HBCU Buzz and Netflix Invite HBCU Students to Reimagine the Iconic Opening Sequence

HBCU Buzz and Netflix are inviting HBCU students across the country to bring their campus creativity, culture and school pride to the A Different World Challenge.

Inspired by the iconic opening sequence from A Different World, the challenge asks teams of currently enrolled HBCU students to create an original, campus-specific opening sequence using the official A Different World theme song.

Imagine A Different World taking place at your HBCU today. Who would we meet? What landmarks would we see? Which traditions would come to life? How would your band, dancers, drum majors, cheerleaders, Greeks, student leaders and campus organizations represent your world?

This is your opportunity to show the people, places, traditions and energy that make your HBCU unlike anywhere else.

Use the official theme song. Reimagine the intro. Show us your world.

What Is the “A Different World Challenge”?

The A Different World Challenge is a celebration of HBCU creativity, collaboration, performance and school pride.

Participating teams will produce an original 45- to 60-second video that reimagines the opening credits of A Different World through the lens of their campus. The final submission should feel like the opening of a television series—not simply a general campus montage or promotional video.

Teams may reinterpret the choreography, fashion, characters, title cards, locations and visual storytelling to reflect their school. Videos should feel fresh, contemporary and unmistakably connected to the HBCU being represented.

Important Dates

• September 14, 2026: Challenge launches and submissions open
• September 20, 2026: Video submissions close
• September 21, 2026: Finalists are announced and public voting opens
• September 30, 2026: Public voting closes
• October 1, 2026: Winning school is announced

All entries must be completed and received by the submission deadline to be considered.

Who Can Enter?

To participate in the A Different World Challenge:

• Participants must form a team of currently enrolled students attending an eligible accredited HBCU.
• Every team member must attend the same HBCU.
• Each participant must be at least 18 years old at the time of entry.
• Individual submissions will not be accepted.
• Multiple teams from the same HBCU may enter.
• Each team must select one team captain to complete the official entry form and serve as the primary point of contact.
• Faculty, staff, alumni and community members may provide support where permitted, but the featured performers and primary creators must be currently enrolled students.

Build Your Team

Teams are encouraged to bring together students from different parts of campus. Your team may include:

• Marching-band members and drum majors
• Auxiliary units, dancers and majorettes
• Cheerleaders and step teams
• Student Government Association representatives
• Greek-letter organizations
• Campus performance groups
• Student-athletes
• Student actors, vocalists and musicians
• Filmmakers, editors and content creators
• Fashion and costume designers
• Members of other recognized student organizations

Teams do not need to include every category listed above. The goal is to assemble a creative group that authentically represents the spirit of your HBCU.

What Should You Create?

Each team must create one original video that reimagines the A Different World opening credits for its campus.

Your video must:

• Be between 45 and 60 seconds long.
• Be filmed primarily on the HBCU campus represented by the team.
• Feature multiple currently enrolled students.
• Clearly identify the HBCU being represented.
• Use the official A Different World theme song exactly as provided.
• Highlight recognizable elements of the school’s culture, traditions, community or student experience.
• Be created specifically for the A Different World Challenge.
• Be appropriate for a broad public audience.
• Comply with applicable campus policies and laws.
• Be accessible through a public or campaign-approved submission link.

Teams may create original campus “characters,” showcase campus organizations, incorporate school colors and feature recognizable buildings, locations or traditions.

Student-created costumes, props, graphics, choreography and visual effects may be used as long as they are original or properly authorized.

Official Theme-Song Guidelines

Teams must use the approved official A Different World theme song exactly as provided.

Participants may not:

• Rerecord the song with new vocals.
• Rearrange the song for a marching band or other instruments.
• Remix or sample the song.
• Add drumline, beats or other musical elements.
• Replace the song with original music.
• Combine the song with another song, sample, beat or recording.
• Edit the song beyond the campaign’s approved timing instructions.
• Adapt, rewrite or replace the lyrics.

Download and follow the official theme-song instructions here:

Additional copyrighted songs, samples, recordings, footage, photographs, logos or other third-party materials may not be included unless the team has received the necessary written permission.

How to Enter

To complete an official entry:

1. Assemble a team of currently enrolled students from the same HBCU.
2. Select one team captain.
3. Complete the official A Different World Challenge entry form.
4. Download and use the approved official theme song.
5. Create your 45- to 60-second campus-inspired opening sequence.
6. Upload or post the completed video according to the instructions provided on the entry form.
7. Include the required hashtags, account tags, school name and caption language.
8. Submit all required information and materials by September 20, 2026.

An entry is not complete until the organizers have received all required information and materials.

Suggested Submission Caption

Welcome to our world.

We’re representing [HBCU NAME] in the A Different World Challenge with our own campus-inspired opening sequence using the official A Different World theme song.

[Add one or two sentences describing your team and creative concept.]

#ADifferentWorldChallenge #ADifferentWorldNetflix #[SchoolHashtag]

@HBCUBuzz @Netflix

Prohibited Content

Submissions cannot contain:

• Profanity, nudity or sexually explicit material
• Discriminatory, hateful, threatening or harassing content
• Hazing or the promotion of hazing
• Dangerous conduct or illegal activity
• Weapons or realistic depictions of violence
• Alcohol, tobacco, vaping products or illegal drugs
• Unauthorized commercial logos or brand promotions
• Copyrighted music or media that has not been approved
• Content that violates campus rules or places students, spectators or property at risk

The campaign organizers reserve the right to reject any submission determined to be inappropriate, unsafe, unauthorized or inconsistent with the purpose of the challenge.

Finalist Selection

Eligible finalists will be selected from qualifying entries and announced on September 21, 2026.

Finalist teams may be required to:

• Confirm the eligibility of all team members.
• Provide proof of current student enrollment.
• Submit participant releases and campus filming approvals.
• Provide an original, high-resolution version of the video.
• Make requested technical or compliance edits.
• Remove unauthorized music, logos, individuals or other materials.
• Participate in campaign-related interviews or promotional content.
• Provide additional materials by the communicated finalist deadline.

If a finalist does not respond, cannot verify eligibility or fails to provide the requested materials, the team may be disqualified and replaced.

Multiple teams from the same HBCU may enter, and more than one team from the same institution may be selected as a finalist.

Public Voting

Approved finalist videos may be featured on the official challenge platform for public voting from September 21 through September 30, 2026.

Any voting limits established by the platform will apply. Purchased votes, bots, automated voting, fake accounts, vote exchanges and other attempts to manipulate voting are prohibited.

Suspicious or fraudulent votes may be removed, and teams connected to deliberate vote manipulation may be disqualified. Social-media likes, views, comments and shares will not count as official votes unless expressly stated.

The final selection method and complete voting instructions will be shared when the finalists are announced.

Show Us Your World

Bring your campus together and create an opening sequence that captures what makes your HBCU special. This is your chance to celebrate your school’s people, traditions, creativity and unmistakable energy on a national stage.

Submissions open September 14 and close September 20, 2026.

Use the official theme song. Reimagine the intro. Show us your world.