Robbinsville High School alumnus Nathan Oliva has been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 45th College Television Awards, earning national recognition for his short documentary Cornellskop: Freedom From Fear.
Winners will be announced March 28 at a red carpet awards ceremony hosted by television stars at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California.
The annual College Television Awards recognize excellence in student-produced programs from colleges and universities nationwide and are regarded as one of the most prestigious stepping stones for emerging television and media professionals.
Cornellskop: Freedom From Fear is a nonfiction documentary centered on Luke Cornell, who cares for rescued wildlife at a sanctuary in South Africa where lions and other animals, once destined for slaughter, are given a second chance at life.
The film confronts the realities of poaching and captive wildlife exploitation while exploring the emotional bond between Cornell and the animals he protects.
Through intimate interviews, the documentary examines Cornell’s personal journey and the emotional and physical toll of protecting wildlife in a region shaped by illegal hunting and exploitation.
“I was introduced to the Cornellskop Animal Sanctuary while working as an intern with Moonsport TV during the summer of 2024,” Oliva said. “During my tour of the sanctuary, I was instantly in awe not only of the wildlife I saw, but of the deep, familial connection they all had with Luke Cornell.”
“I watched him walk side by side with his lion pride, completely at ease among them,” he said. “As we continued through the farm, Luke shared stories about how the sanctuary was founded and the current state of hunting across South Africa.”
“With his powerful presence and his unmistakable love for the animals he protects, I knew immediately that Luke would be a remarkable subject for the documentary,” Oliva said.
Oliva, a Robbinsville native, produced the film as his senior thesis while studying film at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Since its completion, Cornellskop: Freedom From Fear has already gained traction on the film festival circuit, earning Best Documentary Short Film honors at the Hamilton NY International Film Festival.
The documentary has also screened at the NYC Short Doc Festival, the South Africa Indie Film Festival, and the 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
Open to undergraduate and graduate students, the College Television Awards emulate the Emmy Awards selection process, with entries judged by Television Academy members based on industry standards of excellence, imagination and innovation.
Nominees were selected from more than 185 entries submitted by colleges nationwide.
In addition to the awards ceremony, nominees will participate in two days of professional development events with media and industry leaders, along with a special screening of their projects for Television Academy members.
“It feels incredibly motivating knowing that members of the Television Academy viewed my work and chose it for a nomination,” Oliva said.
“So much of this project was built from pure passion, long hours and a belief in the story I wanted to tell,” he said. “To see that effort recognized by people whose work I’ve admired for years shows me what I’m capable of achieving on my own.”
“But more than that, this recognition feels like the beginning of a meaningful relationship with the Academy and the broader creative community it represents,” Oliva said.
“It makes me excited for the future because it tells me that the work I care deeply about resonates with others, too,” he said.
“With this support and visibility, I feel energized to take on new challenges, push myself further and continue creating projects that matter,” Oliva said.
Oliva graduated in 2025 from the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he majored in film.
Robbinsville native Nathan Oliva created the documentary short ‘Cornellskop: Freedom from Fear’ for his senior thesis at the Savannah College of Art and Design.,
