Recent Morehouse College graduate Stevie Jackson ’26 earned national recognition at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Sports Emmy Awards in New York City, receiving a Sports Emmy Award, first place honors, and a $25,000 Coca-Cola HBCU Sports Production Grant for his documentary Before the Bell.
The documentary tells the story of the Morehouse Boxing Club through the perspective of founder Jacoby Bell and members of the team, exploring how boxing became far more than a sport for young Black men on campus. Rather than focusing solely on competition, Before the Bell examines themes of mental health, discipline, brotherhood, resilience, and community.
Written, directed, shot, and edited entirely by Jackson through his creative media company AKSHN, the film reflects his commitment to cinematic storytelling centered on sports culture and community narratives. Jackson collaborated closely with members of the boxing club throughout the filmmaking process, allowing the story to emerge organically through interviews, practices, and conversations.
“After previously competing in the fellowship program, I returned with a very different creative approach,” Jackson said. “Instead of attempting to force a predetermined storyline, I spent time listening carefully to the lived experiences of Jacoby Bell and members of the Morehouse Boxing Club.”
Through that process, the documentary evolved into a deeply personal portrait of transformation and belonging, highlighting the emotional growth and support system fostered within the club.
Jackson independently led the film’s creative direction, cinematography, editing, and production coordination while working alongside fellow graduates and team members Ian Chamberlin, Makai Brown, Mateo McIntosh, and Salahuddin Saafir. Together, they were recognized at the ceremony for embodying the competition’s theme: “Excellence Beyond the Field: The Impact of Sports on HBCU Students, Campuses and Communities.”
During the Sports Emmy Awards ceremony, Jackson announced that the $25,000 production grant would serve as seed funding toward a long-term goal of helping the Morehouse Boxing Club secure a permanent practice space.The achievement also created new professional opportunities and industry connections for Jackson in sports media and broadcast storytelling, further elevating the visibility of Morehouse Boxing and emerging HBCU filmmakers on a national stage.
Through Before the Bell, Jackson not only documented the story of a growing program at Morehouse but also captured the power of storytelling to illuminate brotherhood, healing, and purpose within the Black college experience.
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Student Success