Exciting news, Prairie View Panthers. One of our very own has become a star on TV. Prairie View graduate and Sigma Tau Theta fraternity member, Lonnie Abernathy is starring in the BET reality series College Hill Interns.
Seen by millions of television viewers nationwide, the reality series is a spin off of College Hill, a reality show about black college students living on campus. BET recently held a national talent search and picked Lonnie Abernathy and nine other college students out of hundreds of applicants to record their experiences on national television.
“Lonnie Abernathy was one of my better students, he worked for me as a Hilliard Hall lab assistant and video editor, he is very dedicated to his studies and to his work, and I am very proud of his accomplishments,” Dr. Afif Arabi, professor of communications at Prairie View, said.
Brent Watson, president of Sigma Tau Theta, says, “Lonnie has always been a hard worker in whatever he does, and it is not surprising that he is as successful as he is.”
I recently had a conversation with Lonnie and this is what was discussed:
What made you interested in doing the TV project?
Actually the idea of applying for this position on the show came from another member of Sigma Tau Theta. She was applying for the show and convinced me to do the same. A lot of individuals had a role helping me obtain this goal.
Where is the show being taped?
The show was taped in Chicago.
How has attending PV helped, if any, in getting you on the show?
Well, I think that the fact I graduated from a historically black college kind of swayed their vote. I believe there were only two or three of us who went to a HBCU. Definitely if I hadn’t attended Prairie View I probably would not have chosen the communication path and who knows what I would be doing right now.
What has the experience of being on the show been like?
Well it’s still kind of early so it hasn’t really set in yet that I’m on TV, the producers told me to give it a few months and I will begin to notice a definite change, so I guess I would have to answer that question in a few months.
Have you made any new friends?
Of course! I have gained friendships with all my cast mates that I’m sure will last a lifetime.
Any romance on the set?
Yeah, there was a love connection but you have to tune in and see who it’s between.
Made any contacts that could open doors for your career in the industry?
Yea I was able to meet a lot of individuals who can help my career.
Any problem on the set?
A little bit of drama but nothing major.
What have you learned from this experience?
Always be on your toes because you never know what can happen and when your card is pulled you have to be ready to perform.
Do you have a strategy to winning on the show?
Yeah, it’s simple, out-compete everyone else.
Have you met or made friends, and /or become lovers with any celebrities?
Yeah, I have met a lot of celebrities but being from California, that’s nothing new, as far as lovers go, me and Halle Berry had a physical relationship for a bit but I had to let her go, she started to get sprung. (joking as if you didn’t know)
Do you get along with everybody on the set? Any enemies?
I was cool with everyone on the set.
What should we watch out for in the coming episodes?
A lot of partying and drama, it’s going to be crazy.
When are you coming back to PV?
I don’t know, I will try to make it back soon.
Anything else you want to say?
I just want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported me throughout this entire process, especially to the Prairie View communications department at Hilliard Hall and Sigma Tau Theta communications fraternity for presenting me with the opportunities to learn and better myself in the field of communications. Tune in every Tuesday at 10 p.m.