National Geographic Content Announces Seven Scholarship Recipients From Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on February 28, 2023

National Geographic Content proudly names the recipients of its National Geographic Media Scholarship geared toward Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students. Now in its second year, National Geographic granted a $10,000 financial award to seven qualified students interested in factual storytelling and filmmaking careers who attend one of the following HBCUs: Texas Southern University, Grambling State University, Spelman College, Howard University, Alcorn State University and Virginia State University.

"It is a highly rewarding feeling to be able to offer this opportunity to such deserving, inspirational and dedicated individuals,� said Karen Greenfield, senior vice president, Content, Diversity and Inclusion, National Geographic Content. �We started this program granting six scholarships, and we found ourselves at a crossroad when seven finalists equally impressed us by demonstrating through their character, grades and essay they desired to be the change that the factual entertainment and natural history industry needs. We are dedicated at National Geographic to provide access and support to this generation of storytellers.�

Each recipient will enter the National Geographic Media Scholars Immersive Experience Program (NGIEP), a unique two-week immersion program at National Geographic Society�s headquarters in Washington, D.C. They will receive an executive mentor for at least six months. The immersion program�s goal is for participants to gain valuable experience learning from experts at a strong global brand and an organization with a rich history of scientific discovery, exploration and dynamic storytelling. The recipients will learn about the various lines of businesses, from traditional media to experiences that bring the National Geographic brand to consumers worldwide.

The 2023 National Geographic HBCU Media Scholarship recipients include the following:

Neema Griffin is a senior majoring in Documentary Filmmaking with a minor concentration in Creative Writing and Spanish at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Griffin�s passion for telling impactful stories lead her to documentary filmmaking. With this program, she wants to learn the process of how National Geographic provides authentic storytelling to a diverse range of people. Previously, she served as a production assistant for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and as a Summer Film Institute student for the Nate Parker Foundation.
Joshua Heron is a junior majoring in Journalism with a minor in Criminology at Howard University located in Washington D.C. His passion for storytelling and content creation sparked when a professor encouraged fellow classmates to �Create stories that make hearts beat fast.� He realized that storytelling isn�t about him but to serve the next generation. Currently, Heron serves as a writer for the New York Knicks Team and as a reporter/editor for the Howard University News Service.
Britany Hunter is a junior majoring in Mass Communications at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. With the National Geographic program, Britany seeks to create stories that will give her the opportunity to explore beyond the bayou. Currently, she serves as a public relations intern for the Grambling State University Mass Communications department, where she creates and edits videos for social media and copywrites for each post.

Previously, she worked as a writer and editor on campus for The Gramblinite newspaper and as a camera operator for the Grambling State University Television Center (GSUTV).
Amber Land is a senior majoring in Journalism from Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. Amber has a passion for storytelling and creating original content on blogs and print publications. National Geographic sparked her curiosity in middle school when she drew a bird from one of Nat Geo�s magazines. At that moment, she knew her purpose called for her to write the often-untold stories and inspire young, inquisitive minds in small towns. She is currently a Multimedia Journalist at TSU�s KTSU2 The Voice where she writes news stories on current and trending campus-related events. Previously, she worked for the Houston Press on their street team and became a Flight Attendant for United Airlines.
K�aliyah McKay is a sophomore majoring in Mass Communications at Virginia State University (VSU) in Petersburg, Virginia. McKay plans to use media and storytelling to change the perspective of historically underrepresented communities to be more positive in the media. She wants to tell stories where the spectrum of narratives expresses the full range of all human experiences.
Joy Thornton is a sophomore majoring in Mass Communications at Alcorn State University (ASU) in Lorman, Mississippi. By using her passion and skills in writing, Joy plans to find her place as a writer in the world of storytelling. Currently, she serves as a staff writer at Alcorn State University�s �The Campus Chronicle,� where she researches, edits and develops factual and entertaining stories. In 2023, Thornton became the Editor-in-Chief for �The Campus Chronicle� and has made the ASU�s President�s List for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.
Leyha Williams is a junior majoring in public relations with minor in sociology and environmental studies at Howard University in Washington, DC. Her spark for storytelling was founded on a dauntless exploration in her own community in Galveston Island, Texas. Williams uses multimedia storytelling to shift negative stereotypes portrayed in mass media platforms. Previously, she served as a social media strategist at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and as a National Newspaper Press Association Journalism Fellow at The Philadelphia Tribune. Williams was awarded the Excellence in Content Creation Award for Chevrolet�s �Discover the Unexpected� Fellowship in Summer 2022 and the Inaugural AT&T Rising Future Maker Program in Winter of 2021.

About National Geographic Content
Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and exploration. Inspiring a deeper connection to the world, the content studio reaches 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Emmy� Award-winning franchise Genius, series Life Below Zero and Secrets of the Whales, and Oscar�- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo. In 2022, National Geographic Content was awarded eight News and Documentary Emmys, in addition to Life Below Zero�s Emmy win for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program, it�s sixth Emmy overall. For more information, visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or follow Nat Geo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email!

Reginald Culpepper
President, Fulfillment and Web Services, HBCUCONNECT
Clark Atlanta University class of 1998
Member Since September 2000

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