Marshonn Calvin Sr.
Pay-It-Forward Awardee

Marshonn Calvin Sr. is a distinguished media educator and industry veteran, leveraging 30-plus years of broadcasting expertise alongside over two decades of classroom leadership. As the Program Director for the Audio Video Production program and the campus news outlet, Mustang TV, at Memphis East T-STEM Academy, he has instituted a regional and nationally recognized model for Career and Technical Education (CTE). Under his direction, the program has transformed into a premier student production house, earning prestigious accolades from C-SPAN, the Telly Awards, and the NAACP ACT-SO. By synthesizing high-level technical rigor with a mission-driven philosophy, Calvin ensures that every scholar—regardless of background—is prepared to transition seamlessly into top-tier universities, the professional media workforce, or military service.
Memphis, Tennessee
May 12, 2026
Pay-It-Forward
Award
Awarded to:
SchoolSeed Foundation
Individual award recipients are not eligible for a grant, but can “pay it forward” by recommending a values-aligned organization to receive a grant. When an individual receives a “Pay It Forward” award, they are invited to recommend a grant to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in their community that is aligned with the values of the project. “Pay It Forward” recipients are typically awarded to one or several individuals for personal acts of courage












