GADSDEN– Gadsden State alumnus Dalton Hamby is carrying his Northeast Alabama roots onto national television as a contestant on CBS’ “The Amazing Race.”

The Weaver native and his fiancée, Daisha Wilks, will compete together during the program’s 39th season. The season premieres Sept. 30 on CBS.

According to Gadsden State Community College, Hamby graduated in 2020 with an associate in science degree. He later continued his education at Jacksonville State University.

Today, Hamby works as a professional videographer. He and Wilks co-own Dhamby Productions, creating videos for businesses, weddings, organizations, and social media.

The couple also documents its travels and daily life through the Daisha & Dalton social media platforms and YouTube channel.

A Foundation at Gadsden State

Hamby first attended Gadsden State through dual enrollment during his senior year at Weaver High School in 2018. He said the program gave him a head start while he considered his future.

“I was really excited to go to Gadsden State because I had heard great things about the teachers and the overall learning environment,” Hamby said. “I really enjoyed the classes and being able to get a head start on college while I was still in high school.”

However, his 2020 graduation arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of a traditional ceremony, Hamby took part in a drive-through graduation.

“I remember having a drive-thru graduation, which was very funny in my opinion,” he said.

Meanwhile, one college opportunity helped point him toward his future profession. Hamby created vlog-style videos for an Alabama Community College System scholarship.

The work took him beyond the classroom and into campus events and sports. As a result, he gained practical experience combining video production with storytelling.

“Looking back, that opportunity definitely helped shape what I’m doing today,” Hamby said.

Gadsden State also introduced him to students from different cultures and backgrounds. He said those connections made him more curious about the world and more interested in travel.

From Travel Videos to National Television

After college, Hamby and Wilks built a business around their shared interests in filmmaking, storytelling, and travel. Their work eventually took them to destinations around the world.

Then, Wilks’ mother encouraged them to audition for “The Amazing Race.” The couple placed a camera in the front yard, recorded an audition, and submitted it in September 2024.

Afterward, they largely forgot about the application. Months later, an email from the show arrived while they were traveling through Laos.

At first, both believed the message might be a scam. However, they confirmed it was legitimate and began a casting process that included calls and FaceTime interviews.

“We went from being two people from small-town Alabama who love to travel and make videos to being told we were going to race around the world on national television,” Hamby said.

Throughout casting, Hamby and Wilks focused on showing their real personalities, relationship, and Alabama roots. Their extensive travel experience also helped prepare them for the pressure of competing together.

“We already love traveling together, and traveling has a way of testing your strengths and weaknesses,” Hamby said. “We’ve learned a lot about each other through all of our trips, including how we handle stress, unexpected situations and things not going according to plan.”

In addition, the experience reinforced the importance of supporting one another during difficult moments. Hamby said strength sometimes means pausing and understanding what the other person needs.

Representing Northeast Alabama

Neither Hamby nor Wilks can reveal how they performed during the competition. Still, they are eager to watch the season unfold with friends, family, and their hometown communities.

The pair are also representing Jacksonville State University, where both continued their education. Hamby filmed and edited Jax State football practices and games while developing his craft.

For Hamby, appearing on the program carries a larger message for others from small communities.

“You don’t have to come from a big city or have everything figured out to go after something big,” he said. “We always say, ‘Don’t wish for it, work for it.’ That’s something we try to live by, and hopefully people watching us will feel encouraged to do the same.”

The couple plans to continue traveling and producing content after the season. Meanwhile, Hamby hopes his path encourages students who are still deciding what they want to pursue.

“I think Gadsden State is a great place to start that journey, even if you don’t have everything figured out yet,” Hamby said. “It’s been an incredible journey.”