Braedan Lukens

Nine Delaware State University students have been selected for an 8-10 week paid immersive internship program in Los Angeles.

In 2017, the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP), partnered with the White House Initiative on Historically Black College and Universities to launch the HBCU in LA program.

HBCU in LA is a highly competitive, immersive paid internship program that is open to students from multiple majors such as TV/Film, Marketing/PR, Accounting, and Animation & Digital Content Creation. The program provides opportunity for students that are usually underrepresented to meet with partnered companies who offer internships like, Activision, Warner Bros., and A24.

“I think it is a big deal, especially for seniors, to get out there and showcase themselves to these different companies to secure a job and still find passion within the things they love, I think it is the best of both worlds,” says Candice Powell, a DSU student finalist for HBCU in LA.

As all Mass Communications students know, connections are key to make it in the industry. Thanks to Dr. Ava Perrine, by establishing a connection with the founder of HBCU in LA, Stacy Milner, prior and throughout COVID via email, Delaware State University students were more informed on this amazing opportunity.

According to Stacy Milner at a visit to Bowie State University, since the start of the program in 2017 with only 24 student finalists, “Our internship program has experienced phenomenal growth,” said Stacy Milner, founder of HBCU LA. “In the past five years there have been over 12,500 students to apply to the HBCU LA program, over 50 HBCUs are now participating, and 90 percent of students who are eligible for full time employment after graduating are securing positions in the industry,”

The program’s sole purpose according to the EIPOC, “focuses on educating, developing, training, and placing students in internships with major studios, networks, talent agencies and production companies. It serves as an innovative pipeline to provide access and opportunity to student groups who have traditionally been underrepresented.”

Congratulations to the nineDelaware State University students that were chosen for HBCU in LA; Candice Powell, Sydney Anderson, William Akin, Nyla Branham, Gwenna Gentile, Amadou Sow, Sherman Gay, Tamon Frisby, and Christina Spraggins.