The 25th annual Holmes-Hunter Lecture was a hit.
Seating in Hodgson Hall was packed to the max as UGA students, faculty, staff and guests gathered to hear this year's highly anticipated guest lecturer, Ron Clark of the Ron Clark Academy.
Perhaps what made the event an even greater success was the student performance by Ron Clark Academy eighth graders.
The facility brewed with excitement as we all sat back to witness a first-rate show. Clark's energy, bundled with the children's enthusiasm to showcase the breadth of their knowledge and creativity, captivated us all.
The facility brewed with excitement as we all sat back to witness a first-rate show. Clark's energy, bundled with the children's enthusiasm to showcase the breadth of their knowledge and creativity, captivated us all.
We couldn't have imagined a more successful Friday afternoon lecture.
Clark, an educator whose influential career accomplishments span the length of the east coast, gave an inspiring account of his personal challenges and triumphs, only to be significantly underscored by the true story of his success and achievement, his brilliant students.
Seeing the impact he'd made on students in Aurora, NC, Clark felt a profound need and desire to do the same for the public schools in Harlem, Ny. Despite the discouraging words of his students, peers and hiring staff in Harlem, he persisted with a vision and will to change education and opportunity for the area's at-risk youth.
Clark, an educator whose influential career accomplishments span the length of the east coast, gave an inspiring account of his personal challenges and triumphs, only to be significantly underscored by the true story of his success and achievement, his brilliant students.
Seeing the impact he'd made on students in Aurora, NC, Clark felt a profound need and desire to do the same for the public schools in Harlem, Ny. Despite the discouraging words of his students, peers and hiring staff in Harlem, he persisted with a vision and will to change education and opportunity for the area's at-risk youth.
In 2007, Clark teamed up with teaching fellow and UGA alumna, Kim Bearden, to establish the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. Since then, the private nonprofit school has attracted educators from all over the world interested in learning the innovative teaching methods at the Academy.
Eighth graders from the RCA also attended the lecture on Friday as evidence that the program works. The students put on a dazzling performance -- a shortened version of "You Can Vote However You Like," "Man in the Mirror," and finally, a composition all their own-- with one of their own on drums and three soul-shaking solos. Their performance was rippling, sending messages of hope through the audience rows with every word they sang and beat they swayed.
It was simply impossible not to be moved by the message of their story, or by the power of their song. I hope you each take a moment to learn more about Ron Clark Academy and the power of its mission.
Learn more about the Ron Clark story here.
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The annual Holmes-Hunter Lecture honors the first African-American students to enroll at the University of Georgia almost 50 years ago, the late Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault.
Hunter-Gault was unable to attend the lecture, but she sent a few words to her dear friend and wife of the late Hamilton Holmes, who addressed the crowd on Friday. Holmes' mother and daughter were also in attendance.
The annual Holmes-Hunter Lecture honors the first African-American students to enroll at the University of Georgia almost 50 years ago, the late Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault.
Hunter-Gault was unable to attend the lecture, but she sent a few words to her dear friend and wife of the late Hamilton Holmes, who addressed the crowd on Friday. Holmes' mother and daughter were also in attendance.
