How many times have you picked up the newspaper or listened to the radio or found something on the Internet and read or heard about the lack of academic success among our youth?
While there is always room for improvement and concern in this area, the students in this room seem to put the problem in perspective. Yes, we educators strive to close the achievement gap of all of our students. Yes, we have some failures. But we also have a lot of successes.
Tonight we are here to honor those successes—the students, parents, and teachers who are so much a part of academic achievement.
I would like to address the students first. Congratulations to each of you who will receive recognition this evening. I know you worked long and hard and made many personal sacrifices to be here this evening. You certainly have reason to be proud of your academic accomplishments.
Next to the parents of the students being honored tonight: Like your sons and daughters, you have made personal sacrifices to ensure your child would be here this evening. While you may think your role was minor, I can assure you that your child would not be sitting with us if you had not created the environment that encouraged your child to excel.
Finally, to the teachers of these students, I can’t remember who wrote this, but I wanted to paraphrase an interesting quote: “100 years from now no one will remember the amount of your bank account, what type of an automobile you owned, or the type of clothes you wore—but they will always remember that you helped a child.” Candidly, your part in the success of these students will be remembered forever.

Education is Power

•Education goes beyond schooling

•Education empowers people

•Education is the true wealth of the community

•Education is the hope for the future

•Education is destiny

•We must expect education to develop:

•Good People

•Successful People

•Self-actualizing People

•We must view education as a never ending process for the individual and the community

•Life is a process of learning and growth

•Education is a part of the process of life

•We get the full power of education when it fulfills its true role in the process of life

"If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
Benjamin Franklin