The 2008 Heartland Regional Emmy® Awards of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), were announced Saturday, July 19 at a gala awards dinner at the Belmar Center in Lakewood, Colorado and the OKC Marriott in Oklahoma City; the event was simulcast for the s
econd year in a row. 550 attendees from Denver and Oklahoma City participated in the distribution of over 80 awards, including some 180 statuettes.
Paul Christensen received two awards; one EMMY® in the category of Technical Achievement for his role as Technical Producer, OETA The Oklahoma Network, “Oklahoma Centennial Projects” and a second EMMY® in the 
category of Special Event Coverage as Technical Producer, OETA The Oklahoma Network, “Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular.”
Christensen, his wife Donna and an SRO crowd enjoyed the ceremonies and were able to witness the highlight of the evening – the EMMY ® Award in the category of Special Event Coverage, OETA The Oklahoma 
Network, “Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular,” which was awarded to the leadership of the highly successful Oklahoma Centennial Year Celebration final event. Those receiving the statuette were Lee Allan Smith, President, Oklahoma Events, Executive Producer; Blake Wade, Director, Oklahoma Centennial Commission, Associate Producer; Steve Dahlem , Corporate Magic, 
Creative Director; Curt Casassa, TV Director; Bill Thrash, Station Manager, OETA The Oklahoma Network, TV Producer; Price Wooldridge , Production Manager, OETA The Oklahoma Network, Production Manager; Jennifer Kiersch, Oklahoma Events, Sr. Project Coordinator; Erica Reid, Oklahoma Events, Project Coordinator; DeLee Smith, Oklahoma Events, Project Coordinator; Melinda Lovelace, Corporate Magic, Producer
and Mickie Smith, Director/Producer, OETA The Oklahoma Network, Technical Director.
In other activities, Silver Circle inductees Ernie Bjorkman, Ward Lucas, Suzanne McCarroll and James Morgese were also honored, along with two Rookie of the Year awards – one to On-Camera Michelle Rivera (Denver) and one to Behind-the-Scenes Derek Watson (Oklahoma City).
