A band of brothers making art at TU

When the Fowlkes triplets were born, their family gave them a nickname that has stuck with them for the past 21 years: the Trio.

Their family wanted a reminder that no matter where Justin, Kintrez and Trè go in life, they will be around each other in some way, shape or form.

The brothers have taken that nickname to new levels in the past four years. The three are seniors in Towson University’s College of Fine Arts & Communication, and all three serve as resident assistants for Housing & Residence Life.

They didn’t attend the same high school. So when it came to their college decision, it was something they wanted to do together. And after looking at all the factors—finances, academics, a sense of community—TU was the best option.

“I’ve met other triplets who don’t go to the same college as their siblings, and it’s very interesting because they always talk about how they wish they had their siblings there,” Kintrez says. “We push each other to be the best that we can be.”

The Fowlkes brothers, Kintrez, Trè and Justin, like to show off in front of the camera. That's why it's not hard to believe the three have a joint YouTube page, as well as individual channels. 

The brothers are a study in contrasts but balance each other in the end. Trè says Justin is a “goofy-goober” who keeps them on track while still having fun. Justin calls Kintrez a “disciplined leader” who supports him but doesn’t allow him to slack. And Kintrez sums up Trè as a “connected, articulate, intelligent individual.” 

“Having my brothers here, it makes me realize that I’m not alone even in the times that I do feel like it,” Trè adds. “Having two people who are going through a similar experience at the same time…we’ve been doing this our entire lives and it’s helped me a lot.”

Three artists, three passions

The three have always focused on creative outlets. They have been drawing since they were 5 years old and making music together since they were teenagers—joking that they initially recorded their first songs on a Nintendo 3DS.

Now, they are finding new ways to push their artistic boundaries.

Justin and Kintrez are graphic design majors, while Trè is an electronic media and film major with a concentration in radio/audio.

“I love Towson because it's provided me with so many skills that I never thought about or even imagined diving into,” Justin says. “For example, their painting studios are accessible to anybody. They also have a letterpress, jewelry-making, wire-making and metal cutting…TU really allows you to choose your own path. Just trying those different skills allows me to hone in exactly what I want to do with the arts.”

The three have different passions: Justin loves drawing, Trè is a budding music producer and Kintrez is considered a jack of all artistic trades.

“We’ve all been in different realms of creativity,” Justin says. “But our mom has always taught us that we work better together than we do apart. We always move forward as a unit, and those creative abilities come together to make some beautiful ideas.”

A trio of resident assistants

The Trio has found ways to grow their leadership skills as resident assistants (RAs).

Justin is the head RA at Harris Hall, Kintrez is the head RA at Glen Tower B, while Trè is a “regular-degular” RA at Towson Run apartments.

The idea of becoming an RA came from their mom, Charla, who thought it would be a good opportunity to save money, learn leadership skills and get them out of their comfort zone.

“I was fairly quiet, but I didn’t want to be the same kid I was in high school,” Kintrez says. “I wanted to find my voice. I put my face out in the community, and it was set in stone. I wanted to continue to be an RA while I was at TU. Stepping into this role, I just want to give my residents this incredible experience while they are here.”

He also likes to joke that one of the reasons the brothers became RAs is they like to be nosy—to be in their residents’ lives and help them when they need it.

T(rio) University

With the Trio ready to graduate this spring, they can’t help but look to their future.

Justin wants to get into designing logos and marketing material for different businesses.

Kintrez is looking for variety: helping with the production of a short film, working as a social media content creator or helping design tattoos.

Trè wants to continue his passion for producing music, defying the assumption all EMF majors are behind a camera.

But no matter where the future takes the Trio, they know that together, and through their experience at Towson University, they will be ready.

“All the things that we’ve accomplished these past four years, it feels surreal at times,” Trè says. “One day I was in the recording studio working on a song, and then the next I was holding a boom mic for three hours for a film. It’s incredible looking at all the people we’ve met and all the projects we’ve done.

“We were able to explore every career choice we could think of, and I think we’re prepared for whatever is next.”