Alabama A&M students’ video places runner-up in nationwide Netflix challenge

A video project created by Alabama A&M students to highlight campus life was voted runner-up in Netflix’s ‘A Different World’ Challenge among entries from HBCUs across the country.

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Netflix challenges HBCUs nationwide to recreate show intro to “A Different World”

HBCU Buzz and Netflix recently partnered to celebrate the sequel series premiere of ‘A Different World,’ a show that debuted in 1987 following characters’ lives at Hillman College, a fictional HBCU.

To include communities nationwide in the sequel premiere in September, a challenge was launched for HBCU students to recreate the show’s intro sequence to showcase their unique campus experiences, traditions, cultures and friendships. Submissions were open September 14-22, 2026.

Alabama A&M students take on the challenge

A group of AAMU students representing Crew 75 (student content team) and Student Publications banded together to storyboard, film and produce a submission to the challenge.

Using the official A Different World theme song, the submission features:

• Student Publications
• President’s Office
• Bell & Spring
• Louis Crews Stadium
• Engineering + Technology Building
• Greek life
• Butch (AKA Butch-Henry)
• AAMU Sports + Marching Maroon & White

The AAMU students’ submission was selected by Netflix + HBCU Buzz as a nationwide Top 10 finalist.

After a nationwide vote, AAMU placed as runner-up. 🥳

🏆 The top three HBCUs:

• Norfolk State University
• Alabama A&M
• Xavier University of Louisiana
  

Watch AAMU: “A Different World”

Director Khari Hartman told us their video submission poses the question: “On the hill, the campus bell holds history at Alabama A&M. What happens when the bell rings after hours?”

🎥 The student production team:

• Director: Khari Hartman
• Camera: Jay Mayes
• Producer: Sanaa Reaves
• Production Assistants: Kassidy Williams, Lauryn Johnson
• Bruiser: John Bates
• Costume Supervisor: Adyson Saunders
• Script Supervisor: Leilani Whetstone
• Editor: Brayden Stone

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