Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) has initiated the IPS Alumni Spotlight to honor the diverse journeys of its graduates. This initiative highlights their experiences, achievements, and personal interests. Recently, IPS featured Teven Studdard, a former student who attended Crispus Attucks Middle School and graduated from an Indianapolis high school in 2006.

Teven pursued higher education at Indiana State University, majoring in communications with a concentration in public relations. His career combines creativity and sports, notably writing theme songs for over 100 college athletic programs nationwide. He also starred with his son in a Monday Night Football commercial for the Indianapolis Colts—an ad he wrote, directed, and produced. His contributions include creating the official theme song for the WNBA's Indiana Fever and appearing in an NBA All-Star commercial for the Pacers.

In addition to his professional achievements, Teven has made significant contributions through his program LEAD (Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and Dreams), which helped over 200 IPS students become published authors last year. These students presented their work to the education committee and had their books featured on news platforms.

Reflecting on his time at IPS, Teven shared that he started playing football at Crispus Attucks in 2005 and now travels across the country writing books for NFL players. He credited teachers like Mrs. Pamela Blackburn and Margaret Hawkins for instilling a love for music and math respectively.

"My education at IPS influenced my personal and professional development through the emphasis on preparation that was instilled in us," he said. "Proper preparation prevents poor performance."

Teven emphasized learning how to do more with less as one of the most valuable skills gained at IPS: "Teachers like Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Hawkins, and Coach Hooten wouldn’t allow us to be average."

He remains connected to IPS by teaching students how to write and publish books at Brookside Elementary School and Broad Ripple Middle School. His advice to current students is clear: "Have a vision, eliminate distractions, outwork everyone, never give up on your dreams."

Despite facing challenges such as losing his grandmother during middle school—a period when she played an influential role as an educator—Teven persevered thanks to her teachings.