Benjamin Thorgeirson and fellow students captured an award for their radio campaign for AIDS Calgary. JESSICA BURTNICK PHOTO

Radio/Television broadcast student Benjamin Thorgeirson was globally recognized this past month when Radio and Television Magazine named his latest project top in the world.

The magazine receives submissions from across the planet, yet Thorgeirson and his class group’s production of a campaign for AIDS Calgary was the top public service announcement for the month of December 2011.

Thorgeirson shared the award with fellow second-year Radio students Fraser Manning, Jennifer Dalen and Teagan Monaghan.

The advertising slogan was a not-so-discreet sexual innuendo that went “Give a damn – protect your beaver,” urging listeners to always use protection.

“I was working with amazing voices and I was fortunate to have so much talent so on it. It was incredibly well-written; it is comical but not insulting, and still very informative,” he explained of his award-winning work.

Thorgeirson discovered his career path when his father decided to take his son to work for the day. His father, who works in television, allowed his curious son to freely analyze what everyone’s duties were. When Thorgeirson Jr. became enthralled with the daily tasks of the head producer, the path to an engaging and rewarding career became clear.

The producer is traditionally responsible for the majority of the behind the scenes events, such as sound, jumping to commercials, station identification, etc.

He explained that his training at SAIT has helped tremendously and that an average day for him at the institute feels more like a day at work than one of studious activities.

“We come in everyday and we are ready to work. It is just such a family atmosphere. The instructors are more like bosses,” he said.

Radio broadcast instructor Richard Stroobant said the accolades will no doubt look impressive on the young protégé’s resume.

”I think in a few years, this is someone you will see in the radio business having a bright future,” said Stroobant.

Stroobant said he was proud of his student, but emphasized the fact that his entire classroom seems to be filled with promising up and comers in the radio industry.

“You can have a really good hockey player and not win the Stanley Cup, but we have great people all over the ice,” he said.

Thorgeirson insisted he has attempted to remain humble about the award, but it hasn’t stopped him from dreaming about eventually producing an even grander production sometime in the far away future.

“Music production might be the ultimate goal. It’s highly doubtful, but if ever possible, the number one album would be something for Metallica.”