Alumni Profiles
Gator grad wins top TV award
BY ROBERTA O. ROBERTS (4JM)
When Nick Nanton (JD 04) won an Emmy Award, he won more than distinction and prestige. He also won recognition for children with special needs and nonprofit organizations with financial needs of their own.
In July, Nanton and his Gator co-executive producers, Lindsay and J.W. Dicks, were nominated for an Emmy Award in the Human Interest – News section for “Jacob’s Turn.” It’s an inspirational short film documentary about Jacob Titus, a Floyds Knobs, Ind., boy with Down syndrome who loves playing T-ball and having his turn at bat, and ultimately, at life.
Nanton and co-director Amardeep Kaleka won an Emmy Award in the Director – Short Form category. Nanton and J.W. Dicks, both entertainment attorneys and founders of The Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency, a personal branding media, marketing and PR firm based in Orlando, used their positions in the media industry to help get the film off of the ground.
Nanton met Jacob’s father in an airport on a layover. After hearing about Jacob and his family’s fundraising efforts, Nanton, who is also a father, said he knew Jacob’s “story had to be told.”
The seven-minute film, which can be seen at www.jacobsturn.com, is based on an essay Jacob’s mother, Patricia Titus, wrote and submitted to the local newspaper. The film illustrates the motivational effect that 4-year-old Jacob’s perseverance had on his small community.
Through the film, Jacob’s story is being used to inspire the wider world. It has launched a campaign to benefit children who have Down syndrome and other special needs so that they too can get their “turns” at life.
Nanton said that everyone, especially Gators, can take their talents and use them to help the greater good.
“We learn how to give back at UF,” Nanton said. “There’s a lot of emphasis on community and gathering together to help others.”
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