Hartford International University Documentary Filmmaker Earns Award for Feature on Yale's First Muslim Chaplin

Hartford International University of Religion and Peace has produced its first documentary, which focuses on the life and career of Islamic Chaplaincy alum Imam Chaplain Omer Bajwa '10. Bajwa was the first Muslim chaplain at Yale University, starting in 2008. He serves as Director of Muslim Life in the Chaplain’s Office at Yale and has been engaged in religious service, inter-religious engagement and educational outreach since 2000.

Viewers of the documentary will learn about Bajwa, chaplaincy, and his message of hope. The 16-minute film has been recognized at the Platinum level in the 2023 Viddy Awards, an international competition recognizing achievement in video and digital production skills.

Chief Creative Officer Steven Havira began interviewing and filming Bajwa in the summer of 2022 and gradually completed the documentary over the next year. The documentary premiered in October as HIU's communications team launched a new initiative called "1834." That initiative will bridge all areas of HIU's marketing and communications efforts to produce high-quality media advancing our reach technologically, narratively, and sustainably, according to HIU officials.

Bajwa is seen as a mentor and role model for chaplains of all faiths. He mentors contemporary Muslims on exploring their intellectual and spiritual lives in today’s world, according to his Yale website biography. He earned his Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary (now HIU), has an MA in Near Eastern Studies and an MS in Communication from Cornell University, and a BA from Binghamton University.

He also co-edited the book Mantle of Mercy: Islamic Chaplaincy in North America, which includes essays from many different chaplains educated at HIU since it started the first Islamic Chaplaincy program in the nation in 2001.

"I'm grateful to be recognized by the Viddy Awards," Havira said. "Omer's story, central to our 1834 initiative, holds great importance and relevance in today's media and cultural landscape.  I hope viewers see themselves in his story and can relate to his outlook, contributions and hopeful vision for the future."

The goal of the Viddy Awards, first presented in 1994, is to identify and recognize the video artisans who excel in the scope of their own environment, according to the sponsors of the awards.  Winners range from network news operations to local cable access, from large production companies to freelancers, and from international advertising agencies to student producers.

The Platinum Award is “given to those projects that the judges deem are written, produced, shot and/or edited in an exceptional manner.” The Viddy Awards program is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

HIU Director of Communications Susan Schoenberger said Omer's story shows the deep, resonant impact of an HIU education.

"It's remarkable to watch how Omer found his way to HIU and how his interreligious experience here now echoes through the community at Yale," she said. "We're so proud of what Steve has accomplished in sharing Omer's story and how it stands up against the work of much bigger institutions."