WASHINGTON, DC — Hip Hop Caucus is proud to sponsor the Howard Thesis Showcase and presented the inaugural Dr. Myrtle Yearwood Award for Excellence in Storytelling at this year’s event. Celebrating its 5th anniversary, the showcase serves as a premier platform for emerging Black filmmakers to debut their thesis projects. This year’s recipient of the Dr. Myrtle Yearwood Award for Excellence in Storytelling Award is filmmaker Alyssa Nicholls, whose work was selected for its powerful narrative and alignment with the Hip Hop Caucus’ mission of social justice and cultural advocacy. Taking place on May 6, 2026 at the Howard Theater, the Howard Thesis Showcase is dedicated to premiering the thesis films of graduating HBCU film students to friends, family, and the greater DMV community. 

The Dr. Myrtle Yearwood Award for Excellence in Storytelling, presented by Hip Hop Caucus, seeks to recognize a film that effectively communicates a compelling and cohesive narrative while thoughtfully examining the Black experience. This award is given in memory of Dr. Myrtle Yearwood, a longtime supporter of HBCUs, especially Howard University, where Hip Hop Caucus launched its first official event and where her son, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., graduated from the Howard University School of Divinity. Dr. Yearwood was a phenomenal, brilliant, and funny storyteller, a devoted champion of her family, and unwavering in her commitment to justice.

“Dr. Myrtle Yearwood was a proud HBCU graduate who came to the U.S. from Trinidad and believed deeply in the power of storytelling to organize people, shape culture, and advance justice, and this award is a reflection of that legacy,” said Liz Havstad, Managing Director of Hip Hop Caucus. “In this inaugural award year, it feels especially meaningful to honor Alyssa Nicholls, a Trinidadian storyteller whose work embodies the depth, humanity, and cultural pride that Dr. Yearwood carried with her throughout her life. This is truly a full circle moment, one that connects heritage, purpose, and the kind of storytelling that challenges us to build a more just and equitable world.”

Given Hip Hop Caucus’ 22-year commitment to advocacy in climate, economic, democracy, and civil rights issues, the honored film must connect with at least one of these social areas. Ultimately, the film should inspire viewers to envision and strive for a more equitable future.

Learn more about the Howard Thesis Showcase and this year’s films at https://htshowcase.org/. 

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About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, Hip Hop Caucus is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, Hip Hop Caucus addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. Hip Hop Caucus programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

 

About Howard Thesis Showcase

An annual event dedicated to uplifting graduating HBCU filmmakers through premiering their

thesis films to friends, family, and the greater DMV community. Through this annual event, we aim to bridge the gap between HBCU Film students and the entertainment industry, develop their creative skills through the annual growth of HTS, and create awareness for the lack of film programs at HBCUs. The Media, Journalism, and Film Department of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University is pleased to recognize the Howard Thesis Showcase as an official Howard- supported event, presented and produced by Outta Focus Entertainment.

 

Tethered (Winning Film)

Tethered is a coming of age dramedy about the beauty of grief. For 3 years, Alex’s world stopped spinning the day her best friend Rosie died, but unbeknownst to her, she has trapped Rosie’s spirit with her grief. However, Rosie must convince Alex to get over her death in 1 night to save their fates.

 

Filmmaker Statement

While Tethered is the final piece to achieve her degree, it’s much more than just another project. This coming of age dramedy is a story she has been developing for 2 years to help cope with the loss of her Rosie–own best friend, Abigail Menjivar. Dealing with the loss of her best friend in the summer of 2023 challenged Alyssa’s emotional security, where she developed a complicated relationship with grief. With Tethered she is giving an incredibly vulnerable piece of herself in this story to not only help herself cope with her own grief, but also help others see the beauty and fragility grief can hold.

 

Director Bio

Writer/director Alyssa Nicholls is a Trinidadian undergraduate senior studying television and film at Howard University who is dedicated to sharing untold stories and experiences revolving around BIPOC, highlighting vulnerability and relatability. During her studies, she has worked on multiple graduate and undergraduate film projects in various positions, building up immense appreciation, gratitude, and experience. Now, for her final project to complete her education, she is working alongside an incredible team of filmmakers to help her own short film come to fruition.