By: Dr. Andrew Yox, Honors Director
A graduate of Mount Vernon High School, Jalyn English had no sooner signed on the dotted line to become an honors scholar at NTCC last May when he received a phone call. Would he like to come on a trip to Austin to research one Adina De Zavala?
Before he knew it, he was scribbling notes about one Texas Governor Lanham, originally from Red River County, who in 1903 had acceded to Adina De Zavala’s wish that the state purchase land around the Alamo Chapel.
A computer science major, English was selected by the De Zavala film director, Jacob Lambie, to be the film’s producer. In Jefferson last summer, English acted the part of Lanham, downloaded hours of scenes on to his new Dell laptop, and enjoyed the “German pancakes at the Oak Creek Manor.”
He not only continued working on the film during the fall semester, but was promoted to Presidential Scholar by the NTCC Honors Committee in December. He received the second highest average in Honors Biology, and wowed his Texas history instructor with his fast-fidelity recall during discussions.
On 1 November he presented his Adina De Zavala trailer to the Webb Society of Texas near San Felipe. On 18 December he talked about the film on K-Lake Radio.
During the Christmas break, he continued working on the film. For the first time at NTCC, local composer, Kenny Goodson, and fellow Presidential Scholar, Sam Griffin agreed to provide a musical score for a film script. English worked relentlessly to coordinate the different parts of the film’s tapestry.
This Saturday, 25 January, English will make what will probably be the first of several shorter presentations of the film story, showing only certain segments. He will speak after a dinner at the Alamo Mission Museum to the friends of this Franklin County institution.
English’s film, Starlight: Adina De Zavala and the Making of a Patriotic Supersite,is now complete, and will be premiered this Friday, 21 February at 7 PM at the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts at the campus of NTCC. This will be the eighth premiere in as many years of a Texas history film by the students of NTCC’s Honors Northeast, and the Webb Society. The premiere on 21 February is free, and the public is invited. Free refreshments, and a brief panel discussion led by the scholars of Honors Northeast, including Jalyn English will follow the film’s first full showing on the 21st.
Jalyn is the son of Quincy and LaTrisha English of Bogata, Texas.
