21 November 2018 | Three professors from Keene, Texas-based Southwestern Adventist University have won Emmy Awards, television’s highest honors.

Kyle Portbury, Michael Agee and Glen Robinson won the award for their movie, “Truth.” The film won the Historic/Cultural – Program Feature/Segment in the annual Lone Star Chapter Regional Emmy Awards which was held in Houston on November 10. “Truth” was produced by Southwestern’s Institute of Christian Film.

Portbury, who served as the film’s writer/director also won an Emmy nomination for outstanding achievement in directing.

“Truth” chronicles the story of women’s rights activist and abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who was born into slavery and gained her freedom in 1827. It portrays her extemporaneous speech delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio.

Truth recruited black soldiers for the Union side during the Civil War and tried and failed to procure federal grants for former slaves.

“We are humbled to receive an Emmy Award for ‘Truth,’” said Portbury according to the Burleson Star. “Sojourner’s courage to speak up against injustice 167 years ago still resonates today. It’s sacrifices by people like Sojourner Truth that encourage us today to keep trying to do what is right, regardless of the consequences.”

Portbury’s colleague, Robinson said, “It’s a joy to work on the Institute of Christian Film projects and an honor to collaborate with the two talented professors with whom I share my department.”

Truth employs graphic novel style animation. It has been aired at film festivals around the United States as well as at the North American headquarters of the Adventist Church.

I’m very excited for what this means for our department,” said Agee. “I’m proud of the recognition for my colleagues and the hard work they’ve done.”

Southwestern Adventist University enrolls about 800 students. It is owned by the Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

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