Christine Williams ('17) was thrilled -- and surprised -- when she was named runner-up in the Best College Short Films category at the Denton Black Film Festival in January.

"Honestly, I was thinking, 'Wow, people like my film!'" says the media arts major.

That film, Fostered, examines how siblings are handled in the foster care system and what happens when one ages out.

She also wrote an original song for the movie, which has been screened at film festivals in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

"It still amazes me how far Fostered has come from an idea I had to now winning runner-up," she says.

"I also thought, this is just the beginning. One day, hopefully, I'll be putting an Academy Award next to my Denton Black Film Festival award!"