Pursuit of Happyness Movie has JCSU Connection
|
Posted By: Jehan Bunch on December 28, 2006 The Pursuit of Happyness Movie has JCSU Connections - December 15, 2006 When moviegoers watch Actor Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith play real life father and son team Christopher Gardner and Christopher Gardner Jr. on the big screen, they may not know that there is a Charlotte connection. Christopher Gardner, whose life the film is based, served as Johnson C. Smith University’s 2003 Commencement speaker inside Cricket Arena. Gardner, president and CEO of Gardner Rich & Company, inspired graduates by telling his personal story about how he walked on a path from living in a subway restroom to becoming a millionaire. JCSU President, Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy, presented Gardner with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree for his commitment to using his life to add value to youth and communities across the country. “Persistence – it’s what’s going to separate the guy that makes it from the guy who couldn’t,” he told the students. “I had no choice. So you can stay where you are or you can choose to rise. I chose to rise.” The other Charlotte connection is that Christopher Gardner, Jr. attended JCSU for three years. The movie, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” debuted December 15, in theatres across the nation. In the movie, Gardner is a bright and talented, but marginally employed salesman, according to the movie’s official website. Struggling to make ends meet, Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, he and his son endure many hardships, including living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a better life for the two of them. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Johnson C. Smith University 30th out of the 106 colleges in the south. This was an advance in the ranking by 15 places compared to last year’s list. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Jehan Bunch From Columbus, OH Central State University class of 2005 Member Since January 2006 |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest News
 |
President Biden to Award Alabama State University Alumnus Fred Gray Presidential Medal of Freedom!By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU (Lois Russell contributed to this article)
One of Alabama State University's most iconic alumni is scheduled to receive one of the highest honors that may be bestowed upon a ...more
Reggie Culpepper • 34 Views • July 1st, 2022 |
 |
Texas Southern University's KTSU turns 50! Backyard Party celebrates half century of broadcasting excellenceMore than 1,000 people came to support TSU’s KTSU 90.9FM as it celebrated 50 years of on-air excellence with an on-campus Backyard Party on Friday, June 24.
In addition to a 50th anniversary birthd ...more
Reggie Culpepper • 25 Views • June 30th, 2022 |
 |
When Bulls Fly: Three Recent Johnson C. Smith University Grads Takeoff with Airline CareersTasia Bolling ’22 was nearing the end of senior year, and found herself connecting with the Smith Tech Innovation Center to hone her skills in hopes of finding a job after graduation.
With the help ...more
Reggie Culpepper • 29 Views • June 30th, 2022 |
 |
Fayetteville State University Chooses Apogee to Deliver Fast and Reliable Residence Hall Wi-FiWithin just a few short weeks this summer, nine student housing facilities serving 1,400 students on the campus of Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, N.C., will be fully equipped with fast ...more
Reggie Culpepper • 41 Views • June 30th, 2022 |
 |
JPMorgan Chase Commits $30 M to Support Historically Black Colleges and Universities and StudentsJPMorgan Chase recently announced an expanded five-year, $30 million commitment to the financial and career success of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Spelman Coll ...more
Kennedy Williams • 1,068 Views • June 30th, 2022 |
Popular News
