Channing Tatum returned to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Thursday to announce the winners of the “Team Oscar” college search he announced with this year’s Oscar host in November.
Zaineb Abdul-Nabi (University of Michigan), Tayo Amos (Stanford University), Nathan Flanagan-Frankl (Chapman University), Jeanpaul Isaacs (Rutgers University), Bryson Kemp (Muhlenberg College) and Mackenna Millet (Pepperdine University) have been chosen to deliver Oscar statuettes to celebrity presenters at the Academy Awards airing live on ABC on March 2.
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In addition to their appearance on the Oscars, the students will be treated to a week of industry experiences including a visit to the Academy’s Margaret Herrick Library to see its renowned collections; studio tours; and meet and greets with filmmakers at Oscar Week events.
The “Team Oscar” contest required U.S. college students to submit a creative short video explaining how they will contribute to the future of movies and answer a brief essay question on a similar topic. Winners were selected by Tatum, the Academy, and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
“I feel like like it was a really great idea that Craig and Neal had. They didn’t want anybody on stage that didn’t have a real investment in the future of film,” Tatum told DeGeneres in an interview (above). “Having my first experience like it was, I would have given anything. If I don’t get invited back next year, I’m hoping that I’m allowed to enter this contest.”
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Tatum’s first trip to the Oscars was last year when he was chosen to dance with Charlize Theron in host Seth MacFarlane’s opening number.
“I couldn’t have drawn a better dream,” Tatum told DeGeneres. “To get to go to the Oscars is one thing. To get to perform, and then actually be the opening performance of it, with Charlize Theron. It was, by far, the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever done in my life.”