“Madea Comes to Grambling” was the theme for the screening party held in the Black and Gold Room on the campus of Grambling State University.Students were served pizza, popcorn and drinks as they viewed Tyler Perry’s popular and high-grossing movie Madea Goes to Jail and participated in a contest.
After the viewing students were given Madea t-shirts and posters.
David Ponton, the director of the Favrot Student Union Board (FSUB), said, “I set it up and talked with representatives when they came. Also, I advertised it to make sure that students came out.”
Representative Andrea Johnson said GSU was chosen Perry’s fan base is primarily composed of young African Americans. She said Perry wants to show his appreciation for his fans making him a success.
She said the focus of the contest was to show the family dynamics of the school via photos. Bow Wow will judge submitted photos and announce the winner on Twitter. The winner will receive $1,500.
Johnson said she thought GSU’s party was great and showed what the school’s motto – “where everybody is somebody” – means. She said, “It seemed like the staff knew the students and looked out for them. They seem to care. It makes me wish I had gone to school down South.”
Kedrick “KK” Smith dressed up like Madea for the party because he wanted to do something outside of the box.
“Many people miss out on opportunities because they do not take risks. If you want something badly enough, you have to go above and beyond,” he said.
Smith was recently voted Most Popular Sophomore during GSU’s Grammy Awards program. He said that he will make his mark at GSU and serve as inspiration for others.
Johnson said that Smith has talent, and with the right people he can go far. Some of the photos she liked best were the ones with three females posed as Charlie Angels and the group shots with Smith in the middle.
Ponton thought the party was great advertisement for Perry’s new movie. He said that he believes more people from GSU will go see the movie on the twenty-second when it comes out. He thought the party was well attended and the students enjoyed it, which was the most important thing to him.
“KK showed how students at GSU interact with different people. This really shows how we are really involved with our school and represent our school,” he said.
“It was a lot of Madea spirit out. KK won a $100 gift certificate.