<\/p>\n
The post Howard University student lands role in \u2018A Different World\u2019 sequel series<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n A Howard University<\/a> student is stepping into the spotlight<\/a> after securing a role in the highly anticipated sequel to\u00a0A Different World<\/i><\/a>. The student\u2019s casting marks a major milestone in their rising career and adds a fresh HBCU connection to the revival of the iconic series that helped define Black television for a generation.<\/p>\n Kennedi Reece, a musical theatre major in the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts (CABCOFA), has been cast as Hazel<\/a> in the upcoming\u00a0A Different World\u00a0sequel series. Her journey to Howard is a reminder that unexpected paths can lead exactly where we\u2019re meant to be. Reece had no plans to attend Howard\u2014or even major in musical theatre. She initially intended to study psychology and had her sights set on several prominent PWIs, including the University of South Carolina, UCLA, Vanderbilt University, and New York University. But after some encouragement from her father, a Morehouse College alumnus, Reece applied to both Howard and Spelman, ultimately being accepted to both. When she was waitlisted at several of her other top choices and admitted to the University of South Carolina, she chose Howard\u2014a decision that would pave the way for her breakthrough role.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve grown up in PWIs my entire life,\u201d she began, noting how much her father loved his HBCU and the fact that her best friend and future roommate was also attending the university, per the Howard University The Dig. \u201cI was like, \u2018you know what, let me go to Howard. Let me be around people who look like me; I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be good.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Many notable actors are alumni of Howard University, which means opportunities in the entertainment industry are often within reach for current students. In April, students received an email announcing that legendary actress and producer Debbie Allen\u2014herself a Howard alumna\u2014would be returning to campus to film an untitled HBCU project. Applicants were required to submit an acting reel, but Reece, still new to the world of acting, didn\u2019t yet have one. After assembling a reel from the few projects she had completed, she secured an audition with Allen and showrunner Felicia Pride. Reece later flew to Los Angeles for a chemistry read for the role of Hazel, and just a few weeks afterward, she officially booked the part.<\/p>\n The series filmed its pilot episode over the summer, giving Reece a unique opportunity to compare her real-life HBCU experience with the world portrayed on screen. And despite the show being set at an HBCU, Reece stands out as the only cast member who currently attends\u2014or has ever attended\u2014one.<\/p>\n \u201cI think some of them have gone to Homecoming, but nobody really understood it like I understood it,\u201d she said. \u201cI was explaining what the Royal Court was and just all the different aspects of what Howard has to offer, so my castmates could get some more context into their characters and what it\u2019s like to be at an HBCU. It\u2019s just really interesting\u2014yes, I\u2019m playing a character, but also, I relate to that character so much because I am a college student at an HBCU.\u201d<\/p>\n A Different World<\/i>\u00a0was a popular NBC sitcom that ran for six seasons from 1987 to 1993. The original series followed the lives of students at Hillman College, a fictional HBCU in Virginia. Initially conceived as a spin-off of\u00a0The Cosby Show<\/i>, the series centered on Lisa Bonet\u2019s character, Denise Huxtable, as she adjusted to life at Hillman. After Bonet\u2019s departure following the first season, the show broadened its focus, highlighting a wider cast of characters and offering a richer, more nuanced portrayal of the HBCU experience. Over time,\u00a0A Different World\u00a0<\/i>became a cultural touchstone within the Black community, inspiring generations of students to pursue higher education at HBCUs. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment at HBCUs rose by 26% between 1976 and 1994\u2014much of that growth reportedly occurring during the show\u2019s original run.<\/p>\n People often say that \u201cif you stay ready, you won\u2019t have to get ready,\u201d but that isn\u2019t always the case. Sometimes, figuring things out as you go can lead you exactly where you\u2019re meant to be. The A Different World reboot marked Reece\u2019s first major audition, and despite her limited experience, she secured the role. In an interview with The Dig, she emphasized the importance of not allowing fear to hold you back, reminding others that no matter how challenging the journey may feel, what is meant for you will always find its way to you.<\/p>\n \u201cYour journey is your own journey,\u201d she said, stating that a \u2018no\u2019 just means there\u2019s another opportunity out there for you.<\/p>\n Related: Jackson State head coach T.C. Taylor reacts to Shedeur Sanders\u2019 Browns debut<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n