On January 21, over 250 Bucknell students, including 90 Delta Chapter brothers, attended a special showing of “Rising Hope,” a documentary directed by Theodore “Theo” Avgerinos (2000).

Six years in the making, “Rising Hope” is a collaboration among distinguished talents: Academy Award-winning documentary producer Lynn Appelle, Emmy Award-winning composer Alex Wurman and festival award-winning director Theo Avgerinos. “Rising Hope” premiered to critical acclaim at the 2024 Oxford Film Festival in Mississippi, where it earned Best Mississippi Film and the Audience Award. Later, the documentary earned Best Documentary at the LightReel Film Festival, in Washington, DC, and Best Documentary and Best Director at the Golden Gate International Film Festival, in San Francisco. Most recently, the documentary was recognized with the Outstanding Excellence Award at the Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival.

Learn More and Watch the Trailer

After the January 21 showing, several undergraduates brothers gave positive reviews:

• “The film opened my own eyes to a different side of America and the stories of people living in a region where so many of the cards are stacked against them. It made me reflect on how fortunate I am to have resources and a strong support system in place. With that being said, there’s a human element to the film that is truly inspiring, such as Rod’s journey to become a travel photographer and even going to college, something that his mother wasn’t able to do. The film is worth seeing as it not only sheds light on the history of racism and generational inequalities but also gives a personal perspective on the strength, joy, hopes, and dreams of people who are there.” – Jackson Kizilbash (2025), Chapter President
• “The film sheds light on the incredibly impoverished Mississippi Delta region and its residents, largely African American, who have been subjected to extreme economic impoverishment due to the ramifications of Jim Crow laws and other immoral practices of the past. While this was incredibly sad, the film also highlighted some people who are making changes in their communities for the better and hoping to lift themselves and those around them. Overall, this was an incredibly insightful experience, and I found it very interesting to learn about this community and the change that is taking place within it.” – Theodore Seitz (2027)
• “Rising Hope, directed by Theo Avgerinos, sheds light on how neglected the residents and communities surrounding the Mississippi Delta are. While it did not provide much statistical data, it did a great job utilizing the vibrant testimonies of the area’s residents. Hearing the locals’ stories helped me better understand how the area faced extreme economic downfall over the years. It highlights the issues with the area, the power of those in the community, and their efforts. Even though the area is declining, the residents stay hopeful and strive for change.” – Chris Bujdud (2027)
• “Rising Hope directed by one of our graduate brothers, made me prouder than ever to be a Fiji. The stars’ efforts to thrive in the society they were put into is truly inspiring. The film made a mark on me and everyone else in that theater.” – Brad Trager (2026), Chapter Treasurer
• “The movie was a great experience! It was a truly incredible documentary that resulted in many conversations that I would never have expected to have. Theo is really good at what he does.” – Lars Kikoski (2025)