Overview
During her sophmore year at the University of Southern California, Onyi switched her major to theater after two theater professors strongly encouraged her to go into that field of study. Committed to the changed, Onyi restarted the Black Entertainment and Theatrical Association, a student-run performing arts organization. She focused the organization around the misson to provide artists an opportunity to showcase their talents. Through this organization, Onyi has directed and starred in George C. Wolfe's The Colored Museum, the 2005 & 2006 BETA sketch comedy shows, and her own play, The Light in the Darkness. Onyi, also, directed August Wilson's Fences in honor of his legacy.
Under her leadership, BETA has garnered several awards on campus including: The Mahogany Award for Best New Enterprise 2006, The Tommy Award for Best Cultural Organization 2006, and the Tommy Award for Best Performance Organization 2007. Moreover, she developed an outreach program, in which BETA along with the African Millenium Pen Pal Association taught high school students how to express themselves through creative writing.