FAMU SJGC Secures Second Coca Cola HBCU Sports Production Grant
Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC) students were on hand during the 45th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards in New York City, Tuesday, May 21 to accept their prize for winning the 2024 Coca Cola HBCU Sports Production grant competition.
FAMU SJGC alumnus Jonathan David, SJGC sophomore Darnell Walker Jones, SJGC seniors Germanie Bozeman and Tristian Hutton, and criminal justice senior Jalon Howard received the award for the seven-minute documentary, “Field Trip,” a portrayal of the late Pro Football Hall of Famer and FAMU alum Ken Riley. The project was completed under the guidance of FAMU TV-20 General Manager Edward Thomas.
Howard, a Rattler wide receiver, portrayed Riley in the film, while the other students were involved in the film’s production.
The award marks the second consecutive year FAMU SJGC students have received recognition from the program.
The winning submission was noted for its creative video and essay addressing the competition’s theme, “The Past, Present and Future.” The film is a poignant portrayal of Riley and his enduring impact on the sport.
Field Trip Film Poster by Jonathan David
FAMU SJGC students were awarded a $40,000 grant during the ceremony. The contest was sponsored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and the Coca-Cola Company.
Jonathan David, “Field Trip’s” director, producer and writer, expressed his gratitude for the competition while reflecting on FAMU SJGC’s second consecutive win and lauding the dedication and talent exhibited by all the participating students.
“This grant was established to help cultivate more diversity in sports, media and journalism,” David, who graduated spring 2024.
The Coca Cola HBCU Sports Production Grant competition, a collaboration with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, was established to highlight the outstanding talents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the realm of sports media. Finalists displayed a diverse range of projects from various HBCUs. The breadth of entries, spanning from documentaries to dance narratives, further underscored the talent within the HBCU community and the multifaceted nature of sports storytelling.