Finding His Spotlight: Larry Gill’s Path from Durham to Mister Coppin State

As a first-generation student from Durham, Larry Gill found a stage, a spotlight, and a second home at Coppin State University. 

Larry Gill 

Major: Urban Arts (Technical Theatre, Lighting Design)      

Hometown: Durham, North Carolina 

Larry Gill came to Coppin State University to work behind the scenes. He leaves it as the 25th Mister Coppin State. 

A first-generation college student from Durham, North Carolina, Gill chose Coppin in search of a smaller HBCU community where he could grow into himself, both creatively and personally. Four years later, he is preparing to graduate Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Arts, concentrating in Technical Theatre with a focus in Lighting Design, and a record of leadership that has stretched across nearly every corner of campus life. 

What began as a search for community became a four-year transformation. 

A Technical Theatre student with a focus in Lighting Design, Gill honed his craft through hands-on work in live production while earning membership in the Alpha Psi Omega Theatre Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success. He also earned one of the University’s highest student honors, serving as the 25th Mister Coppin State University and representing his peers across campus and beyond. 

But Gill’s impact has stretched far beyond the stage. 

Across his four years on campus, Gill served as NADSA Student President, a Charter Member of Cheer Phi at Coppin State University, a three-year member of the Coppin cheer team, and a contributor to the Campus Activities Board. He represented the University as both a student ambassador for Admissions and a student worker for Events and Conference Services. And he led the effort to reactivate the Coppin Players Theatre Club, eventually serving as its President to ensure the organization’s legacy would continue for the students who follow him. 

For Gill, the choice to invest so deeply in Coppin was made on his very first day on campus. When he visited in February 2022, Professor Michael Klima led him on a tour of the Theatre Department, and a follow-up meeting with Dr. Hyatt confirmed what Gill had already begun to feel: that Coppin was not just a university to attend, but a community to belong to. 

“My experience at Coppin State University has truly shaped me into the person I am today,” Gill says. “Coppin helped me build confidence, step into leadership, and discover my purpose beyond the classroom.” 

As a first-generation student balancing academics, productions, leadership roles, and his duties as Mister Coppin, Gill says the journey demanded both resilience and faith. The support of Coppin’s faculty, staff, and students, he says, is what made the long days worth the work. 

“Coppin State University is more than just a university. It is a community that truly cares about the success and growth of its students,” he says. “The relationships, support, and sense of family that exist on campus create an environment where students are encouraged to become the best version of themselves.” 

After graduation, Gill plans to continue building a career in entertainment, live production, and technical theatre, with a particular focus on lighting design and event production. He is also exploring opportunities for graduate study as he looks to expand his work in storytelling and live entertainment. 

For Gill, graduation is both a final bow at Coppin and a fresh opening for what comes next. 

“Never be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and take advantage of every opportunity in front of you,” he says. “Your journey will not always be perfect, but every experience will help you grow into the person you are meant to become.”