Page 44 - N.C. A&T Magazine Spring 2019

By Jordan M. Howse

On April 26, North Carolina A&T held its Devine captured national attention for her
inaugural Town & Gown event to recognize role as Lorrell, one of the three original
and celebrate the relationship between the “Dreamgirls.” She transitioned to film to
university and the surrounding Piedmont create some of her most memorable roles
Triad community. The College of Arts, in movies such as “Waiting to Exhale” and
Humanities and Social Sciences hosted “This Christmas” as well as on television on
the event. “A Different World,” “Being Mary Jane” and
“Grey’s Anatomy.”
The Town & Gown brought together 315
community leaders, friends and supporters Guy is best known for her role as Whitley
of N.C. A&T with the university for a red Gilbert on “A Different World,” but she has
carpet-worthy evening of fellowship (dinner) seen success on the big screen in Spike
and artistic performances from talented Lee’s “School Daze” and Eddie Murphy’s
A&T musicians, dancers and singers, as well “Harlem Nights.” She also has performed
as displays by student visual artists and a as a part of The Alvin Ailey Repertory
special presentation of “Ain’t Misbehavin’, Company and in Broadway hits such as the
The Fats Waller Musical Show.” “The Wiz” and “Chicago.”

“We have a well-earned reputation for Wilson, an alumnus of A&T, won the Gold
STEM education at this institution,” said Medal at the 44th Student Academy Awards
Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. at the Town for “My Nephew Emmett,” his 20-minute
& Gown dinner. “That reputation should short film based on the true story of the
not overshadow the amazing gifts of our 1955 murder of Emmett Till. Months later,
artistically inclined students in the visual and Wilson received an Oscar nomination for
performing arts department, and tonight it’s Best Live Action Short Film at the 90th
all about them.” Academy Awards.

Earlier in the day, master classes in acting, “As one of the nation’s top producers of
dancing and film directing were conducted undergraduate degrees awarded to African
by stage and screen actress Loretta Devine, Americans in visual and performing arts, N.C.
triple threat Jasmine Guy and Oscar- A&T’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social
nominated filmmaker Kevin Wilson ’11, Sciences has one of the top five theatre
respectively. programs designed for African-American
students,” Martin said. “(It also) boasts
recipients of the Irene Ryan National Action
“n.C. a&t’s College of arts, Humanities and Scholarship Competition at the Kennedy
social sciences has one of the top five Center American College Theatre Festival, Pictured clockwise from
top right: Kaetlin Sifford,
and, is home to the Mattye Reed African
theatre programs designed for african- Heritage and H. Clinton Taylor Collections. Kevin Wilson, Emmanuel
american students.” Thomas, dance master
“The university and the communities beyond class with Jasmine Guy
— CHanCellor Harold l. Martin Sr. our campus are enriched and strengthened (third row center) and
immeasurably through our many shared Loretta Devine (front)
endeavors. We are truly stronger together,
and this debut Town & Gown event
underscored that in myriad, vibrant ways.”

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