By Chris Cunningham
The Scene staff
Forest Park student Byron Keaton rubbed shoulders with the likes of Nicki Minaj and Kendrick Lamar last month after winning a trip to the BET Awards.
Most people would have been nervous, but it was no sweat for the 21-year-old theater major.
“They are human, as well,” he said, speaking of celebrities. “I feel like these are my future co-stars.”
Keaton also won a new red Ford Fusion in the contest, sponsored by Ford Motor Co.
“I was screaming, and I was dancing,” he said. “It was so crazy. I was surprised. I kind of figured it was coming because it was Ford, so by the time it came, I said to myself, ‘My God it’s here.’”
People from all over the country entered the Rolling with Ford contest, which required contestants to submit 60-second videos explaining why they should be the car company’s guest at the awards show on June 10.
People can see Keaton’s winning video on YouTube. He’s wearing a silver, sequined sport coat and hot-pink bow tie.
Keaton talks about learning to drive in a Ford Focus, having a best friend with a Ford Explorer and feeling like Ford was his “personal family brand.”
“All I do is ride around in the city with Ford,” he said.
Keaton wishes Ford a Happy 100th birthday and sings a short song about how much he loves the company.
He also described himself as a “cultural ambassador.”
“I’m hip to all the entertainment news, from Kim (Kardashian’s) pregnancy to Beyonce’s highly anticipated single,” he said.
Keaton’s prize package was valued at $35,000. Besides the car, it included air travel to Los Angeles for two people; lodging, meals and other entertainment. He took his friend, Jerrica Owens.
They stayed three days and two nights at the JW Marriott Los Angeles, attended the awards show at the Nokia Theatre, partied at VIP events and did a little sightseeing.
“It was awesome,” said Owens, 22, a Forest Park communications major who lives in South St. Louis.
Keaton is well-known on campus. He has worked in the Campus Life office and bookstore, performed an orientation skit for new students and helped with special events.
Keaton has won about a dozen awards at Forest Park. He adheres to a philosophy first voiced by U.S. industrialist Henry J. Kaiser: “When your work speaks for yourself, don’t interrupt.”
Keaton’s co-workers at Forest Park describe him as positive, enthusiastic and fun.
“He always keeps a smile on our faces,” said Owens, who worked with him on orientation skits. “Whenever we are down, he gets us up.”
At the awards show, Keaton socialized with celebrities such as Chris Brown, Bow Wow, Miguel, Master P and Big Sean. But he was most excited about meeting BET President of Programming Stephen Hill.
He appreciated the opportunity to get to know people who potentially could help him with his acting and singing career.
“They made me feel like a peer, not a VIP guest,” he said. “I felt like I could make it (in entertainment), that the industry would embrace me.”
Keaton has grand plans for the future after his education at Forest Park. He wants to be an EGOT (winner of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards).
“I want to be our generation’s Jamie Foxx or Barbra Streisand that transcends every form,” he said.
People who know Keaton well believe he will achieve great success.
“I see Byron in the future really taking off,” said Donivan Foster, student activities assistant in Campus Life. “I think everybody sees it. I see such great potential in him.”