Latest news with #StarAwards
International Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- International Business Times
America's Best Student Agency Is More Than Just a Student Agency
In a landscape where student-run agencies often serve as glorified class projects or resume-padding exercises, the University of Louisville's The Bird's Nest stands out as a national model for what experiential learning should actually look like: strategic, creative, relevant, and genuinely student-led. With real clients, real deadlines, and real stakes, this agency isn't cosplaying. It's building brands, shaping voices, and giving students the kind of portfolio experience that turns "potential" into "proven." When you're working with Alex Cooper, iconic brands like Churchill Downs and The Hollywood Reporter names you a top student run agency, you know you're on to something. The University of Louisville is punching above its weight in the birthplace of Muhammad Ali in The United States, creating a global model for jumpstarting student careers. Their work has earned them serious accolades. In 2024, The Bird's Nest won multiple honors at the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Star Awards, including Best Student-Run Campaign and Excellence in Strategic Communication. They were named Agency of the Year by the American Institute of Integrated Marketing, a major honor typically reserved for professional shops. They've also been spotlighted in PR News, Adweek EDU, and recognized at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) National Conference for their innovation in student engagement. While The Bird's Nest is raising the bar, it's part of a broader movement of exceptional student agencies. Firms like Allen Hall Advertising at the University of Oregon and PRLab at Boston University have long set strong examples of what students can accomplish with the right mix of mentorship and autonomy. But The Bird's Nest brings a distinct cultural identity, one that's fast, fearless, and deeply rooted in Gen Z storytelling. Meet What The Flock ?!: The Podcast for the Figuring-It-Out Generation While the agency has made waves with client campaigns and creative strategy, it's their original podcast What The Flock ?! that perfectly captures the voice and spirit of The Bird's Nest. Hosted by students for students, the podcast skips the performative, overly polished advice that clutters most career content and instead delivers a chaotic, vulnerable, and hilariously honest take on "making it." As Lauren Cassady, one of the creative leads behind the show, explains: "The What the Flock?! podcast came to life because, honestly, we were tired of hearing the same recycled advice about 'navigating adulthood' from people who already have their lives together. Like, cool glad your 5 AM gratitude journaling and caffeine detox set you up for success, but what about the rest of us who are just trying to figure out taxes, job offers, and whether or not we can still justify a Thirsty Thursday? We wanted something real. Something that didn't just preach career advice but actually acknowledged the chaos of early adulthood, because let's be honest, half the time, we're all just winging it. So many podcasts either lean too professional or too casual, and we wanted the best of both worlds. What the Flock?! is here to spill the tea on career moves, student expectations, and the absolute dumpster fire that is your early 20s without making you feel like you're failing at life. Think of it as your fun, honest, slightly chaotic older sisters who somehow still get their stuff done." That blend of authenticity and competence is exactly what makes The Bird's Nest so effective and so admired. It's not just a student agency. It's a cultural incubator where the next generation of marketers and communicators aren't just studying best practices. They're setting them. The Blueprint for a New Kind of Learning In a time when employers are asking for graduates with "real-world experience" but offering fewer opportunities to gain it, The Bird's Nest is filling the gap in a way that's fun, fearless, and highly effective. They're not just preparing students for the industry. They're helping reshape it. For other universities hoping to empower their students and build meaningful, professional programs, The Bird's Nest isn't just a great example. It's the blueprint. Because when students are trusted to lead, given the tools to build, and allowed a little chaos along the way, that's when the best work happens.
CNA
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Dawn Yeoh reveals her grandmother died while actress was attending this year's Star Awards
There are stars who are so professional, they don't let their personal lives get in the way of their work. When met Dawn Yeoh at the recent Star Awards, the 39-year-old was as bubbly as usual and even gamely filmed a TikTok for us. So imagine our surprise when we found out how troubled she was actually feeling that night. Yeoh recently revealed on Instagram that her grandmother had died that day. She told Chinese media 8world that she was informed about her grandmother's condition while she was at the awards show. Yeoh said she contemplated leaving the ceremony to see her Ah Ma for the last time. "In the end I decided to stay. I was hoping to bring a Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste award to the hospital for my grandma," she said. Dawn has been in the running for the award many times over her two decade-long career. This year, she was hoping her new-found popularity from playing Kang Si Li in Emerald Hill would bring her luck, but sadly, she still went home empty-handed. She also didn't get to say her final goodbye to her grandma. Yeoh said she was busy settling funeral matters but had already returned to work the past two days. She also wished to convey a message to her late grandma. "I won't get beaten down. Instead, I will get stronger with every defeat. I will keep working hard, and I hope I can 'visit' you with an award next year. Please rest well in heaven and continue to watch all my dramas. Thank you for all the love you've given me, we'll definitely meet again, Ah Ma," said the actress.
New Paper
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Chow Yun Fat returns to Star Awards after three decades
Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun Fat will be gracing the Star Awards 2025 ceremony on July 6 as an award presenter. Three decades ago, the veteran actor was a celebrity guest at the inaugural ceremony in 1994, where he presented awards to the winners of the Top 5 Most Popular Male Artistes. During the show, he noted that local actor Li Nanxing resembled him, and said: "Please don't come to Hong Kong, or else I will not be able to make movies any more." Chow, 70, has won three Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actor and two Golden Horse Awards for Best Actor. He also received the prestigious Asian Film-maker of the Year accolade at the Busan International Film Festival in 2023, in recognition of his significant contributions to the advancement of the Asian film industry and culture. Joining the A-list line-up at Star Awards 2025 is another Hong Kong thespian, Sean Lau. The 61-year-old previously attended the 2000 edition, where he read out the winners of the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes. Veteran Hong Kong actor Sean Lau is also set to make an appearance at the Star Awards 2025. PHOTO: KK EMPIRE To celebrate its 30th anniversary, 2025's theme is Walking Through Time Together, and the live show will showcase a time capsule of local entertainment history. Star Awards did not take place in 2020 and 2008. The upcoming edition is set to be its most star-studded, with more than 200 celebrities expected to attend, including Zoe Tay, Li Nanxing, Fann Wong, Chen Liping, Huang Biren, Tay Ping Hui, Rebecca Lim, Jeanette Aw, Jesseca Liu, Yvonne Lim and Sharon Au. Local singer Kit Chan will take the stage to perform a medley of songs from memorable series over the years. Most recently, the 52-year-old helmed the Mandarin ballad Echoes Of Petals, the theme song of period drama Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story (2025). Singaporean singer Kit Chan will be performing at the Star Awards. PHOTO: BANSHEE PRODUCTIONS In addition, Star Awards 2025 will see local actress Chantalle Ng making her hosting debut alongside seasoned compere Guo Liang, who will be hosting the event for the 16th time, more than anyone else to date. Ng, 30, is also up for Best Actress for her role as a para swimmer in the drama Hope Afloat (2024). She was previously nominated in the category in 2022 and 2024, but did not win. Star Awards 2025 will take place at The Theatre at Mediacorp and will air on Channel 8 and Channel U, mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel from 7 to 10pm. There will also be a red carpet pre-show from 5 to 6.30pm, which will be presented by a fashion squad consisting of Mediacorp artistes Herman Keh and Denise Camillia Tan, together with Love 972 DJ Dennis Chew and Yes 933 DJ Hazelle Teo. The Backstage Live behind-the-scenes livestream takes place from 3.30 to 10pm, and a Post-Awards Party from 10 to 10.30pm. Both will air on mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel.
New Paper
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
'I consider Chow Yun Fat more a friend than an idol': Li Nanxing
For Singaporean actor Li Nanxing, attending Star Awards 2025 on July 6 after a 10-year absence was a chance to catch up with old friends and colleagues. But the most memorable reunion came in the form of the 30th anniversary edition's special guest, Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun Fat, who was on hand to present awards - just like how he did at the inaugural ceremony in 1994. Back then, Chow famously remarked that Li resembled him, adding: "Please don't come to Hong Kong, or else I will not be able to make movies any more." At Star Awards 2025, Chow, 70, called out 60-year-old Li's name twice while onstage, when he rallied the local actors in the audience from the 1994 batch to go onstage for a wefie. Li was also the first artiste to receive a hug from Chow. Li said it was the pair's first reunion since 1994, but they did not get to chat offstage as Chow was "very busy". Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat (left) giving Singaporean actor Li Nanxing a hug during the Star Awards on July 6. PHOTO: ENTERTAINMENT - MEDIACORP/YOUTUBE Li recalled: "So many people wanted to take a photo with him, and I felt so lucky to have been called. "I have always looked up to Chow and have seen so many of his movies. In some ways, I did try to learn from him. So for him to remember me three decades later, it meant a lot to me. I consider him more a friend than an idol." Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat (in white suit, in foreground) during the Star Awards on July 6, taking a wefie with stars who attended the first edition of Star Awards in 1994. PHOTO: MEDIACORP Li was speaking to The Straits Times on July 14 at the new Jurong Point outlet of home-grown restaurant brand Nan Yang Dao, which official opens on July 25. At the event, he unveiled two limited-time collaborative dishes that feature his LNX Dried Scallop Hae Bee Hiam - Hae Bee Hiam XO Penang Char Kway Teow With Double Egg ($12.80) and Ah Ge Fried Bee Hoon With Tiger Prawns ($12.80). Li launched his hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp sambal) brand in 2021, and it was improved in 2024 with richer shrimp and scallop flavours. Ah Ge Fried Bee Hoon With Tiger Prawns. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Li also revealed more about how he plans to celebrate his 40 years in showbiz, after debuting in the 1986 Chinese-language drama Crossroads. On Nov 29, he will hold a 40th anniversary event in Shanghai, China, with an estimated 800 fans, including those from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. He also plans to join a Huangpu River Cruise to admire the nighttime scenery together with attendees of an eight-day Jiangnan Gourmet Autumn Tour, departing from Singapore on Nov 23 and organised by local tour agency SA Tours. During the event, he might shake fans' hands, sign autographs and even belt out a number or two. "It all depends on what requests they have. Maybe it is to sing some theme songs or act out certain roles? I just want to thank my fans for their support all these years. "Did you know many fans in China like Mediacorp dramas?" he shared, namedropping his period drama The Great Conspiracy (1993), which was partly filmed in the Chinese province of Shanxi and in which he played Shen Chong, a killer skilled in martial arts. Li added: "In China, old televisions series are often replayed. I was once welcomed by Chinese fans with banners saying 'Shen Chong is back', and they told me they had seen the show on television just a few years ago." "Other fans in China who watched it when it first aired are now aunties. But they bring their children and grandchildren - three generations - to see me, and it is great. They give me lots of local products, such as tea and peanuts, and I have to book a van to take all of it back to my hotel." Reflecting on his four-decade career, Li shared that there were lows, like when viewers made "hurtful" comments about him portraying villains in dramas such as Coup De Scorpion (1999). In any case, acting has taught him much about life, while allowing him space to play and experiment. He recently played a cash-strapped single father in the family drama Uniquely Ours (2024), and will return to the small screen as a disgraced doctor in dystopian thriller series The Leftovers, set to premiere in October 2026. Outside of the entertainment industry, Li remains passionate about his other businesses. He established artiste management company LNX Global in 2003, which manages actresses Constance Song and Vivian Lai, actor Shane Pow, UFM100.3 DJ Luo Kemin and actress-influencer Julie Tan. In 2021, he opened dessert shop Tian Wang, now located in Keong Saik Road, where he has been spotted playing cashier and waiter. In addition, he has collaborated with other F&B businesses over the years, such as Chinese hotpot chain Chamoon Hot Pot on a bak kut teh broth in 2024, and casual restaurant chain Yun Nans on a number of spring menu dishes in 2021. He said: "I love cooking. And food is something I feel very strongly for, especially Nanyang cuisine, which has a distinctive Singaporean flavour. I love going to other countries to spread awareness about our food. And whether it is in food, acting or life, there is still a lot more to learn, experience and enjoy."
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Li Nanxing on reuniting with Chow Yun Fat at Star Awards: ‘I consider him more a friend than an idol'
SINGAPORE – For Singaporean actor Li Nanxing, attending Star Awards 2025 on July 6 after a 10-year absence was a chance to catch up with old friends and colleagues. But the most memorable reunion came in the form of the 30th anniversary edition's special guest, Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun Fat, who was on hand to present awards – just like how he did at the inaugural ceremony in 1994. Back then, Chow famously remarked that Li resembled him, adding: 'Please don't come to Hong Kong, or else I will not be able to make movies any more.' At Star Awards 2025, Chow, 70, called out 60-year-old Li's name twice while onstage, when he rallied the local actors in the audience from the 1994 batch to go onstage for a wefie. Li was also the first artiste to receive a hug from Chow. Li said it was the pair's first reunion since 1994, but they did not get to chat offstage as Chow was 'very busy'. Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat (left) giving Singaporean actor Li Nanxing a hug during the Star Awards on July 6. PHOTO: ENTERTAINMENT – MEDIACORP/YOUTUBE Li recalled: 'So many people wanted to take a photo with him, and I felt so lucky to have been called. 'I have always looked up to Chow and have seen so many of his movies. In some ways, I did try to learn from him. So for him to remember me three decades later, it meant a lot to me. I consider him more a friend than an idol.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms, 1 lawyer over seized properties Business 'Some cannot source outside China': S'pore firms' challenges and support needed amid US tariffs Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? World Trump arms Ukraine and threatens sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil Singapore Turning tragedy into advocacy: Woman finds new purpose after paralysis Opinion Sumiko at 61: Everything goes south when you age, changing your face from a triangle to a rectangle Sport World Aquatics C'ship women's 10km open water swimming event delayed by a day due to water quality Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat (in white suit, in foreground) during the Star Awards on July 6, taking a wefie with stars who attended the first edition of Star Awards in 1994. PHOTO: MEDIACORP Li was speaking to The Straits Times on July 14 at the new Jurong Point outlet of home-grown restaurant brand Nan Yang Dao, which official opens on July 25. At the event, he unveiled two limited-time collaborative dishes that feature his LNX Dried Scallop Hae Bee Hiam – Hae Bee Hiam XO Penang Char Kway Teow With Double Egg ($12.80) and Ah Ge Fried Bee Hoon With Tiger Prawns ($12.80). Li launched his hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp sambal) brand in 2021, and it was improved in 2024 with richer shrimp and scallop flavours. Ah Ge Fried Bee Hoon With Tiger Prawns. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Li also revealed more about how he plans to celebrate his 40 years in showbiz, after debuting in the 1986 Chinese-language drama Crossroads. On Nov 29, he will hold a 40th anniversary event in Shanghai, China, with an estimated 800 fan s, including those from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. He also plans to join a Huangpu River Cruise to admire the nighttime scenery together with attendees of an eight-day Jiangnan Gourmet Autumn Tour, departing from Singapore on Nov 23 and organised by local tour agency SA Tours. During the event, he might shake fans' hands, sign autographs and even belt out a number or two. 'It all depends on what requests they have. Maybe it is to sing some theme songs or act out certain roles? I just want to thank my fans for their support all these years. 'Did you know many fans in China like Mediacorp dramas?' he shared, namedropping his period drama The Great Conspiracy (1993), which was partly filmed in the Chinese province of Shanxi and in which he played Shen Chong, a killer skilled in martial arts. Li added: 'In China, old television s series are often replayed. I was once welcomed by Chinese fans with banners saying 'Shen Chong is back', and they told me they had seen the show on television just a few years ago.' 'Other fans in China who watched it when it first aired are now aunties. But they bring their children and grandchildren – three generations – to see me, and it is great. They give me lots of local products, such as tea and peanuts, and I have to book a van to take all of it back to my hotel.' Reflecting on his four-decade career, Li shared that there were lows, like when viewers made 'hurtful' comments about him portraying villains in dramas such as Coup De Scorpion (1999). In any case, acting has taught him much about life, while allowing him space to play and experiment. He recently played a cash-strapped single father in the family drama Uniquely Ours (2024), and will return to the small screen as a disgraced doctor in dystopian thriller series The Leftovers, set to premiere in October 2026. Outside of the entertainment industry, Li remains passionate about his other businesses. He established artiste management company LNX Global in 2003, which manages actresses Constance Song and Vivian Lai, actor Shane Pow, UFM100.3 DJ Luo Kemin and actress-influencer Julie Tan. In 2021, he opened dessert shop Tian Wang, now located in Keong Saik Road, where he has been spotted playing cashier and waiter. In addition, he has collaborated with other F&B businesses over the years, such as Chinese hotpot chain Chamoon Hot Pot on a bak kut teh broth in 2024, and casual restaurant chain Yun Nans on a number of spring menu dishes in 2021. He said: 'I love cooking. And food is something I feel very strongly for, especially Nanyang cuisine, which has a distinctive Singaporean flavour. I love going to other countries to spread awareness about our food. And whether it is in food, acting or life, there is still a lot more to learn, experience and enjoy.'
