Melissa Donovan
The 2025 Grammy Awards, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 2, brought incredible recognition to Full Sail University’s talented alumni. This year, three graduates—Dominique Jones (DOE), Colin Leonard, and Stuart White—earned individual Grammy Awards, and 19 Full Sail graduates contributed to 13 Grammy-winning projects across 15 categories.
Full Sail Graduates Take Home Individual Grammy Wins
The prestigious event saw three Full Sail alumni take center stage with their own Grammy Awards:
- Dominique Jones (DOE) (2012 Music Business/2015 Creative Writing Graduate) won Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Heart of a Human.
- Colin Leonard (1998 Recording Arts Graduate) earned a Grammy for Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé.
- Stuart White (2002 Recording Arts Graduate) also received recognition in the Album of the Year category for his engineering work on Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé.
Full Sail Alumni Behind the Scenes of Grammy-Winning Projects
Beyond individual wins, Full Sail graduates played key roles in some of the biggest Grammy-winning projects of the year. From mixing and mastering to producing and engineering, their expertise was felt across multiple categories, including Best Theater Album, Best R&B Album, Best Rock Album, and more.
“Congratulations to all Full Sail graduates who worked on Grammy-nominated and winning releases this past year,” Jay Noble, Full Sail’s Vice President of Alumni Relations said. “I always enjoy seeing their talents honored, and I’m so proud that tradition continued tonight.”
Full Sail’s Grammy-Nominated Contributions
In total, 60 Full Sail alumni were credited with 76 Grammy-nominated projects spanning 50 categories. Seven graduates were nominated for their own Grammys in 11 different categories. Additionally, Full Sail educator Darren Schneider was recognized for his work on nominated projects by acclaimed singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan.
One of the most anticipated winners of the night, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, earned Album of the Year, with Full Sail grads Stuart White and Colin Leonard receiving individual nominations for their engineering contributions. Leonard was also nominated for his work on Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Nominee Algorithm by Lucky Daye.
More Full Sail Grads Earn Grammy Recognition
Full Sail graduates had their fingerprints on several other high-profile nominations:
- Idania Valencia was nominated for Album of the Year by Charli XCX for her work as a Mastering Engineer on Brat and Record of the Year for her role on the single 360.
- Brad Blackwood (1996 Recording Arts Graduate) received a nomination for Best Historical Album for Diamonds and Pearls: Super Deluxe Edition by Prince.
- Ken Oriole contributed as an Engineer on Album of the Year nominee New Blue Sun by André 3000.
- Dominique Jones (DOE) also saw nominations for Best Gospel Performance/Song (Holy Hand) and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (Heart of a Human).
- Colin Patrick Harper (aka Collie Buddz) was nominated for Best Reggae Album for Take It Easy.
Educator Darren Schneider’s Grammy Contributions
Full Sail instructor Darren Schneider, a frequent collaborator with Grammy-winning singer Aoife O’Donovan, was credited as a producer on her Best Folk Album-nominated All My Friends and the Best American Roots Song-nominated title track.
Full Sail’s Impact on the Music Industry
Additional Full Sail alumni were involved in Grammy-nominated projects for some of the biggest names in the industry, including Usher’s Coming Home, Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well, Green Day’s Saviors, and major motion picture soundtracks like Deadpool & Wolverine and Twisters.
Full Sail alumni have been impacting the entertainment industry for over 45 years, consistently making their mark in music, film, gaming, and beyond. As the university continues to produce top-tier talent, its graduates’ success at the Grammy Awards is a testament to their dedication, skill, and influence on the global entertainment landscape.
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