“Shaw Rising” Documentary Telling the Story of Shaw University Wins Telly Award
Raleigh, NC – The documentary about Shaw University, “Shaw Rising,” has been awarded a Bronze Telly Award in the documentary category. “Shaw Rising” depicts the story of Shaw’s history and the impact of the University on the course of education and social justice in the United States. The documentary follows Shaw’s journey from its founding by Dr. Henry Martin Tupper in 1865, through extremes of difficulty and success, to the triumph of surpassing 150 years as a beacon of higher education for people of color, and the inauguration of its 18th president, Dr. Paulette Dillard. (watch the full documentary below)
The Telly Awards have honored excellence in video and television for 40 years. Categories include documentaries, branded content, television shows, digital series, and virtual reality, along with new categories such as immersive & mixed reality, diversity & inclusion, and social impact. The theme for 2020 was “Telly Winners Tell Great Stories,” and the Telly judges as well as those who have viewed the documentary found “Shaw Rising” informative, moving, and inspiring.One of the most widely noted segments in “Shaw Rising” featured Shaw alumnus, Dr. David C. Forbes, Sr., a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and former dean of Shaw Divinity School. Remarking on the impact of SNCC, which he helped establish on Shaw’s campus in 1960, Forbes said, “No SNCC, no Civil Rights Act, no Voting Rights Act, no Obama. It’s just as clear as anything.”
“Shaw Rising” also featured noted authorities on African American history, the CEO of the UNCF, Dr. Michael Lomax, as well as alumnus Dr. Joseph N. Bell, Jr. chairman of Shaw University Board of Trustees, and alumnus and well-known attorney, Willie E. Gary.
UNC-TV initially broadcast the documentary on all its NC affiliate stations in February during the week of the CIAA tournament. In April, the National Alumni Association of Shaw University hosted a virtual watch party for “Shaw Rising” on YouTube that has since garnered over 3000 views and 11,000 total impressions. Alumni attending the watch party chatted online, sharing memories of homecomings, graduations, and campus life at Shaw U as they watched the story of their alma mater.
The documentary was produced by UNC-TV in partnership with Horizon Productions and Goodtree Studios. Dedicated Shaw University alumni provided the initial funding, and the project was completed through the generous support of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation.
About Shaw:
Shaw University is a private university located in vibrant downtown Raleigh, dedicated to providing every student with access to the opportunities that will lead them to a brighter future since 1865. Shaw engages each individual student through academic excellence and empowers them to make an impact in their communities and the world. Excellence. Opportunity. This is Shaw U! Learn more at www.shawu.edu