N.C. A&T’s Mister and Miss Make History, Represent HBCUs as 94th Academy Award Presenters

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 25, 2022) – The stars will be out Sunday, March 27, for the 94^th Academy Awards, including North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Mister and Miss – Joshua Suiter and Zaria Woodford. The leading members of the university’s royal court will take the grand stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood as award presenters.

The invitation and opportunity mark the first for any historically Black college or university (HBCU) student.

“I wanted the position of the 87th Miss North Carolina A&T State University to serve, represent, and uplift the African American, HBCU and Greensboro community. Participating in the 2022 Academy Awards is affording me the opportunity to do all three on a scale larger than I could have ever imagined,” said Woodford. “I am blessed to be participating in the occasion and intend to make my university, community and the hard-working individuals of the Oscars proud in this role.”

Woodford and Suiter, who are studying pre-law and professional theatre, respectively, spent the past week rehearsing, recording and engaging in tours and interviews, getting the full Oscars experience.

“Preparation for the Oscar’s has been a very thorough and smooth process. We start early in the morning and have been rehearsing on how to be the best trophy presenters in any given situation,” said Suiter. “There are so many moving pieces to this awards show. Everyone is working well and the professionalism is great all around the board. I’ve really enjoyed just being in the mix and behind the scenes.”

As producer of this year’s award ceremony, Will Packer, a graduate of Florida A&M University, had a goal of highlighting HBCUs at the Oscars. Inviting an HBCU king and queen as trophy presenters was a great opportunity to spotlight students and universities. Packer’s production company selected Mister and Miss N.C. A&T to be the very first HBCU king and queen to be featured.

As the students prepare to shine on stage, A&T alumnus Terrence Jenkins, known as Terrence J, will co-host the coveted red carpet show.

View the moment Woodford and Suiter were informed by Packer of their historic selection below:

Such a cool moment when they found out. The Oscars will look a little different this year 😉 See you 3/27! #Oscars #AcademyGold #AggiePride #HBCU pic.twitter.com/cfMsAgknQs

— Will Packer (@willpowerpacker) March 12, 2022