When Ashley Lovelace re-enrolled at Southern University—12 years after first stepping onto campus—she returned with more than just life experience. After taking time off to recover from illness and studying at a local university in New Jersey, Ashley came back determined to finish what she started and make a lasting impact. In 2025, she graduated with a degree in Mass Communications and, alongside her team, earned a Southeast Emmy Award for their student-produced documentary, The Hidden Sport.
While the concept and direction of the film were led by Director Loren Sullivan, Ashley served as the producer and a crucial collaborator throughout the production process. “Loren had the vision,” Ashley emphasized. “I was her right hand, making sure that vision came to life.” Writers Sydney Cuillier and Eric White, along with production assistant Verbon Muhammad Jr., made up the rest of the talented five-person crew.
The Hidden Sport shines a long-overdue spotlight on the athleticism and artistry of HBCU marching bands—challenging conventional definitions of “sport” and demanding recognition for the rigorous discipline, sacrifice, and physical demands involved. Their goal was not just to tell a story, but to shift the narrative around who gets seen as an athlete in sports media.
Ashley’s journey to the Emmy stage was not easy. As a young Black woman navigating the male-dominated space of sports media, she often found herself having to prove her worth and validate her voice. She recalls being underestimated, passed over, and even questioned about why she belonged in the sports entertainment space. “I’ve always loved the energy of sports—the competition, the emotion, the storytelling,” Ashley said. “But as a Black woman, I constantly had to fight for space at the table. That didn’t discourage me—it fueled me.”
What sets Ashley apart in the sports media world is not just her talent, but her perspective. Her ability to blend culture, emotion, and analysis positions her as a unique voice in an industry that too often overlooks narratives beyond the field or court. In The Hidden Sport, she and her team intentionally focused on HBCU band culture—an institution that demands physical rigor, discipline, and passion on par with any NCAA team. The film weaves together the past, present, and future of marching bands, highlighting the Human Jukebox at Southern University as a powerful example. “People see the halftime show, but they don’t see the 6 a.m. practices, the conditioning, the sacrifices. That’s what we wanted to show—that this is a sport in every sense of the word,” Ashley explained.
The documentary also serves as a love letter to those who laid the groundwork. During filming, the team lost two key figures in their community: Coach Sean Wallace, a respected football coach, and Caleb Wilson, a cherished band member. Their deaths made the project even more personal. Ashley said, “We weren’t just filming a story—we were preserving a legacy. Dedicating the film to them felt like the right thing to do.”
Ashley’s path back to campus and ultimately to the Emmy stage was far from easy. As a Black woman navigating the male-dominated world of sports media, she often had to prove her value. “I’ve always loved the energy of sports—the competition, the emotion, the storytelling,” she said. “But I constantly had to fight for my seat at the table. That didn’t discourage me—it fueled me.”
Her perspective, rooted in culture, emotion, and truth, sets her apart in an industry often reluctant to spotlight stories that go beyond the scoreboard. Through the documentary, the team captured not just the performances of the Human Jukebox at Southern University, but the early morning practices, the sweat, the strain, and the legacy. “People see the halftime show, but not the 6 a.m. rehearsals or the emotional toll. We wanted to show that this is a sport in every sense of the word,” Ashley explained.
The project became even more meaningful when the team lost two beloved figures in their community—Coach Sean Wallace, a respected football coach, and Caleb Wilson, a dedicated band member. “We weren’t just filming a story—we were preserving a legacy. Dedicating the film to them was deeply personal and necessary,” Ashley shared.
On May 20, 2025, the team stood together in New York City as The Hidden Sport was announced as an Emmy winner. “This award doesn’t belong to me—it belongs to us,” Ashley said. “We all put in equal work, and I’m still in awe that we get to tell our stories, our way. This is also a chance to shine a light on Southern University’s Mass Communications department—to show that our students are game changers.”
Director Loren Sullivan described the moment as “a call to action for the industry to invest in the arts and in Black creatives.” For Ashley, it affirmed her rightful place in the sports media world—not just as a participant, but as a powerful contributor to the future of the field.
Now, Ashley is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Journalism at Temple University, with plans to graduate in May 2026. Her goal is to become a sideline reporter for a major sports network, blending her storytelling expertise with her passion for sports. She also hopes to launch a mentorship program for Black women in media—offering workshops, internships, and creative support to help others confidently tell their stories.
Ashley’s Emmy win marks not the end, but the beginning of a legacy. The Hidden Sport was more than a student film—it was a cultural statement. “We don’t get told enough that what we’re doing is great,” she said. “That this is legacy work. That we are worthy of the big stage.”
And Ashley Lovelace is proving just that—with every story she tells, every door she opens, and every light she helps others shine.
Check out Ashley’s Instagram to keep up with her accomplishments and lifetime achievements: Instagram
