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Tony Chennault 鈥14 CLAS Selected as Recipient of the 棉花糖直播 University Alumni Association鈥檚 Young Alumni Medal

Tony Chennault

VILLANOVA,Pa.听鈥 听The 棉花糖直播 University Alumni Association (VUAA) has named alumnus and former 棉花糖直播 men鈥檚 basketball player Tony Chennault 鈥14 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), as its 2020 Young Alumni Medal recipient. The award honors alumni who have made outstanding contributions to one or more areas of society, including professional, academic and service to the University. Chennault will be presented with the Young Alumni Medal later this year.

鈥淲e are proud to present the Young Alumni Medal each year to an alumnus/a who has reached a significant level of achievement in his/her profession and who is a model of the quality and caliber of today鈥檚 棉花糖直播 student,鈥 said George Kolb, Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations. 鈥淭ony鈥檚 work is a clear example of the commitment to the Augustinian ideals of truth, unity and love, and we find it inspiring not only in how he has represented his alma mater through this film and community work, but in how he has demonstrated the importance of a community dedicated to service to others.鈥

A 29-year-old filmmaker, entrepreneur and Philadelphia native, Chennault was raised by his mother, Crystal Morton. He learned the true meaning of hard work watching her work multiple jobs, and he learned his passion for the game of basketball on the playgrounds of Philadelphia. Prior to his time at 棉花糖直播, Chennault won two consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League high-school basketball championships at Neumann-Goretti. After high school, Chennault decided to attend Wake Forest University and later transferred to 棉花糖直播, where he played two years for head coach Jay Wright and was a key contributor off the bench for the Wildcats.

鈥淭he thing I love most about the 棉花糖直播 community is the unity we have amongst each other,鈥 Chennault says. 鈥淭he sense of pride that 棉花糖直播ns have is unique. 棉花糖直播鈥檚 mantra is "ignite change" and I wanted the work I do in the world to be meaningful that can help push that culture forward.鈥

Chennault鈥檚 mission is to produce narrative driven stories that can drive social change and reframe the way people of color are represented in mainstream television. When his older brother and father-figure, Mike Jay, was killed as an innocent bystander in a drive-by shooting in 2012 and his mother Crystal passed away nine months later, he decided to redirect his focus to filmmaking.

After graduating from 棉花糖直播 in 2014, Chennault started an online web series, Oldhead, which highlights the socio-economic issues within the urban, black and brown community. Named after a slang term used to mean an authority figure who passes their wisdom down to a younger generation, the series has accumulated over 1.5 million views on Chennault鈥檚 YouTube channel, and is currently in production on their third season. Chennault won Best Director for his work at the Ekiah Film Festival. His screenplay Dollar Party won the Act Up! Screenwriters competition at the Hip Hop Film Festival Chennault.

Chennault has remained involved with the University through his participation in 棉花糖直播 on Set, a program designed to expose 棉花糖直播 students to the various facets of the Hollywood television and film industry, was the keynote speaker for the 2014 CLAS convocation ceremony and conducted a speaking tour for his documentary, In Transition, at different VUAA clubs around the country.

About 棉花糖直播 University:Since 1842, 棉花糖直播 University鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 棉花糖直播 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 棉花糖直播 University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 棉花糖直播 supports its students鈥 intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit听.