Four films produced by the multiplatform provider of original HBCU-themed content earn honors for the premier award honoring video and television across all screens.
HBCU Week NOW Telly Awards 2026
HBCU Week NOW has won 10 Telly Awards for four original films celebrating the legacy, cultural impact, and ongoing contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Announced on May 19th, the Telly Awards are the world’s largest honor covering video and television across all screens. HBCU Week NOW’s anchor film Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect led with five Telly Awards, including four Silver awards for Biography, Documentary: Long Form, History, and Documentary categories and one People’s Telly Silver award for the Film & Shorts category.
"These honors reflect the growing national appetite for authentic storytelling centered on the HBCU experience. "HBCU Week NOW was created to ensure these stories are not limited to one month or one week each year but are part of the cultural conversation every day.“
Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect Telly Award Winner 2026
Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect premiered on PBS stations nationwide last September and traces Marshall’s journey from his birth in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1908 to his formative years at HBCUs Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law, to his groundbreaking career as a lawyer championing civil rights and dismantling segregation. Watch
Becoming Thurgood was executive produced by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson (Tell Them We Are Rising, MPT national PBS films Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom and Becoming Frederick Douglass). Three HBCU graduates worked on the film with Nelson: Mitchell, a Morgan State University alumnus, served as co-executive producer; Alexis Aggrey, a graduate of Norfolk State University, served as director and producer; and Troy Mosley, a Southern University graduate, served as supervising producer.
In addition to Becoming Thurgood, the other 2026 Telly Award winning HBCU Week NOW films are:
Artworks: Art of HBCU Art (Silver - DEI; Bronze Telly Awards 2026
• Artworks: Art of HBCU Art (Silver - DEI; Bronze - Culture & Lifestyle) Is an exploration of the artistic excellence, creativity, and cultural influence shaping the next generation of Black creative expression found across HBCU campuses throughout the DMV region, including Howard University’s Complexions dance company. Watch
State Circle Special: A Look at HBCUs in DC, Telly Awards Bronze Winner 2026
• State Circle Special: A Look at HBCUs in DC (Silver - Culture & Lifestyle; Bronze - Educational Institution) A special examining the history, evolving missions, academic innovation, and cultural impact of Washington, D.C.’s premier HBCUs. Watch
Welcome to Coppin (Silver - DEI) Telly Awards 2026
• Welcome to Coppin (Silver - DEI) Showcases HBCU Coppin State University’s transformative legacy in Baltimore and its ongoing commitment to educational access, student success, and community empowerment. Watch
The films can also be viewed here on HBCU Week NOW’s YouTube Channel.
The Telly Awards recognition continues a period of momentum for HBCU Week NOW and its expanding slate of original programming. In 2025, six HBCU Week NOW films and digital projects earned 10 Telly Awards, including 6 Days, Beyond the Barbershop, CIAA Preview, the HBCU Week NOW Original Films (YouTube) Playlist, Welcome to UMES, and Where Do We Go From Here.
HBCU-themed programming has increasingly gained national visibility across major television and digital awards platforms in recent years, underscoring growing industry recognition for stories rooted in history, culture, education, and innovation. In addition to HBCU Week NOW’s wins, other HBCU-related Telly honorees this year include WHUT (Howard University Television), which earned Gold and Silver honors.
HBCU Week NOW is a public media initiative producing films, documentaries, events, and digital content highlighting the history, culture, and achievements of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. How many Telly Awards did HBCU Week NOW win in 2026? HBCU Week NOW won 10 Telly Awards across four original productions in 2026. What is Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect? A documentary examining the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and his connection to HBCUs including Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law.
Key Facts
Key Facts
HBCU Week NOW won 10 Telly Awards in 2026.
Four original films received honors.
Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect earned five Telly Awards.
The Telly Awards recognize excellence in video and television across all screens.
HBCU Week NOW is a public media initiative produced with Maryland Public Television.
HBCU Week NOW content has generated more than 10 million impressions and reached over 50,000 subscribers.
More than 300 PBS stations have aired HBCU Week NOW programming.
About HBCU Week NOW
HBCU Week NOW is a public media partnership that offers content about the history, legacy, cultural heritage, and degree programs offered by America’s HBCUs. A collection of original long-form and short films, live events, and other HBCU-themed programming is now available on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube Channel and its companion Instagram page and website (hbcuweeknow.com). To date the platforms have exceeded 10 million impressions, and 50,000 subscribers, produced over 30 original short films and more than 250 pieces of original digital content. More than 300 PBS stations nationwide have aired HBCU Week NOW content over 7,500 times since 2024. HBCU Week NOW also produces a student film festival that awarded ten student filmmakers from HBCUs with $5,000 each for their winning short films in 2025.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide public media network and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member station serving Maryland and surrounding regions. Headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland, MPT creates and distributes educational, cultural, public affairs, and community-based programming across broadcast television, streaming platforms, and digital media. A frequent recipient of regional and national Emmy® Awards, MPT is committed to enriching lives through storytelling, education, and community engagement. The network also supports educators, parents, caregivers, and learners through initiatives including Thinkport.org and statewide outreach programming.
