Howard University Welcomes Its Newest Class of Scholars at Move-In Day
Howard University celebrates its newest distinguished class of scholars during Move-In Media Day. Here's what the milestone means for the Hilltop community.
In brief
Howard University is welcoming its newest class of distinguished scholars to the Hilltop with a Move-In Media Day celebration. The event marks the official arrival of incoming students to the historic Washington, DC campus, signaling the start of a new academic year at one of America's most storied HBCUs.
Key Takeaways
Howard University is hosting a Move-In Media Day to celebrate the arrival of its newest class of scholars.
The event spotlights the incoming student body at one of the nation's most prominent historically Black universities.
Howard's annual move-in tradition draws significant attention as a symbol of Black academic excellence in the heart of Washington, DC.
Move-In Day on the Hilltop: A Tradition of Excellence
Few moments on a college campus carry the same energy as move-in day — and at Howard University, that energy is amplified by the weight of legacy. Situated in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest DC, Howard has long served as a launchpad for generations of Black leaders, scholars, and changemakers. The arrival of each new class is not just a logistical milestone — it is a statement.
According to The Dig at Howard University, the university is formally celebrating the arrival of its newest distinguished class of scholars with a dedicated Move-In Media Day. The event brings campus life, institutional pride, and the stories of incoming students into public view, offering a glimpse at the next generation preparing to walk the same grounds as alumni including Thurgood Marshall, Kamala Harris, and Chadwick Boseman.
Why Move-In Media Day Matters Beyond the Quad
Howard's decision to mark move-in day with a media event reflects a broader institutional posture: this university understands its cultural platform. As one of the nation's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Howard occupies a unique intersection of academic rigor and cultural significance — a point the university leans into deliberately and unapologetically.
Move-In Media Day gives the incoming class a public debut, framing their arrival not merely as students checking into dorms, but as scholars stepping into a tradition. That framing matters — both for the students themselves and for the broader HBCU ecosystem, which has seen renewed national attention and philanthropic investment in recent years.
Howard University is not just a campus — it is a civic institution woven into the fabric of Washington, DC. Located minutes from Capitol Hill and anchored in a historically Black neighborhood, Howard functions as a talent pipeline, a cultural touchstone, and a political proving ground all at once. When a new class arrives on Georgia Avenue, it is not a quiet event. It is the city replenishing one of its most vital institutions. For DC's broader Black community, from Anacostia to Petworth to Columbia Heights, Howard's incoming class represents continuity, aspiration, and proof that excellence remains alive and well on the Hilltop. Follow WDCM's coverage of Howard and HBCU life at our Howard & HBCU Guide.
Looking at the Larger HBCU Moment
Howard's move-in celebration arrives at a moment when HBCUs are commanding more national attention than they have in decades. Philanthropic commitments, federal policy discussions, and a cultural renaissance driven by students and alumni have repositioned HBCUs as institutions of first choice — not fallback options. NPR's ongoing HBCU coverage and reporting from outlets like The Washington Post's education desk have tracked this shift closely. Howard sits at the center of that story, and each incoming class adds a new chapter.
Watch for coverage emerging from Move-In Media Day itself — student profiles, administrator statements, and the first looks at who makes up Howard's newest distinguished class. As the academic year gets underway on the Hilltop, WDCM will continue tracking Howard University's role at the intersection of Black excellence, DC civic life, and national HBCU momentum. Keep an eye on our The Circuit for updates as the semester begins.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Howard University Move-In Media Day? Move-In Media Day is an event at Howard University marking the official arrival of its newest class of scholars to campus, with a media component that highlights the incoming student body and the university's traditions.
Where is Howard University located? Howard University is located in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest Washington, DC, along Georgia Avenue NW.
Why is Howard University significant among HBCUs? Howard University is one of the nation's most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities, with a legacy of producing influential leaders across law, medicine, politics, arts, and public service.
What is The Dig at Howard University? The Dig at Howard University is a news publication covering campus life, events, and community news at Howard University.
Reporting drawn from: The Dig at Howard University. Washington DC Magazine provides original analysis, DC-specific context, and editorial perspective beyond the source material.This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by WDCM editorial staff. Washington DC Magazine is committed to accuracy, transparency, and editorial integrity. If you believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact editor@washingtondcmagazine.com.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
Later in life, Huang found himself working for corporations where his creativity was often limited, eventually leading to burnout. "I worked in a corporation for a long time and there were a lot of missing pieces. I wanted to fill in gaps missing in corporate video production," said Huang.
He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
