The Tampa Bay Times did this article on how students at the University of South Florida decided to bring Viola to their campus to speak to their students

TAMPA Six minutes was all it took for University of South Florida staffers to realize they were going to need a bigger building.

They had announced that Academy Award-winner Viola Davis would deliver a free lecture on campus on April 4, during its annual USF Week. As soon as a link for tickets went live, students snapped them up.

Behind the scenes, USF officials conferred. The university has hosted big speakers before, but this demand blew past their expectations.

Each year, students on the University Lecture Series board decide how they want to use student funds to bring speakers to campus, hitting the sweet spot of entertaining and educational.

Viola Davis was the dream speaker on students lists this year, even before she won an Oscar for her role in Fences and delivered a rousing acceptance speech.

The students truly wanted her, said Monica L. Miranda, who works with the student committee as director of the Center for Student Involvement. They didnt want her because she was an Academy Award winner. That was a bonus to them.

Booking the star of The Help, Doubt and ABCs How to Get Away with Murder cost $70,000, pre-Oscar.

Organizers thought that 900 seats in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom and 700 seats to watch the live stream would do just fine, but students quickly proved them wrong. Soon they announced a move to the Sun Dome, where members of the public will be able to get in, too. (Its first-come, first-served, so dont dally.)

Davis is expected to speak about her personal and professional life, from childhood poverty to battling the biases of Hollywood.

Despite Davis price tag, USF officials said her lecture didnt cut too deeply into their budget for other speakers. This year, theyve brought in a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, a deaf activist who competed on Dancing with the Stars and What Would You Do? host John Quinones, among others.

Our mission is to get as diversified a lineup as possible to be the most educational, said Marion Huntley, a USF program director.

A few years ago, the Times took a behind-the-scenes look at how students choose the years speakers.

The right choice is listening to the students, Huntley said. As long as were listening to what the students want, were making the right decision.

Doors open at 7:45 p.m. For more information, check out USFs site.

People.com shares how excited she was when anyone congratulated her on her win!

Sunday was a big night for Viola Davis.

The 50-year-old made history at Sundays 67th Emmy Awards by becoming the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. But amid the barrage of praises and well-wishes following her historic win, kudos from a certain newly-single actor seemed to stand out from the rest.

Jon Hamm! Davis told PEOPLE in the Emmys press room about the Mad Men star congratulating her after her win. Hes pretty handsome.

She said that her husband congratulated her too, before adding, Im excited when anyone congratulates me.

You guys have to realize, Ive been in this business 35 years, and 27 years professionally Im just excited to be part of the conversation. Ive seen the unemployment line a lot, man.

Now, to celebrate, Davis said she has two things on her mind: calling her daughter and eating.

Bread. Desert, she told reporters before adding: You know, if you eat bread in Hollywood youre subversive.

The actress won the Emmy for her portrayal of Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder. She delivered an emotional acceptance speech, highlighting the struggles black actresses face. She thanked other actresses of color including Kerry Washington, Halle Berry, Gabrielle Union, Meagan Good and Taraji P. Henson, who was nominated for the same award.

But The Help actress had more to say about Henson off the stage:

Taraji P. Henson, and its very, very, very rare to find this in the business. She is the most supportive actress you can possibly imagine, supportive in ways you cant even begin to understand, and is genuine.

Ive been in this business close to 30 years, and I would put her at the top of this list in terms of support, Davis continued. We just whispered to each other, whoever gets it, its great, its wonderful and I love you.

Viola Davis is aiming for an Emmy repeat this weekend.

The How to Get Away With Murder star is a contender for Outstanding Lead actress in a Drama Series, a category she won last year.

Though she has an Emmy victory on her rsum, Davis isnt necessarily more relaxed because of her trophy going into Sundays awards ceremony, airing on ABC.

Youre never more relaxed, but not just because you want to win. Thats not why, she told ABC News. Its just the eyes that are on you; the expectation thats on you.

Despite that, Davis noted shes not in show business to win awards.

Ive become an adult. I have a child. Ive done the work in understanding that life is about more than awards and just a big realization that I got into it because I love work, Davis, 51, said.

In 2015, Davis made history, becoming the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

In her acceptance speech, the actress said in part: The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.

(Source)

The Harvard Gazette has announced that Harvard has chosen Viola as the Harvard Artist of the Year.

Will headline Harvard Cultural Rhythms Festival March 4

iola Davis, the popular actress, producer, director, activist, businesswoman, and philanthropist, has been named the 2017 Artist of the Year. She will be awarded the Harvard Foundations arts medal at a ceremony on March 4 during the 32nd annual Cultural Rhythms Festival in Memorial Halls Sanders Theatre.

The students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation are delighted to present the acclaimed television and film artist Viola Davis with the 2017 Artist of the Year award, said S. Allen Counter, director of the Harvard Foundation. Our student committee praised her outstanding contributions to American and international film and theater. She recently received the Critics Choice, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and British Academy of Films and Television Arts awards, as well as an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Rose Maxson in the film adaptation of August Wilsons play Fences.

Davis co-starred in the plays 2010 Broadway revival opposite Denzel Washington, who also joined her in the film adaptation. Her performance earned her a Tony Award, as well as the Drama Critics Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and Drama Desk Award.

On television, Davis currently stars on How to Get Away with Murder, for which she received the 2014 and 2015 Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series. In 2015, she also won an Emmy in the same category, becoming the first African-American to do so.

Born in St. Matthews, S.C., Davis grew up in Central Falls, R.I., and has remained active in the community there, raising money for the towns library and Central Falls High School. She and her husband, Julius Tennon, founded a multiethnic film, television, and theater production company, JuVee Productions, in 2012. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Davis received an honorary doctorate during its 109th Commencement ceremony. She also holds an honorary doctorate of fine arts degree from her alma mater, Rhode Island College.

The Harvard Foundation, the Universitys center for intercultural initiatives, honors the nations most acclaimed artists and scientists each year. Previous Harvard Foundation awards have been presented to distinguished artists including Shakira, LL Cool J, Quincy Jones, Queen Latifa, Sharon Stone, Andy Garcia, Will Smith, Matt Damon, Halle Berry, Jackie Chan, Denzel Washington, Salma Hayek, Wycelf Jean, Eva Longoria, and Lucy Liu.

The Artist of the Year award will be presented during the 32nd annual Harvard Cultural Rhythms Festival. The program begins at 4 p.m. on March 4 at Sanders Theatre. For ticket information visit the Harvard Foundation website.