Berea College student wins Emmy Award

A Berea College student from Whitesburg, Kentucky, won an Emmy Award during last weekend’s National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Ohio Valley Chapter Awards celebration.

Senior Sean Hall won in the “Diversity/Equity/Inclusion—Short or Long-Form Content” category for a film he assisted in producing titled “Visit Ashland—C.B. Nuckolls Community Center & Black History Museum.” It was his first-ever Emmy submission.

“It still feels pretty incredible,” Hall said of the win. “We worked really hard for it.”

The short vignette, produced by Visit Ashland and Team Kentucky, celebrates the impactful contributions of Bernice Henry and her nephew, Darrell Smith, who founded the C.B. Nuckolls Community Center & Black History Museum in Ashland, Kentucky, in 2022. The video highlights the museum’s growth through generous contributions, showcasing new exhibitions and artifacts. It serves as an invitation for viewers to engage in meaningful conversations and visit the museum to explore the rich stories of Black Appalachians.

Hall worked on the film along with former Berea College Director of Digital Storytelling Justin Skeens—founder of In Cahoots Films, LLC., and an Appalachia native—and contract producer Eric Sanders.

“I’m grateful that the NATAS recognized our efforts,” Skeens said of the award. “The stories, histories and identities of Appalachian people are often misrepresented. It’s important to me to bring these stories to a larger audience and challenge the stereotypes many of us have grown accustomed to.

“Growing up in eastern Kentucky, I wasn’t familiar with any stories of Black Appalachians; somehow, those stories just over the hills weren’t shared in my hollers,” Skeens added. “I’m still learning and listening. Appalachia has complex stories to share, and I think Bernice was the most elegant guide in this piece.”

Hall began working with Skeens during his sophomore year at Berea College. He knew of Skeens’ work and wanted to meet and learn from him. After that meeting, Hall began working with Skeens as his Berea College work assignment. As a work college, all Berea students hold a guaranteed four-year, on-campus work position, through which students gain valuable professional experience. Hall works as a multimedia storytelling associate at Berea College Student Craft.

“I can’t even put into words what working with Justin has meant to me,” Hall said. “He has been an incredible part of my life and a great mentor. I don’t know if I’d be anywhere close to where I am now without his guidance. I can’t thank Justin enough.”

“This production was essentially a crash course for Sean as an aspiring documentary filmmaker,” Skeens said of working with Hall. “There was a lot of care in photographing the story; it was a time to listen and learn. Sean experienced the full scope of producing a story that’s an invitation to dive deeper into history.”

President Cheryl Nixon also shared her pride in Hall’s achievement and its significance for Berea College.

“Sean’s Emmy win is a testament to the exceptional talent and dedication of our students,” Nixon said. “Sean embodies our students’ ability to connect hard work to creative vision and community service. His work not only highlights the rich and often underrepresented history of Black Appalachians but also embodies Berea College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. As the first interracial and coeducational college in the South, Berea has a long-standing tradition of breaking barriers and fostering inclusivity. We are incredibly proud of Sean and look forward to his continued success in the film industry.”

As he worked on the film, Hall said the experience was nothing short of incredible—not just for the film experience, but for the history lessons as well.

“Growing up in Appalachia, I feel that a lot of these stories were overlooked,” Hall said. “To have a place where Bernice is able to shed light on these stories is essential to gaining a more holistic understanding of Appalachian people and culture.”

As excited as Hall is about his Emmy, he is just as excited about bringing attention to the museum.

“More than anything, I’m happy to see people taking an interest in the museum’s contributions to the region,” Hall said. “Just in the past couple days, I’ve had so many people excited to visit the museum and to hear Appalachian stories through a new lens. Being able to provide wider access to those stories is a dream come true.”

Henry and Smith opened the C.B. Nuckolls Black History Museum in summer 2022. Henry grew up in Ashland and saw a need to bring to life the story of Black history in Appalachia.

“We are humbled and honored that (In Cahoots Films) chose our museum to be a part of their journey,” Henry said about the Emmy-winning project. “To have been chosen by these young men to use our museum in telling the story of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Appalachia is an honor. I’m overwhelmed by their award and so happy for them. They deserve it—they worked so hard on this project.

“We are also excited about the future of our museum—especially with the exposure this film and the award has the potential to bring,” Henry added. “We hope it brings many more visitors to us in Ashland. We are ready for them!”

Hall, Skeens and Sanders attended the awards ceremony in Lexington and learned of their win in real time. Hall said the wait for the category to be announced was long, and the moment it was announced was almost indescribable.

“Justin and I had discussed the possibility of winning before. I knew he had won four Emmys in the past, but it’s not an accomplishment that’s easy to fully understand or process until it happens,” Hall said. “When the category was announced and I heard our names, it was surreal. I didn’t really have words to describe what I was feeling in that moment, so, instead of a written text, all my family and friends just received a photo of me holding the trophy. No words could’ve described what I was feeling.”

Hall said his family back home in Whitesburg was particularly excited.

He texted his grandmother a picture of his Emmy, but it wasn’t until he talked to her that she truly realized what had happened.

“My friends and family were over the moon,” Hall said. “When my Gran found out, she was more excited than I was. She’s always been my biggest supporter, so we decided that the best place for this award was in her home where she raised me.”

Now, more than ever, Hall said a career in film is what he wants to pursue.

“Even though I’ve been doing documentary work for more than five years, it’s been hard not to second guess my abilities,” Hall said. “I don’t make these films for awards, but it does help me to recognize the impact these films can have and my abilities as a storyteller. It is so rewarding knowing I can carve out a career doing something I am so incredibly passionate about.”

The film “Visit Ashland—C.B. Nuckolls Community Center & Black History Museum” can be viewed on the museum’s website at http://ashlandblackhistory.com.

More information about In Cahoots Films, LLC, an Appalachian documentary production house, can be found at www.incahootsky.com or on Instagram at @incahootsky.