New Film Joins HBCU Week NOW’s Fall Collection Celebrating HBCU Excellence
COLUMBIA, SC, December 5, 2025, HBCU Week NOW and South Carolina ETV present Still Here, a compelling film that traces the remarkable journey of Sanford Greene from his small-town roots in Greeleyville, South Carolina, to becoming one of the comic industry’s most celebrated illustrators, and back to his alma mater, HBCU Benedict College, where he now inspires the next generation of artists. Benedict College is the only HBCU to offer comics arts instruction and has produced a graphic novel and comic book series.
A public media partnership, HBCU Week NOW showcases the under-told stories of sacrifice, courage, innovation, and hope that chronicle HBCU contributions to science, medicine, history, education, civil rights, the arts, music, sports, and more. Still Here is the latest film for HBCU Week NOW’s fall portfolio of content and is now streaming exclusively on the platform’s signature YouTube channel.
The film captures Greene’s “hero’s journey,” beginning with his childhood discovery of comics at a Kmart spinner rack and following his path through Benedict College, where he found both community and purpose. Greene has since made his mark illustrating iconic Marvel characters in Luke Cage and Black Panther comics, contributing artwork to the blockbuster film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Greene also shares the importance of creating his own stories, which resulted in co-creating the Eisner and Ringo award-winning Image Comics series Bitter Root. The comic is being adapted into a film for Legendary Entertainment, produced by Ryan Coogler and directed by Regina King.
Still Here showcases Greene’s commitment to giving back, returning to his roots at Benedict College to mentor future Benedict College changemakers. His presence embodies one of Benedict’s core values: providing access to excellent higher education while demonstrating what’s possible for aspiring artists. Benedict College is at the forefront of carving out new and innovative ways of achieving this, and with powerful and accomplished professors like Sanford Greene, future Tiger alums are sure to continue to be, as founder Bathsheba A. Benedict said, a “power for good in society.”
“Sanford is not just a smiling photo on the alumni page,” the film emphasizes. “He is here, with them”, offering students a living example of achievement and possibility.
Still Here is part of HBCU Week NOW’s fall film collection, which also includes Unity and Hope: The Pride of HBCU (WXXI), The Art of Dance: Complexions (Howard University/WHUT), Fashion Forward (PBS North Carolina), and Beyond the Movement (Spelman College/WABE Atlanta). All films are currently streaming on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel.
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About Benedict College
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 29 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. Benedict College has been highly regarded and ranked highly by several academic and traditional publications for its programs. Benedict College is the recipient of the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award,given by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building Program in celebration of an HBCU that achieved next-level performance. Benedict was also named HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest and voted the number one Gold Winner in The States’ BEST College or University in 2025.
About Sanford Greene
Sanford Greene has worked professionally in the illustration and related industries for over 18 years. Working for mainline publishers such as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image Comics. He helped reshape the Marvel Comics characters “Powerman and Iron Fist,” as well as illustration work for “Black Panther” and “Luke Cage “published by Marvel Comics. He was also the packaging illustrator on the art for the highly successful MLB: The Show for SONY PlayStation, featuring baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter. Sanford also worked on the mega successful film “Spiderman: Across The Spider-verse,” where he illustrated work for the film and for the promotions. You can see his most recent work from the 2-time Eisner and Ringo Award-winning “Bitter Root.” An action/horror fantasy set during the Harlem Renaissance, published by Image Comics. “Bitter Roots” is slated to become a film produced by Ryan Coogler, the director of the acclaimed “Black Panther” and “Sinners,” and directed by Oscar-winning Regina King. Sanford has also won the 2020 and 2021 Ringo Award for outstanding artists.
About HBCU Week NOW
HBCU Week NOWshowcases the under-told stories of sacrifice, courage, innovation, and hope that chronicle HBCU contributions to science, medicine, history, education, civil rights, the arts, music, sports, and more. The initiative is made possible through a public media partnership led by Maryland Public Television with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Partner stations include Maryland Public Television, Howard University Television, PBS North Carolina, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, WABE (Atlanta), South Carolina ETV, Alabama Public Television, and WXXI (Rochester, N.Y.).
About South Carolina ETV
South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) is the state’s public educational broadcasting network. SCETV amplifies South Carolina voices, provides educational experiences and strengthens communities, while working toward creating a stronger, more connected and informed South Carolina. In addition to airing local programs, such as The Know Show, Making It Grow, and This Week in South Carolina, SCETV also presents multiple programs to regional and national audiences, including Books By The River, After Action, Reconnecting Roots, Reel South and Southern Songwriters with Patrick Davis.