Spike Lee's former professor reflects back on Oscar winner's start as director

ATLANTA — Atlanta shined in the spotlight during the 91st Academy Awards, with films like "Black Panther" winning major awards Sunday.

But Spike Lee earned the biggest applause of the night with his "BlacKkKlansman" screenplay taking home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Lee started his career right here as a student at Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University. Fellow Morehouse alumnus Samuel L. Jackson presented his friend with the award.

The win was a long time coming for Lee, who earned his first nomination for his "Do the Right Thing" screenplay 30 years ago.

Lee is just one of many connected to Atlanta who took home awards Sunday night.

[RELATED: Atlanta shines at 91st Academy Awards, 'Green Book' takes home Best Picture]

Channel 2's Berndt Petersen  spoke with Dr. Herbert Eichelberg, who was Lee's film professor when the director took classes at Clark Atlanta.

"This is someone who was trying to figure out what he was going to do with his life.  He didn't know he was going to be a filmmaker," Eichelberg said.

[PHOTOS: 2019 Oscars red carpet ]

Eichelberg, known by his students as "Dr. E," showed Petersen his office full of memories from Lee's time in his class. The professor said he would never forget Lee's first film project.

"An alien person brought this 'slime' from some planet.  And if you got touched by this slime, you were doomed."

He gave Lee an "A" on that assignment and is proud that the director continues to inspire the future generation of filmmakers. That includes senior Danielle Byrd.

"The Oscars to some may not be the highest high.  But in this field, it's like, wow! It's possible. He did it," Byrd said.

Eichelberg remembered Lee as a student who never took no for an answer and challenged himself to do better. The professor was honored to play a role.

"I happened to be in the right place at the right time and with the right information and gave it to him from my heart," he said.

Morehouse President Dr. David Thomas sent out this statement to congratulate Lee on his win.

"As President of Morehouse College, I would like to congratulate Spike Lee on his historic Oscar win. Spike is an outstanding Morehouse Man. His collective work has touched millions of movie audiences around the world. His expertise as a filmmaker and storyteller uplifts the progression of black men and black culture at a global level. We are humbled each time he returns to his alma mater to reconnect with alumni and students who recognize his status as a living legend. We are educating men of Morehouse to follow in his footsteps."