The historic Grand Central Air Terminal in Glendale, CA—once the departure site for aviation icons like Howard Hughes and Walt Disney himself—became the launchpad for the next generation of creative pioneers at the 2025 HBCU IN LA Student Showcase on Friday, August 1.
Presented by the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP) in partnership with Disney on the Yard and Disney Future Storytellers, the event spotlighted the storytelling talent of HBCU students and alumni who are rewriting the future of the entertainment industry—one screenplay, short film, and digital media project at a time.
Since its founding, EICOP has operated as a powerful bridge between underrepresented talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and career-defining opportunities in the entertainment sector. Launched in 2017 in collaboration with then-President Obama’s White House Initiative on HBCUs, EICOP’s signature HBCU IN LA program has grown significantly in scope and impact. But it was the global disruption of COVID-19 that prompted a deeper expansion—both logistically and creatively.
“Coming out of the pandemic, we realized students needed not only access to internships, but a full-circle support system to live and thrive while in LA,” said Stacey Milner, Founder and CEO of EICOP. “That’s when we added a new dimension to the program—a public showcase. We wanted our scholars to have a moment where their stories were seen, celebrated, and professionally elevated.”
Today, the Student Showcase serves as a culminating event, giving students and alumni a platform to screen their work before an audience of industry leaders, corporate partners, and fellow creatives. This year’s lineup included standout short films and documentaries such as “The Hidden Sport” by students from Southern University, which earned an Emmy for its powerful portrayal of HBCU marching bands as a sport. Also featured were “StarChild” by Miya Scaggs, “Crooked Halo” by Ssuuna McKitty, and “Mechanical Pencil 2” by Amari Jones following the first version’s viral sensation, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at “The Last Encore”, a project by the 2025 EICOP LensOn Emerging Talent Film Fellows.
The 2025 cohort included 85 interns from 19 HBCU campuses, many of whom traveled to Los Angeles for the summer. Thanks to charitable support from The Walt Disney Company, students received paid internships, housing, and meals—critical resources that made this opportunity accessible regardless of background or zip code. Disney alone hosted 11 interns this year across ABC, ESPN, and Walt Disney Studios.
“This program is not just about internships; it’s about belonging,” said Milner, holding back tears as she addressed the audience. “When I see our students creating together, eating together, thriving together—it’s a vision realized. We’re not just training talent; we’re building community.”
The statistics affirm that impact: since its inception, the program has placed 527 cohort members, maintained an impressive 89% intern-to-hire conversion rate, and collaborated with 35 industry partners, resulting in over $3.7 million in earned wages for student participants.
Among the special guests was Avis Lewis, Vice President of Human Resources for Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Parks International, who shared her personal pride as an HBCU graduate and advocate for the program. “Some of the best-prepared, most passionate interns we see come from EICOP,” she said. “And Disney is proud to help them step into the spotlight, just as Walt Disney once stepped through the doors of this very terminal.”
EICOP’s reach now extends to New York and Atlanta, with new verticals introduced this year, including HBCU IN MLB—a new sports business internship program with Major and Minor League Baseball—and a gaming initiative supported by Activision. Each expansion underscores the nonprofit’s mission: to empower diverse student leaders with industry access, skill-building, and mentorship across entertainment, media, sports, technology, and beyond.
With gratitude to Disney and dozens of other industry partners, the 2025 Showcase didn’t just celebrate student films. It honored a growing movement—one that is actively changing the face and future of Hollywood.
As Milner reminded the crowd, “This is not a feel-good program. This is real. Our students are getting hired. They are shaping stories. They are the storytellers of tomorrow—and they are supposed to be here.”
