Catching Up With Alumni During Homecoming 2019

If it reminded some in attendance of the ESPN documentary series "30 For 30" that was the idea.

Kris Kayin Bennett (Class of 2016) says that was the type of storytelling she and collaborator Dr. Justin Beaufort were going for with their 50-minute film, "The Peninsula Stories: Ralph & Sid." To view the video via Vimeo click here. 

They examine the lives of two talented Charleston athletes, Deljavon "Ralph" Simmons and Sidney Sanders, who were football and basketball stars at Burke High School 10 years ago.

After showing her work, Bennett answered questions and gave insight into the numerous interviews she and Beaufort conducted and the many, many hours she spent editing together the production (using Final Cut Pro).

Bennett, who is an on-air personality at Charleston's Z-93 radio, says she wants to do more documentaries in the future.

The next project may involve Kris' mother, Roberta. Roberta Williams (Class of 1980) is the only SC State basketball player, male or female, whose jersey (#11) is retired.

She scored some 2,000 points while leading the Lady Bulldogs to several of its best-ever seasons.

Williams is part of several state and national hall of fames and has been honored in Charleston with a key to the city and other accolades.

After her talk with students and documentary presentation, Bennett sat down with Kelechi Benet of the Communications Program for a recorded chat in the TV studio.  To view that go to the program's Facebook site and see the post on Oct. 19.

It was also great during Homecoming to catch up with 2017 graduate Ashley Simmons.

She arrived on campus in style driving a vehicle from the radio station (98.5 Kiss FM) in Myrtle Beach where she is an on-air personality.

Simmons is an example of the value of internships for students. Her internship at the station turned into a regular job, and on the radio at that!  Kudos to Ashley!

Simmons had kinds words for her past professors at SC State, including Dante Mozie.

We caught up with Mr. Mozie at the Fine Arts building where another communications alumna was presenting a very interesting exhibit and film (see below).

LaQuinda Grimes (Class of 2013) is a dance professor at Savannah State University.

At the Fine Arts center she exhibited her research on HBCU danceline style, culture and history.

She is pictured, from left, with Dante Mozie ('08), Dennis Brothers ('13), and the founder of SCSU's Communications Program, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.

Mozie and Brothers, a media specialist at Claflin University, are both in the mass communications doctorate program at the University of South Carolina.