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Academy Award Winner To Speak At Northampton County Community College Commencement

Academy Award Winner to Speak at Commencement

January 20, 2011

Roger Ross Williams, the recipient of the 2010 Academy Award for best short documentary, will be the winter commencement speaker at Northampton Community College (NCC), on Saturday, January 29 at 11:00 a.m., in the Spartan Center, Main Campus, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township. 

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Williams, a 1983 graduate of NCC, continued his education at New York University, earning a bachelor's degree in journalism and politics. He began his career in the news business, producing segments for "The Today Show," "Nightly News" and "MSNBC," and has gone on to produce and direct numerous television specials on arts and culture for PBS, The Sundance Channel, Showtime and ABC Entertainment, including Barbara Walters specials. 

The film for which Williams won an Oscar is Music By Prudence, the story of Prudence Mabhena, a Zimbabwean, singer-songwriter with physical disabilities, who has struggled to overcome poverty and discrimination.  The documentary was shown at NCC last spring, introduced by Williams and Mabhena.  Music By Prudence is now available on DVD and includes an hour of extras, including a live concert and commentary by Williams and Mabhena.

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Currently Williams has several projects in development, including a feature narrative film on an African American Baptist church.  

For more information call 610-861-5300.

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