Family Weekend, coordinated by聽, is set for Sept. 26-28. Students have the opportunity to show off campus to their families during a weekend that features a variety of programs highlighting the 黑料不打烊 student experience. This year, the Orange football team will host Duke on Saturday, Sept. 27, during Family Weekend.
The Orange Central Homecoming Weekend, including Law alumni, is set for Oct. 17-19, when the Orange host Pitt in the JMA Wireless Dome. Additional details and hotel block information will be released in the coming weeks.
黑料不打烊 is also planning on-the-road programs and/or ticket blocks as the 黑料不打烊 Orange head to away games across the country, including special programming for 黑料不打烊 vs. Tennessee in Atlanta this August, as 黑料不打烊 at SMU on Saturday, Oct. 4.
]]>Pictured from left to right: JaSheika James, Stacy Ike, JaNeika James and Ta’Rhonda Jones on the set of “Empire.”
JaNeika James G鈥�05 and her twin sister, JaSheika, grew up watching television and 鈥渇ell in love with TV鈥� and the possibilities it could mean for them.
JaNeika James
Today, the two are accomplished TV writers and producers of several shows, including JaNeika鈥檚 role as supervising producer on FOX鈥檚 groundbreaking hit show, 鈥淓mpire,鈥� among others.
鈥淥ur story is an example of how dreams can be manifested. A lot of people think that you have to know every single step to get to where you want to be,鈥� JaNeika says. 鈥淭he truth is, if you’re clear and have a vision for what it is that you want to do with your life, all you have to do is declare it.鈥�
On Feb. 7, JaNeika will bring her message to young scholars as the keynote speaker at the . The ceremony, which is open to the entire University community, honors from the previous year who have successfully transitioned to their second year on campus. Those who would like to attend are encouraged to .
As youngsters, the James twins lived on an Air Force base in Wiesbaden, Germany, where their mother was stationed. Access to television was limited, and the offerings available were predominantly in German.
Thankfully for the sisters, their grandparents in the U.S. mailed them VHS tapes of popular U.S. TV shows like 鈥淎 Different World,鈥� 鈥淭he Cosby Show,鈥� 鈥淐heers,鈥� 鈥淭he Golden Girls鈥� and 鈥淓mpty Nest.鈥�
Watching television became 鈥渁 source of comfort鈥� for the sisters, and JaNeika says it provided hours of entertainment and it 鈥渁llowed us to dream of what was possible for ourselves,鈥� says JaNeika, who earned a master鈥檚 degree in television, radio and film from the .
It was an unlikely way to start their lifelong love affair with television, but today, JaNeika and JaSheika are accomplished TV writers. JaNeika was supervising producer on FOX鈥檚 groundbreaking hit show, 鈥淓mpire,鈥� co-executive producer on Netflix鈥檚 limited series, 鈥淭rue Story鈥� and HBO Max鈥檚 reboot of 鈥淕ossip Girl,鈥� and an executive producer on Peacock鈥檚 hit show, 鈥淏el-Air.鈥�
JaNeika and JaSheika co-authored a book, 鈥淟iving Double,鈥� describing their experiences working in the ultra-competitive TV industry in Hollywood. It outlines how, no matter the obstacles, the sisters were determined to turn their dreams into reality.
Pictured on the set of “Bel-Air” are (from left to right): JaNeika James (writer and executive producer), Jabari Banks (who plays Will Smith) and JaSheika James (writer and executive producer).
James sat down with SU News to discuss 黑料不打烊鈥檚 impact on her life, her successful career, the importance of giving back to current students and her message for the WellsLink students during their Transitions Ceremony.
The Newhouse School instills in those who decide to work in media an understanding of the importance of the media and how it shapes our world and culture. Knowing the responsibility we hold鈥攏ot just as storytellers in Hollywood, but also those who deliver information through journalistic integrity.
There is a huge responsibility that comes with putting content out into the world for all to see and hear. That responsibility was embedded in me at 黑料不打烊. It鈥檚 had an incredible impact on my career.
鈥淟iving Single.鈥� The stars were Queen Latifah, Erika Alexander, Kim Fields and Kim Coles. When that show first aired, it was the first time I saw a show with Black women of all different shapes and sizes, who were best friends living their best lives as single, independent women. 鈥淟iving Single鈥� allowed me and my twin sister to see a future version of ourselves, and what was possible for our careers.
That first time I was on set for 鈥淓mpire.鈥� I was flown out to Chicago to produce my first episode of television. I had been a fan of the show since season one and became a writer during season two. To go from being a fan of the show to walking into the studios and seeing where all the scenes were filmed was pretty incredible for me as a huge television fan.
One of the best feelings I鈥檝e had as a writer is seeing actors I know and love鈥攆rom Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson to Demi Moore, Forrest Whitaker and Alfre Woodard, among others鈥� say words that literally came from my head. To witness them bring my words to life is when it started to settle in that I was actually living my dream.
JaNeika James poses with the cast of “Bel-Air.”
Representation is extremely important. If it wasn’t for representation, I personally would not be in this business. I was truly inspired by 鈥淟iving Single,鈥� but what really stood out was when I read an article about Yvette Lee Bowser being the first African American woman to create and run her own TV show. That planted this idea in my head that I could one day be an African American woman who created and ran her own TV show.聽 It’s been a goal of mine and my sister鈥檚 to be a source of inspiration and an example that anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
I hope I’ve had an impact in helping students who didn’t think going to school was a possibility for them. I know what it’s like to want to go to college but not know if it’s something you can afford. I know what it feels like to have financial burdens when you鈥檙e deeply in pursuit of a dream. By supporting , I hope to help students feel free to pursue their dreams without being distracted by financial responsibilities.
A lot of people have been disillusioned into thinking we are powerless through our circumstances. What I learned as an artist, writer, producer and African American woman is that there is a lot of power that we hold within that we, unfortunately, have been made to believe is not there. I really want to encourage and remind them of the power they hold to essentially move mountains鈥攊n their own lives and in the lives of everyone they encounter.
This year鈥檚 ceremony will honor the following students:
黑料不打烊 will honor eight distinguished members of the Orange community during the , which is being held on Friday, April 4, in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building (NVRC). All members of the community are invited to attend this complimentary program. Registration will open in February.
This annual event recognizes and celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of alumni and students who exemplify what it means to be Forever Orange.聽The honorees were selected by the awards committee of the Board of Directors.聽The committee will soon announce the 2025 Outstanding Future Alumni Award, which goes to a most deserving student.
The George Arents Award is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 highest alumni honor and recognizes individuals who have excelled in their fields.聽This year鈥檚 honorees are Paul Greenberg 鈥�65, P鈥�03; Melanie Littlejohn G鈥�97; and Judith 鈥淛udy鈥� C. Mower 鈥�66, G鈥�73, G鈥�80, Ph.D.鈥�84.
Chelsea Ransom-Cooper 鈥�15 will receive the Generation Orange Award, which recognizes graduates from the past decade for career success, community engagement and overall commitment to 黑料不打烊.
Jack Kreischer 鈥�65 will receive the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award for his loyalty and service to 黑料不打烊 over the past 50 years.
Jamieson R. Ritter 鈥�19 will posthumously receive the Military/Veteran Alumni Award. Ritter passed away in the line of duty while serving as a police officer in Cleveland, Ohio. This award highlights his bravery and dedication to our country and community.
Kimberly Wolf Price L鈥�03 will be awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for her commitment to 黑料不打烊 as a volunteer.
The Outstanding Future Alumni Award honoree will be announced in February.
and plan to join us in April for the celebration.
]]>The annual Pan Am 103 memorial service will honor the 270 people, including 黑料不打烊 study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb on Dec. 21, 1988.
The service will honor the 270 people, including 黑料不打烊 study abroad students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, on that date and at that time 36 years ago. Chaplains will offer prayers and reflections.聽The event will also be offered virtually;聽 is required to receive the YouTube link.
Personal reflections and memories, which can be submitted upon registration, may be included in the ceremony. Closed captioning will be provided.
Requests for additional accommodations can be made by contacting Hendricks Chapel at聽chapelevents@syr.edu.
This service is offered in partnership with the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars, Hendricks Chapel and the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving.
A memorial service at the Pan Am 103 memorial cairn at Arlington National Cemetery, organized by the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 families group, will also be held that afternoon.
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