“My amazing friend writer/director Abby Staker pitched the story for the film and it had a beautiful message about setting aside your own selfish desires for someone you love,” Blaine shared in a press release. “I also wanted to work on a story about a pet and their human ever since watching Disney's ‘Feast’.”

Blaine is currently a 3D character artist based in Utah. She completed her BFA in animation at Brigham Young University in 2023. Since graduating, she has gone on to work on virtual reality projects at the studio Continuum XR, as an artist and project manager.

“Because of this project, I know so much about the entire production pipeline, as well as where character modelers and texture artists (my own emphasis) fit in,” Blaine stated. “I can confidently work in collaboration with riggers and concept artists.”

Blaine grew up in Phoenix and attended North Pointe Preparatory High School.

Winners of the 43rd College Television Awards will be announced by celebrity presenters at a ceremony on April 13 at the Television Academy’s North Hollywood Campus in California.

Visit TelevisionAcademy.com/cta/tickets to purchase tickets.

An image from “The Witch’s Cat.”

(Photo provided by Television Academy Foundation)