>>> GREETINGS, WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS.

WELCOME ALL HONOREES.

TODAY WE HONOR 100 GIFTED PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND FIVE OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE CELEBRATE THE EXCELLENCE AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.

THEY ARE THE PRIDE OF OUR PRESENT.

THE HOPE OF OUR FUTURE.

NOW FROM THE COX BUSINESS CONVINCE IN TULSA WE PRESENT THE 35TH ANNUAL OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE ACADEMIC AWARDS CELEBRATION.

PLEASE WELCOME OUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES, SCOTT THOMPSON, A VETERAN TELEVISION NEWS JOURNALIST FROM TULSA AND OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE TRUSTEE AND PROUD FATHER OF TWO ACADEMIC ALL-STATE ALUMNI.

♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELCOME TO TULSA.

I'M HONORED TO BE PART AGAIN OF THIS GREAT CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE IN OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS CELEBRATION SUN LIKE ANY OTHER IN OUR STATE.

IT SALUTES REMARKABLE LEADERS, BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, WHO HAVE GONE THEIR EXTRA SMILE THROUGH THEIR SERVICE, CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM AND PASSION FOR LEARNING.

THEIR EXAMPLE ENCOURAGES EACH OF US TO ASPIRE TO EXCELLENCE IN OUR OWN LIVES.

THE THEME OF OUR CELEBRATION IS RISING ABOVE, GOING BEYOND.

HOW FITTING AFTER THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH, RECOGNIZING THE RESILIENCE, GRIT, DETERMINATION HONOREES HAVE DEMONSTRATE ED IN THEIR QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLASSROOM AND BEYOND.

TODAY'S AWARDS CELEBRATION IS UNIQUE AND THE HISTORY FOR OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE, AS WE HAVE LIMITED ATTENDANCE TO THE HONOREES AND FAMILY MEMBERS DUE TO COVID-19 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

STILL WE ARE GRATEFUL TO GATHER TO CELEBRATE THESE REMARKABLE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS WHO HAVE ENDURED UNIQUE CHALLENGES DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

THE ANNUAL ACADEMIC AWARDS CELEBRATION IS FLAGSHIP EVENT OF THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE BUT IT IS ONLY ONE OF MANY PROGRAMS THE FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS YEAR ROUND TO ENCOURAGE AND RECOGNIZE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IF OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

OUR FOUNDATION IS TRAINING AND INSPIRING TEACHERS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS TO ATTEND NATIONAL CONFERENCES IN CHOSEN FIELDS.

WE PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL FUND AND TULSA COMMUNITY TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SELF-DESIGNED SUMMER LEARNING CLEARANCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND HAVE TEAMED UP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS.

ONLINE 80 TEACHERS HAVE COMPLETED A PREP FOR THE OKLAHOMA ESL CERTIFICATION.

THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE WORKS TOGETHER WITH COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG TO BRING AMERICAN HISTORY ALL LIFE AND PREPARE TOMORROW'S CITIZENS.

WE AWARD FELLOWSHIPS FOR TEACHERS TO ATTEND THE RENOWNED COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG INSTITUTE AND SPONSOR THEIR DAY AT THE CAPITOL, A DAY OF HANDS-ON ACTIVITY FOR OKLAHOMA 5TH GRADERS.

THIS YEAR AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WE HOSTED VIRTUAL COLONIAL DAY WEBINARS.

YOU IMAGINE THE FOUNDING FATHERS THINKING ABOUT THAT?

WHICH BROUGHT HISTORICAL PROGRAMMING TO THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMA FIFTH GRADERS.

OUR MENTORING INITIATIVE PROMOTES GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMS.

WE WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UNIVERSITIES, BUSINESSES AND MENTORING ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.

THROUGH OUR OKLAHOMA SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS NETWORK WE HAVE HELPED BUILD ONE OF THE LARGEST NETWORKS OF GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINING, RESOURCES TO OKLAHOMA'S SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS, WHICH IN TURN HAVE GIVEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ENRICH THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

THROUGH THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP OF OUR FOUNDER DAVID BORON AND FAITHFUL SUPPORT OF TRUSTEES AND DONORS, THIS HAS MADE A LASTING IMPACT IN OUR STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE SEND A MESSAGE TO OKLAHOMA PUBLIC TEACHERS AND STUDENTS THAT WE VALUE WHAT THEY DO AND WILLING TO INVEST IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

NOW WE COME TO THE ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS.

THIS IS A GREAT PART OF THE PROGRAM.

WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF SLAS SCLAS TICK ACHIEVEMENT, LEADERSHIP.

WE RECOGNIZE THESE STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM AN STUDENT TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND A SPECIAL TEACHER WHO HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR EDUCATION.

AS THE ALL-STATERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES WE ASK YOU TO HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL ALL HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED.

ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS I DO ALL YEAR, THE BEST OF THE BEST ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS FOR 2021.

♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> I'M FROM ENMON MEMORIAL.

MY TEACH SER MY TEACHER PRATER.

[ANNOUNCEMENT] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] [ANNOUNCEMENTS] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S APPLAUD ONE MORE TIME FOR THE 2021 CLASS OF ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE STUDENTS, 100 ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS BUT ALSO FOR THE HOP NOR TEACHERS WHO COULDN'T BE HERE.

THEY ARE ORDINARILY HERE BUT COVID HAS KEPT THEM AWAY, THE PRECAUTIONS WE HAVE TO TAKE, SO I'M GOING TO CLAP AGAIN FOR THEM AND THEIR TEACHERS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> CONGRATULATIONS.

WE NOW TURN TO THE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS.

EACH RECIPIENT HAS RECEIVED A PRIZE IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000.

IN ADDITION EACH HONOREE WILL RECEIVE AN ETCHED GLASS ROOTS AND WINGS SCALE SCULPTURE LIKE THE FRONT OF THE CAGE.

THE ARTIST RON ROBERTS HONORED THE STATEMENT, THERE ARE TWO THINGS WE SHOULD GIVE OUR CHILDREN.

ONE IS ROOTS, THE OTHER IS WINGS.

PRESENTING OUR MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS ARE FIVE ACCOMPLISHED ACADEMIC ALL-STATE ALUMNI WHO ARE LEADERS IN SCIENCE, ACADEMIA, PUBLIC POLICY AND MEDICINE.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR FIRST AWARD PRESENTER TODAY IS AN ACCOMPLISHED SCHOLAR IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND TECHNOLOGY, WHO SERVES AS LIBRARY TECHNICIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SCHUSTERMAN LAY BRIAR IN TULSA.

WELCOME 1998 ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS, DR. LYNETTE GREGERBY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT DAYS IN YOUR LIFE ARE DAY YOU WERE BORN AND THE DAY YOU FIND OUT WHY.

MICHELLE RON BEGAN HER CAREER AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN.

A TRANSFORM TIF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AT A CHILDREN'S DAY CAMP HELPED HER DISCOVER HER TRUE CALLING WAS TEACHING.

SHE WAS HOOKED.

13 YEARS IN, MS. RON HAS BECOME THE DISTRICT'S CHAMPION FOR TEACHING STEM.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS.

SHE RECEIVED $23,000 GRANT TO START THE DISTRICT'S FIRST ELEMENTARY STEM PROGRAM AND HAS EXPANDED TO WILL ROGER'S JUNIOR, WHERE SHE TEACHES 6TH GRADE STEM AND CLUB FOR GIRLS.

IN HER CLASS STUDENTS BECOME YOUNG SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, COLLECT DAMAGE THAT TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN HIGH HIGH POT S CHLT /* /* HI POT SEES.

ROCKETS AND BALLOONS FUEL THE STUDENT'S EXCITEMENT.

AS A FORMER BUSINESSWOMAN SHE IS MINDFUL TO CREATE CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING FOR THE WORKFORCE.

>> I THINK SHE KNEW SHE WAS ALWAYS CALLED TO BE A TEACHER.

WHEN SHE COMMITTED, SHE WAS ALL IN.

THERE WAS NEVER LOOKING BACK.

I THINK SHE CAME INTO IT KNOWING WITH HER LIFE EXPERIENCES WHAT SHE HAD SEEN IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD, I'VE GOT SOMETHING I CAN GIVE.

>> ONE PART I LOVE ABOUT TEACHING STEM IS ALLOWING KIDS TO HAVE THAT CREATIVITY PIECE.

>> IT IS ALWAYS HANDS ON, WORKING TOGETHER, COLLABORATING, DISCUSSING THEIR OUTCOMES, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO DIFFERENT.

>> IF SHE CAN GUISE THAT INTO SOMETHING SPECIAL.

>> I REALLY LIKE FIGURING OUT WAYS TO MAKE SOMETHING WORK AND WAYS THAT WOULD HELP ME WITH LIFE SKILLS AND EVERYTHING.

>> IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AGES A LOT OF TIMES GIRLS ARE INTIMIDATED IN A CLASSROOM WITH BOYS WHEN LEARNING STEM SUBJECT AREAS.

>> I THINK IT GIVES THE GIRLS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH AND HAVE A WONDERFUL FEMALE ROLE MODEL WHO JUST REALLY EM MERSS HERSELF IN STEM.

>> TO ME A TEACHER FIRST HAS TO BE A LEARNER.

SHE IMPARTS THAT TO HER STUDENTS.

THEY UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A TEACHER WHO IS INQUISITIVE ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND HER.

>> THAT WAS FUN.

>> THAT WAS FUN.

>> IT IS COOL.

NOT MANY TEACHERS WEAR A NATIONAL SUIT TO SCHOOL.

AYE.

I'M PROUD SHE WEARS THAT.

>> TEACH ING IS THE MOST CHALLENGING JOB I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.

HOPEFULLY MY GOAL IS SHARE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS TO GIVE THEM THAT HOPE THAT YES, YOU CAN DO THIS.

YOU CAN LEARN AND AYE, IT IS GOING TO BE HARD.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE STRUGGLES BUT YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT AND BE GREAT.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN , THE RECIPIENTS OF THE OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN ELEMENTARY TEACHING.

FROM WILL ROGERS JUNIOR HIGH, MICHELLE RON.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

FORMER ASTRONAUT AND TEACHER CHRISTA MCAULIFFE SAID, I TEST THE FUTURE, I TEACH.

MY STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE.

AS A TEACHER, MY MISSION IS TO IGNITE STUDENT'S CURIOSITY.

TO BECOME LIFE-LONG LEARNERS.

I STRIVE TO SPARK INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY IN MY STUDENTS AS THEY BECOME FUTURE LEADERS OF THIS SMALL, BLUE PLANET TOCHLT ACCOMPLISH THIS, I CREATE AN ENGAGING AND ENRICHED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, WHICH INCLUDES BUILDING CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS SO I CAN TEACH TO MY STUDENTSES STRENGTH.

DO I NOT DO THIS ALONE.

JUST LIKE ANY MASTER MISSION I RELY ON A CREW OF EXCELLENT EDUCATOR WHO'S HAVE MENTORED ME THROUGH THIS ADVENTURE OF BECOMING THE EDUCATOR I AM TODAY.

ALTHOUGH I NEVER ENVISIONED MYSELF AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, I BECAME AN INSTANT ONE WHEN MY OLDER SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE ONE DIABETES.

I BEGAN TO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN EDUCATING HIS TEACHER, FAMILY FRIENDS ON HOW TO CARE FOR HIM.

AS SERVING AS AN EDUCATOR AT HIS CAMP I DISCOVERED I HAD A PASSION FOR EDUCATING CHILDREN THAT.

IS WHEN I DECIDED TO CHANGE CAREERS AND BECOME A TEACHER.

13 YEARS LATER I STILL BELIEVE IT WAS THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE.

I AM VERY HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY ADMINISTRATORS AND MY LOCAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION WHO HAVE ALWAYS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED CRITICAL THINKING AND ACTION-BASED LEARNING THAT TAKES PLACE IN MY CLASSROOM.

MY HOPE IS TO INSPIRE MY STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

ESPECIALLY IN SPACE-RELATED JOBS.

I WANT THEM TO PERSEVERE WHILE CHASING AND CAPTURING THEIR DREAM, THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT LEADER OF A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE TO PROVIDE DOCTORS WITH THE CRITICAL MEDICAL RECORDS THEY NEED TO CARE FOR THEIR PATIENTS.

HE ALSO SERVES AS CHAIR OF MEDICAL DEPARTMENT INFOMATICS AND ASSISTANT PRO VEST FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AT THE OU CENTER.

PLEASE WELCOME THE ALL-STATE ALUM, DR. DAVID HENRICK.

>> THE BEST TYPE OF MAGIC HAPPEN WHEN STUDENTS TAKE SHELLY'S ART CLASSES.

NOT ONLY DO THEY RECEIVE A RIGOROUS INTRODUCTION TO PRINCIPLES OF ART, LIKE HARMONY, MOVEMENT, BALANCE AND PROPORTION, THEY LEARN TO DIG DEEP TO ANALYZE CHOICE, DISCOVER CREATIVITY, RISK AND CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER.

SHE IS A TEACHING VETERAN AND NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER WHO SEEKS TO BE A CATALYST FOR STUDENTS GROW AS AN ARTIST AND YOUNG ADULTS.

EVERY ART PROJECT IN HER CLASSROOM REQUIRES A WRITTEN COMPONENT FOR STUDENTS TO REFLECT ON THEIR INSPIRATION, THEIR MATERIALS AND APPLICATION OF DESIGN PRINCIPLES.

MRS.

HE WILL SELF SEEKS OUT OPPORTUNITIES ON A STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL AND USE THEIR TALENTS IN SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WHETHER PAINTING FACES FOR SPORTING EVENTS OR DESIGNING ORNAMENTS FOR THE TREE LIGHTING IN WASHINGTON D.C., SHELLY CREATES A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS TO FLOURISH AS ARTISTS AND AS PEOPLE.

>> SO ALL THIS HAS TO BE CUT AND CLEANED UP SO IT WILL START COMING IN.

>> ART IS SO MUCH TO HER BE SIDES JUST THIS THING SHE COMES TO SCHOOL TO TEACH EACH DAY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT SOOTHES HER MIND AND SOOTHES HER SOUL.

SO SHE WANTS THAT TO BE THE CASE FOR EVERY PERSON WITH WHOM SHE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH.

>> SO SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE -- YOU HAVE TO TAKE RISKS AND ALLOW YOUR STUDENTS TO TAKE RISKS.

THEY WILL GROW, YOU WILL GROW AS A TEACHER AS WELL.

>> SHE PUSHES YOU BEYOND YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND SHOWS YOU YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL AND I HAVE BECOME SUCH A BETTER ARTIST WITH HER.

>> I'M MORE COMFORTABLE TRYING OUT DIFFERENT IDEAS IN HER CLASS.

IT IS LIKE A COMFORTABLE AREA.

>> I HAVE NEVER BEEN MUCH OF AN ARTIST BUT MS. SELF, SHE IS VERY PATIENT.

>> YOU WANT THE KIDS TO LEARN.

THEY ARE NOT JUST LEARNING ABOUT ART.

THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO BE PEOPLE.

HOW TO GOOD PEOPLE.

>> WE GO DOWNTOWN AND PAINT THE WINDOWS OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES.

ANY PROJECTS PEOPLE ASK FOR USUALLY MS. SELF WILL SAY YES, WE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU.

>> I THINK COLITA, WHERE SHE TEACHES, WOULDN'T BE THE COLITA IT IS WITHOUT HER STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THEY HAVE.

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS TO LEARN AT EARLY AGE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH GIVING.

SHARING THEIR GIFTS THEY HAVE.

>> VOLUNTEER ING IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU DO IT BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I THINK SHE GIVES HER STUDENTS JUST A BRIGHT STAR FOR THEM HAVE A REALIZATION THAT OH THERE, IS MORE THAN JUST PAINTING THIS PAINTING.

THIS IS ABOUT WHO I AM AND WHO I'M BECOMING.

THAT IS WHAT SHE GIVES TO HER STUDENTS.

>>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN , THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2021 OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN SECONDARY TEACHING, SHELLY SELF.

>> A FAMOUS QUOTE THE EVERY CHILD IS AN ARTIST.

THE PROBLEM IS HOW TO REMAIN AN ARTIST ONCE HE OR SHE GROWS UP.

MY ROLE AS AN ART TEACHER IS EMBRACE AND CONTINUALLY EM PART WONDER AND EXCITEMENT, WHICH COMES FROM CREATING.

MY PARENTS EXPOSED ME TO COMMUNITY CONCERT, MUSEUMS AND PRIVATE ART LESSONS.

ALL STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE BUT STRUGGLE COMES FROM INITIATING CURIOSITY.

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK AT COLITA FOR 29 YEAR, SHARING MY TIME AND TALENT WITH NUMEROUS STUDENTS.

ART TOUCHES THE HEART, MIND, SOUL.

EVERY TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD INSPIRE MORE CREATIVITY WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.

STUDENTS THRIVE WHEN MORE PROBLEM SOLVING HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM.

THESE CHALLENGES, IT CHALLENGES THEM TO TAKE RISKS, TO THINK DEEPER AND EXPAND THEIR HORIZON.

I WANT TO THANK MY PARENTS, BILLY KATHERINE SETTLE, MY HUSBAND STEVE, MY SONS JAMES AND SHAWN, THE SUPPORT P GIVEN BY MY ADMINISTRATION, MY COLLEAGUE, KATHLEEN BLAKE, LASTLY , THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE FOR THIS GRACIOUS AWARD.

I WANT TO CELEBRATE THIS AWARD WITH ALL MY STUDENTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> OUR NEXT AWARD PRESENTER IS AN ATTORNEY WHO BE GAP HIS CAREER AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTSES AND FAMILIES IN DALLAS AND LOS ANGELES.

TODAY HE SERVES AS ASSISTANT DEAN FOR ADVANCEMENT AT THE OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW.

WELCOME 1997 ALL-STATE ALUMNUS, STEVEN BUTLER.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> A WISE MAN ONCE SAID LEADER SHIP IS AN ACTIVE, LIVING PROCESS ROOTED IN CHARACTER, FORGED BY EXPERIENCE, COMMUNICATED BY EXAMPLE.

THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF BARTALSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A LEADER IN CHUCK MACAULAY, THEIR SUPERINTENDENT.

WHEN CHUCK TOOK THE HELM IN 2016 THE DISTRICT WAS IN A DIRE BUDGET CRISIS, MORALE WAS SUFFERING.

HE ENGAGED KEY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING TEACHERS STUDENTS TO BUILD A PLAN.

THEY IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING A K-12 STEM, INITIATIVE IN THE FIRST AGRICULTURE PROGRAM.

IN HIS FIRST THREE YEARS, CHUCK RALLIED THE COMMUNITY TO PASS TWO BOND ISSUES, INCLUDING ONE THAT SAVED TEACHING POSITIONS.

TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES HE LAUNCHED THE DPS WELLNESS CHALLENGE WHERE SCHOOLS COMPETE FOR HIGHEST PARTICIPATION IN AN 8K RACE.

DURING OKLAHOMA'S FUNDING CRISIS IN 2018 CHUCK PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN ENCOURAGING FELLOW SUPERINTENDENTS TO SUSPEND SCHOOL SO TEACHERS AND FAMILIES COULD MAKE THEIR CASE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

HIS ADVOCACY HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR HISTORIC BIPARTISAN FUNDING INCREASE FOR TEACHER PAY.

>> WHAT I DID AT THAT TIME WAS SENT A SURVEY TO SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

I SAID LISTEN, BARTALSVILLE IS READY TO SUSPEND CLASS S IF NECESSARY IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE AN INVEST TOMENT PUT THIS TEACHER SHORTAGE.

>> HE TOOK THE FLOORING PUBLIC EDUCATION, TOOK IT AND CHARGED TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND PLANTED IT.

QUITE FRANKLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WON THAT PARTICULAR INITIATIVE.

IT WAS A GREAT STEP FORWARD.

>> HE DOESN'T WANT TEACHERS TO COME TO BARTALSVILLE.

WE WANT THEM TO COME BECAUSE WE ARE THE PLACE TO WORK.

HE'S TOTALLY SET THE TONE FOR NOT ONLY ARE WE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, WE ARE A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY IN AND OUT OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE SERVANT LEADERSHIP HE MODEL S IS OUTSTANDING.

>> THIS IS ALL SO GENUINE.

WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS GENUINE CHUCK.

HE IS NOT PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR ANYONE.

THIS IS WHO HE IS.

>> MR. MACAULAY IS VERY ACCESSIBLE.

WHEN HE IS WALKING AROUND THE HALLS, HE IS NOT JUST WALKING TO THE NEXT DESTINATION.

HE IS SAYING HI, ASKING HOW THAT IS.

>> I THINK BY MODELLING HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND INTEGRITY IN REGARDS TO WE WANT TO HAVE THE BEST, BRIGHTEST AND DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR KIDS AND TEACHERS, I THINK THAT AUTOMATICALLY LIFTS HIM OUT.

>> HE'S ALWAYS ENCOURAGED HIS FACULTY AND STAFF TO GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND JUST TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF.

LET'S GET HEALTHY AND STAY HEALTHY.

>> CHUCK WILL MODEL WELLNESS AND TALK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES WITH RUNNING.

THAT HAS MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE WITH HIS SPONSORSHIP OF THE 8K PROGRAM.

>> THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE -- SOMETHING I'M MOST PROUD IN TERMS OF THAT.

PEOPLE ONE, TAKING THAT TIME TO INVEST IN THEMSELVES TORQUES TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND OBVIOUSLY MODEL ING THAT HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE KIDS AND WHAT THEY WILL CARRY WITH THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> PLEASE WELCOME THE RECIPIENT OF THE OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF BARTALSVILLE, CHUCK MACAULAY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO HAD A PART IN TODAY'S EVENT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE OF 29 YEARS, ANN.

8TH GRADE MATH TEACHER EXTRAORDINARY, JENNIFER.

IT IS HUMBLING TO RECEIVE THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY OF BARTAL BARTALVILLE.

I HAVE LEARNED WHEN THERE IS AVOID THAT, GETS FILLED WITH SOMETHING.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

MANY TIMES THE FILLING OF AVOID IS NOT POSITIVE.

HERE ARE CHALLENGES WE HAVE FACED.

IN 2016 OUR DISTRICT WAS IN THE WORST SHAPE IN YEARS, WHICH WE MADE MAKING DIFFICULT REDUCTIONS AS FAR FROM THE CLASSROOM AS POSSIBLEN.

2018 SALARIES WERE DEAD-LAST IN THE REGION.

WHICH FOR WE LOST SIX TEACHERS TO KANSAS.

BARTLESVILLE STEPPED UP WITH THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION BEFORE THE TEACHER WALK-OUT.

LEADERSHIP WAS ALSO NEEDED TO END THE WALKOUT SEVERAL DAYS LATER.

NOW IN THE MIDST OF WHAT IS HOPEFULLY ONCE IN A LIFETIME PANDEMIC, WHICH ALMOST DAILY WE EXPERIENCE ISSUES WHICH THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS.

WHAT I ALWAYS COME BACK TO WHEN FACING A LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES TO DO THESE THINGS, TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN.

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT.

ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD.

AS YOU LISTENB A LIGHT.

NOT A JUDGE.

SHOW THE DISCERNMENT TO DO WHAT MAKES SENSE.

BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU CAN BE WRONG.

WHEN YOU ARE, BE WISE ENOUGH TO APOLOGIZE.

DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

IN CLOSING I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> BEFORE WE PRESENT MEDALS FOR EXCELLENCE AT HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL, WE HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT.

WE ARE GRATEFUL, AS ALWAYS, TO OKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE ORCHESTRA, WHICH HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR CEREMONIES EACH YEAR.

THE OKLAHOMA SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE IS OKLAHOMA'S OFFICIAL SCHOOL OF ARTS AND THE STATE'S PREMIER PROGRAM FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

WHAT A MARVELOUS PROGRAM AS WELL.

EACH YEAR 270 STUDENTS ARE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS IN VISUAL, LITERARY AND PERFORMING ARTS TO STUDY WITH NATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTISTS DURING A TWO-WEEK INTENSIVE SUMMER ACADEMY.

IT IS SOMETHING TO SEE AND HEAR.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM.

WHILE THE ARTS INSTITUTE OCCUR TRA CANNOT PERFORM LIVE AT THIS YEAR'S ACADEMIC AWARDS CELEBRATION DUE TO COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE A RECORDED PERFORMANCE FROM THE 2017 BANQUET AS A TRIBUTE FOR OUR RECIPIENTS THIS YEAR.

PLEASE WELCOME THE ORCHESTRA LED BY DEE PETERSON AS THEY PLAY THE RUSSIAN SAILOR'S DANCE.

NOEKZ /* ♪ ♪♪ >>> PRESENTING OUR NEXT AWARD IS A 2002 ALL-STATE ALUMNUS WHO PASSION FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY LED HIM TO MANAGE SEVERAL OKLAHOMA POLITICAL COMPANIES.

TODAY HE WORKS AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE VETERINARY PRO INFECTION, SERVING AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OKLAHOMA VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION, PLEASE WELCOME FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, GORDAN DECORT.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> BEFORE HE LEARNED TO LEAVE DAVID WAS COLLECTING SPECIMENS ON THE TEXAS GULF COAST, FASCINATED BY COMPLEXITY, CURES ABOUT HOW THEY EVOLVED AND BEHAVED.

HIS CHILDHOOD WONDER BECAME A LIFELONG PASSION, ONE THAT LED HIM TO BECOME A LEADING EX PERT ON AQUATIC INVERT BRAY -- INVERT BRATS.

DR. BASS TEACHES COURTS FROM BEGINNING BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY TO INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY AND AQUATIC ETYMOLOGY.

HE ADDS NEW CONTENT AND EXPERIMENTS WITH STRATEGIES .

THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE FIELD STUDIES WHERE STUDENTS ENJOY MAKING OBSERVATIONS IN NATURE.

BECAUSE OF DR. BASS'S ENGAGING TEACHING STYLE AND PURE JOY FOR SUBJECT MATTER, MANY NON-MAJORS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MAJOR TO BECOME BIOLOGISTS.

HE MENTORS AND ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH AND CURATION, WITH MORE THAN 15 STUDENTS SERVING AS CO -AUTHORS OF THE PUBLICATIONS.

>> SOUNDS CRAZY NOW BUT I LOOK BACK AT SOME OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS, PLAYED WITH, I WAS THE WATER PROFESSOR.

THAT IS WHAT THEY CALLED ME.

WHO KNOWS.

MAYBE IT WAS A PROPHESY.

>> THAT IS THE PHRASE IN THE FIELD.

>> WHEN WE GO INTO THE FIELD YOU CAN TELL HE IS IN HIS ELEMENT.

HE GETS SO EXCITED OVER LITTLE THINGS.

I THINK SEEING HIM ACT THAT WAY IN THE FIELD GETS YOU MORE EXCITED TO LIKE BE PART OF THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY AND BE A BIOLOGIST.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SUPER ELITE OR ANYTHING TO LEARN ABOUT NATURE.

EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT.

ANYBODY CAN DO IT.

>> I'M TOLD THERE ARE THESE THINGS OUT THERE.

ONE IS GET OUT OF YOUR HUMAN SKIN AND VIEW LIFE FROM THE ORGANISM.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

>> HE SAY S IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE MAY FLY, YOU GOT TO THINK LIKE ONE.

WHERE WOULD YOU BE.

>> THEY GET SO EXCITED, ALMOST AS IF HE IS DISCOVERING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> HE NEVER TOOK ANYTHING FOR GRANTED AND SATISFIED.

LIKE THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO FIND.

I BELIEVE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IN OUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL CAREERS, WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ENCOUNTER INDIVIDUALS WHO NOT ONLY THROUGH TECHNICAL EXPERTISE BUT THROUGH COMPASSION, FRIENDSHIP, WILLINGNESS TO MENTOR, MAKE MONUMENTAL FOUNDATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO.

>> IT IS SUCH A CLICHE SO I ALMOST HATE TO USE THE WORD BUT IT IS APPROPRIATE.

HOPEFULLY IT TRANSFORMED THEM IN SOME WAY.

THAT IS WHAT I HOPE.

I HOPE I MADE A DIFFERENCE , A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIFE >> PLEASE WELCOME THE RECIPIENT OF THE OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN REGIONAL UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE TEACHER.

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, DR. DAVID BASS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE HERE.

TEACHING IS MY HERITAGE.

MY FATHER BEGAN AS A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER.

MY GRANDMOTHER SPENT MUCH OF HER LIFE TEACHING FIRST GRADE.

IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT TEACHING IS ALSO WHAT I DO.

IT SEEMS I HAVE SPENT JUST ABOUT MY ENTIRE LIFE IN SOME FORMAL EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.

AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN TEXAS, ALONG THE COAST, I ENJOYED SHARING WITH OTHERS WHAT I OBSERVED OR LEARNED.

I GAVE MY FIRST PRESENTATION AT 5 YEARS OLD TO A GROUP OF MY GRANDMOTHER'S FIRST GRADE STUDENTS DURING A FIELD TRIP TO CRYSTAL BEACH.

I DESCRIBED THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHELLS THAT WASHED ASHORE, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PAINFUL THING STINGS FROM A JELLY FISH.

SOME OF THE SHELLS I COLLECTED ALMOST 60 YEARS AGO ARE DEPOSITED IN UCO'S BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM.

WE STILL USE THEM IN CLASSROOMS TODAY.

IF THOSE FIRST GRADERS THAT WERE ON THAT FIELD TRIP, IF THEY WERE COLLEGE STUDENTS TODAY IN ONE OF MY CLASSES, I WOULD TRY TO USE THAT EXPERIENCE TO ENHANCE THE WAY THEY THINK ABOUT NATURE, THEN LEARN MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES.

WHEN I REFLECT ON MY LONG ACADEMIC CAREER I REALIZE I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE LEARNED FROM SO MANY EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSORS AND COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA TO HELP DEVELOP ME AS A TEACHER.

I HAVE MY WIFE DONNA, WHO HAS SHOWN CONSTANT LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING OF ME FOR THE PAST ALMOST 45 YEARS SINCE WE WERE UNDERGRADUATES TOGETHER.

THANK YOU FOR THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE AND THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED IN THIS CEREMONY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR FINAL AWARD PRESENTER TODAY IS A CARDIOLOGIST FOR THE OKLAHOMA HEART HOSPITAL WHERE SHE SPECIALIZES IN CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING AND STRUCTURAL HEART DISEASE.

SHE HAS A SPECIAL INTEREST IN PROMOTING WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH.

PLEASE WELCOME 2000 ALUMNI, DR. NICOLE TRAIN.

>> -- HAVE BEEN CALLED THE MOST FLIEN WHEN SHALL TEACHER.

HER MOTHER, A TEACH NER PHILIPPINES, THOUGH CAME FROM HUMBLE MEANS, HER MOTHER ALWAYS ENCOURAGED HER TO WORK HARD AND COUNT HER MANY BLESSINGS.

LIKE HER MOTHER, SHE SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR HER STUDENTS, WHILE PROVIDING THE NURTURING SUPPORT THEY NEEDED TO PURSUE DREAMS.

SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1989 TO PURSUE HER PH.D.

IN CHEMISTRY AT OKLAHOMA STATE AND HOLDS ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES.

SHE IS PRAISED FOR HER STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACH TO TEACHING AND ABILITY TO TAKE NUTRIENT METABOLISM AND MAKE THEM APPLICABLE.

SHE ACCESSES HER OWN HABIT BITS AND ACTIVITY, WHICH SHE HOPES WILL IMPACT THEIR LIVES LONG AFTER THEY LEAVE HER CLASS.

DR. LUCAS MENTORS AND ENGAGES STUDENTS, FOCUSSING ON ROLE OF NUTRITION, AND PROMOTING CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND PREVENTING DISEASE.

THE RECIPIENT OF NUMEROUS AWARDS SHE IS RECOGNIZED FOR HER ABILITY TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN AND ACHIEVE MORE THAN THEY DREAMED WAS POSSIBLE.

>> NUTRITION IS A SCIENCE, NOT AN OPINION.

WHENEVER SOMEONE IS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING SUCH AS BAD DIETS, KETO VERSUS PALEO AND GLUTEN-FREE.

THERE IS A SCIENCE.

>> IT IS A COMBINATION OF MAT CHEMISTRY, PHYSIOLOGY, ANATOMY, SOCIAL SCIENCE, BIO CHEMICAL SCIENCE.

THEY GET SURPRISED.

OH MY, THIS IS A LOT OF SCIENCE.

F %BACK >> I THINK SHE TEACHES TO THE HIGHEST STUDENT IN THE CLASSROOM.

SHE REALLY SETS THAT BAR HIGH, BUT I THINK AGAIN I THINK SHE DOES IT IN SUCH A KIND WAY.

>> I'M LIKE THEIR MOM.

WHEN YOU SEE THEM SUCCESSFUL, IT IS A BIG HONOR.

>> IT IS A MODEL FOR BALANCE.

SHE IS RUNNING AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING, EATS A HEALTHY DIET AND DOES THESE THINGS OPENLY, SHARES WITH STUDENTS.

SHE IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY POSITIVE ROLE MODEL.

>> SHE IS JUST GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PROFESSOR AND IMPACT LIVES AND HELP STUDENTS.

>> I WANT THEM TO REMEMBER THE CLASS WAS FUN AND THEY LEARNED SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN APPLY IN THEIR LIVES.

I ALWAYS TELL THEM I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS JUST HAVE FUN.

LIFE IS SHORT.

>> FROM WHERE SHE STARTED TO WHERE SHE IS NOW AND EVERY ASPECT OF BEING AN EDUCATOR, SHE'S WORKED AT IT.

SHE HAS SWEAT THROUGH IT AT TIMES AND STRESSED THROUGH IT AT TIMES.

THE FACT OF THE WORK AND DEDICATION SHE HAS, IT IS NOT TO HERSELF AND HER CAREER.

IT IS TO HER STUDENTS.

>> PLEASE WELCOME THE RECIPIENT OF OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH UNIVERSITY TEACHING, FROM OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, DR. LUCAS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I'M DEEPLY HUMBLED AND HONORED.

I NEVER IMAGINED SOMEONE LIKE ME WITH DIFFERENT ACCENT THAN MOST OF YOU WOULD GET THIS TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD.

THIS SHOWS US TEACHING TRANSCENDS LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND IS MORE ABOUT CARING AND LOOKING OUT FOR THE STUDENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS, MY FAMILY, MY COLLEAGUES AND MY STUDENTS WHOM I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH.

WHEN I WAS ASKED TO PREPARE SPEECH, I WAS ASKED TO SAY SOMETHING INSPIRATIONAL.

I LOVE QUOTES.

I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE SOME QUOTES I HAVE USED IN MY CLASSES.

HERE ARE FIVE THAN SPIRE ME.

A TEACHER TAKES A HAND, OPENS A MIND AND SUCHES A HEART.

SO QUOTES ABOUT HEALTH.

WHEN DIET IS STRONG, MEDICINE IS OF NO USE.

WHEN DIET IS CORRECT, MEDICINE IS OF NO NEED.

THOSE ARE THINGS THEY HAVE NO TIME FOR EXERCISE WHO SOONER OR LATER FIND TIME FOR ILLNESS.

THE LAST TWO QUOTES ABOUT LIFE, THE ONLY WAY TO DO GREAT WORK IS TO LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

IF YOU HAVEN'T FOUND IT YET, DON'T SETTLE.

DON'T SKIP LOOKING.

DON'T SETTLE.

THE LAST ONE, IN A WORLD WHERE YOU CAN BE ANYTHING, BE KIND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR THIS AWARD.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S KEYNOTE SPEAKER, RENOWNED AUTHOR KNOWN FOR HER STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, FOSTERING EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY THE VALUES THAT PROMOTES DIVERSITY, ERIN GREWWELL TRANSFORMED LIVES FOR HER STUDENTS AND ENCOURAGED THEM RE-THINK RIGID BELIEFS ABOUT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, RECONSIDER DAILY DECISIONS AND ULTIMATELY RECHARGE THEIR FUTURES.

WITH HER SUPPORT THEY CHOSE TO FOREGO TEENAGE PREGNANCY, DRUGS AND VIOLENCE TO BECOME ASPIRING COLLEGE STUDENTS, ACCOMPLISHED WRITERS AND CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE.

THEY DUB THEMSELVES THE FREEDOM WRITERS IN HOMAGE TO CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, THE FREEDOM RIDERS AND PUBLISH ED A BOOK, THE FREEDOM WRITERS DIARY, WHICH BECAME A NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIME BEST SELLER.

ERIN'S IMPACT ATTRACTED HOLLYWOODN.

2007 PARAMOUNT RELEASED FREEDOM WRITERS WITH HILARY SWANK PORTRAYING ERIN.

SHE CREATED THE FOUNDATION IN LONG DESTINY BEACH, CALIFORNIA WHERE SHE TEACHES EDUCATORS AROUND THE COUNTRY HOW TO IMPLEMENT HER INNOVATIVE LESSON PLANS INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS.

HER METHOD S HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN HER CALL TO ARMS, TEACH WITH YOUR HEART AS WELL AS THE DIARY TEACHER'S GUIDE.

ERIN'S TEACHERS SHE'S TRAINED, KNOWN AS FREEDOM WRITER TEACHER, COLLABORATED TO WRITE TEACHING HOPE, IN WHICH THEY SHARE CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS OF THEIR WORK IN EDUCATION.

ERIN GREWWELL AND HER STUDENTS HAVE APPEARED ON NUMEROUS SHOWS, INCLUDING OPRAH, BARBARA WALTERS "THE VIEW" AND "GOOD MORNING AMERICA".

THEIR STORY HAS EARNED DOZENS OF AWARDS, MOST NOTABLY THE SPIRIT OF ANN FRANK AWARD.

SHE IS A GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE AND EARNED TEACHING CREDENTIALS FROM CALIFORNIA STATE AT LONG BEACH, WHERE SHE WAS HONORED AS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI BY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN A WARM OKLAHOMA WELCOME FOR HER INSPIRING KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> STANDING BEFORE YOU, THINKING BACK TO BEING A KID, I AM A DECEDENT OF GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE FROM OKLAHOMA.

THEY CAME TO CALIFORNIA WHEN MY GRANDFATHER SHIPPED OFF WITH THE NAVY IN WORLD WAR II.

I ALWAYS HEARD STORIES ABOUT GRIT AND GUMPTION.

I BELIEVE THOSE OKLAHOMA VALUES AND THOSE ROOTS WERE PLANTED IN ME.

WHEN I WAS A KID I ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE A LAWYER.

GOD FOR BIDED BY.

SOMETHING HAPPENED IN MY COMMUNITY WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.

TURNED ON MY OLD SCHOOL TELEVISION, THE KIND WITH THE RABBIT EAR ANTENNAS, I SAW THIS YOUNG BOY A WORLD AWAY STANDING IN FRONT IN THE MIDDLE OF TIANANMEN SQUARE, CHINA.

I DIDN'T KNOW HIS NAME.

I DIDN'T KNOW HIS STORY.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS STANDING UP FOR OR TO OR ABOUT.

I JUST ASSUMED IF YOU ARE GOING TO STAND IN FRONT OF A TANK, THAT IT'S GOT TO BE BIGGER THAN YOURSELF.

I WATCHED, FIXATED.

THE TANK GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER.

HE DOUBLED DOWN AS IF TO BECKON THAT TANK TO RUN HIM OVER.

AS I WATCHED THAT MOMENT UNFOLD ON TELEVISION LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, IT WAS HUMBLING.

I HAD NEVER STOOD UP FOR ANYTHING OR ANYONE.

I'M A PUBLIC SCHOOL GIRL.

I JOINED ALL THE RIGHT CLUBS.

PLAYED ALL THE RIGHT SPORTS.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE COURAGE OR CONVICTION TO STAND UP TO A MEAN GIRL.

HERE WAS THIS GUY ACROSS THE GLOBE STANDING UP FOR EDUCATION.

STANDING UP FOR A VOICE TO GIVE TO THE VOICES.

STANDING UP FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS BIGGER THAN HIMSELF.

SO IN THAT HARROWING MOMENT I THOUGHT, I WANT TO STAND UP FOR SOMETHING AND SOMEONE, SO I CHOSE TO BE A TEACHER.

MY FATHER DID NOT TAKE THE NEWS SO WELL.

HE QUICKLY REMINDED ME TEACHERS DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY, WHICH IS TRUE.

HE ALSO TOLD ME I WOULD NEVER AFFORD A HOME IN A CITY I GREW UP, WHICH IS ACTUALLY STILL TRUE TO TODAY.

I WANTED TO PROVE TO DAD BEING AN EDUCATOR WAS ABOUT THAT SIDE KICK INCOME, THE AHA MOMENT.

A TWINKLE IN THE EYE, GLIMMER, LIGHT IN DARK PLACES.

SHORTLY BEFORE I BEGAN TEACHING IN MY VERY COMMUNITY WE HAD A RACIAL RECKONING .

THE RODNEY KING VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED.

OUR CITY WAS EN SCONCED IN FLAMES.

I WATCHED KIDS WHO WERE SO MAD REACH FOR A GUN OR REACH FOR A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL AND DESTROY SOMETHING.

I FELT HELPLESS AND FELT POWER LESS BUT I REALIZED EDUCATION ESPECIALLY IN THOSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS THE BEST WAY TO EQUALIZE AN UNFAIR PLAYING FIELD.

AS I WATCHED THIS UNFOLD ON MY TELEVISION, AS I FELT THE ASH IN AIR AND SAW THE SMOKE AHEAD, I THOUGHT THAT IS THE SCHOOL I WANT TO TEACH AT.

ONCE AGAIN MY FATHER REMINDED ME TO PUT ON THAT BULLET-PROOF VEST, WHICH I DID NOT.

I MADE THAT 45-MINUTE DRIVE FROM SUBURBS TO INNER CITY SCHOOL AND I WAITED.

I WANTED FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

UNLIKE THE ACADEMIC ALL-STARS WHO ARE BRIGHT, CHIPPER, USUALLY THERE BEFORE THAT FIRST LESSON BEGINS, I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE TARDY BELL.

I HAD TO WAIT FOR EVERY ONE OF MY STUDENTS TO BE ESCORTED IN BY A SECURITY OFFICER, PROBATION OFFICER OR THE PRINCIPAL.

WHAT I QUICKLY FOUND OUT IN THOSE FIRST FEW DAYS THE STUDENTS I HAD, THESE TEENAGER, THEY DIDN'T LIKE READING.

THEY DIDN'T LIKE WRITING, THEY DIDN'T LIKE SCHOOL.

THE ONLY THING THAT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY WAS THAT REALLY DIDN'T LIKE ME.

THEIR ANNOYING, PER KI CHEERLEADER WHO WANTS TO TAKE STORIES OF SHAKESPEARE AND SONNETS AND BRING THEM TO LIFE.

WHEN I SAW MY SYLLABUS COME RIGHT BACK AT ME IN THE FORM OF A PAPER PLANE AND HAND RAISED A STUDENT ASKED ME, MS. G, WHY DO WE HAVE TO READ BOOKS WRITTEN BY DEAD WHITE GUYS IN TIGHTS.

WHICH IS A VERY PROFOUND QUESTION.

SO WHEN I REALIZED RIGHT THEN AND THERE IS HOW DO I MAKE EDUCATION RELEVANT.

HOW DO I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH KIDS WHO DON'T WANT TO BE THERE.

HOW DO I MAKE IT GRITTY AND HAVE THAT SAME GUMPTION MY OKLAHOMA GRANDPARENTS TALKED ABOUT.

SO I TOOK LESSONS OF METICULOUSLY PLANNED COURSE CURRICULUMS, PUT THEM ASIDE AND IMAGINE TEACHING WITH MY STUDENTS.

I MAD MY OWN PERSONAL CRASH, BOOM, BAM MOMENT.

SOMETHING HAPPENED.

SOMETHING THAT WAS HORRIFIC IN NATURE BUT A TEACHABLE MOMENT.

A PIECE OF PAPER, SHARP IE AND RACIST CARICATURE WAS DRAWN OF MY STUDENTS.

IT WENT OFF LIKE A FOREST FIRE.

THERE WAS LAUGHTER, FIST BUMP, HIGH FIVES.

IT WENT DOWN A SECOND ROW.

THERE WAS MORE LAUGHTER, MORE HIGH-FIVES.

BY THE TIME I INTERCEPTED THAT NOTE FROM THE HANDS OF THAT INTENDED STUDENT I REALIZED THIS TOUGH KID, HE WASN'T SO TOUGH AFTER ALL.

I SAW THE KNOT IN HIS THROAT.

I SAW THE TEARS IN HIS EYES.

I COULD FEEL THE CLENCH OF HIS FIST.

MY FEAR WAS THAT FOR A BOY THAT HAD ALWAYS BEEN KICKED OUT OF CLASS AND OUT OF SCHOOL AND OUT OF COMMUNITIES, THAT THE BELL WOULD RING.

FIST TO CUFFS IN THE HALLWAY.

THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF FIGHT IN THE SCHOOL YARD.

IT WOULD TAKE OUT ON THE STREETS.

FOR A CITY THAT JUST HAD HAD 126 HOMICIDES, MY FEAR WAS THIS COULD BE THE 127TH.

MONDAY I MIGHT NOT BE STANDING AT A CHALK BOARD TEACHING LESSONS ON VERBS.

I MIGHT BE IN A FUNERAL PARLOR BURYING ANOTHER STUDENT.

IN THAT MANIC MOMENT I THINK I TURNED INTO MEDICAL MEDUSA.

I STARTED YELLING, SCREAMING.

I WANTED TO MAKE SENSE AND MAKE MY STUDENTSNESS THAT PAIN IS PAIN.

FOR THIS POOR STUDENT TEASED FOR SOMETHING HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND I WANTED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF RECKONING.

HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.

I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IN MY CLASSROOM.

SO AS I'M YELLING AND SCREAMING ONE OF MY STUDENTS, A KNOWN GRAFFITI ARTIST RAISED HIS HAND AND ASKED ME A SIMPLE QUESTION.

WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT IS THAT WORD?

WHAT IS THE HOLOCAUST.

I'M AN ENGLISH TEACHER.

HISTORY IS NOT ON MY SYLLABUS.

AS I WAS RANTING AND RAVING AND TRYING TO MAKE SENSE, I TALKED ABOUT BULLIES, THE BIGGEST, BADDEST OF ALL.

THOSE NAZIS, THOSE SOLDIERS THAT LED TO THE HOLOCAUST.

I LOOKED OUT INTO THE SEA OF STUDENTS AFTER CARLOS RAISED HIS HANDS AND I ASKED MY STUDENTS, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD OF THE HOLOCAUST?

NOT ONE.

THEN I ASKED A MORE PROVOCATIVE QUESTION.

RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN SHOT AT OR STABBED.

I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THE ANSWER BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE KIDS RAISED THEIR HAND.

PULLED UP THEIR SHIRTS.

SHOWED ME THEIR WAR WOUNDS.

THEY WERE SOLDIERS IN AN UNDECLARED WAR.

IN THAT MOMENT I STOPPED BEING JUST THE TEACHER AND HUMBLED MYSELF TO BE THEIR STUDENT.

I NEEDED TO LEARN WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE STREETS.

I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THEIR HOME.

I NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND WHY MY STUDENTS WOULD PUSH ME AWAY RATHER THAN PULL ME CLOSER.

I NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD PUSH THOSE THOUGHTS AND THOSE STORIES, THOSE ANECDOTES DOWN RATHER THAN SHARE.

I STARTED THINKING OF WAYS TO REACH MY STUDENTS THROUGH ACADEMICS IN A CLASSROOM.

THE FIRST THING I DECIDED TO DO WAS PLAY A GAME.

IT WAS ANYTHING BUT.

WHAT I DID WAS TAKE EVERYTHING FROM MY CLASSROOM.

EVERY DESK, EVERY CHAIR, EVERY BALL POINT PEN, EVERYTHING.

THE REASON BEING IS I HAD THE STUDENTS WHO SCORED BELOW THE 25TH PERCENTILE ON EVERY STANDARDIZED TEST.

I HAD THE STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE OR GROUP HOMES.

THAT PARENTS WOULD NEVER VOLUNTEER FOR PTA OR BAKE BROWNIES OR COOKIES.

I HAD STUDENTS WHO VOLUNTEERED BE THAT CHEERLEADER OR BE IN THE BAND.

WHAT I DESPERATELY WANTED WAS TO KNOW MY STUDENTS.

BECAUSE THEY WERE PART OF A SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT WAS DUBBED AS THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

THEY WERE LABELED, STEREOTYPED AND STIGMA.

SOMEHOW LIKE THAT KID STANDING IN TIANANMEN SQUARE, I WANTED THEM TO STAND UP FOR SOMEBODY.

STAND UP, SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT, EVEN IF IT WAS IN THE SILENCE.

EVEN IF IT WAS IN SOLIDARITY WITH ANOTHER.

SO I TOOK EVERYTHING OUT OF MY CLASSROOM AND TOOK THIS IN THE CENTER OF MY CLASSROOM.

THERE WAS NO PLACE TO SIT, NOTHING TO DO EXCEPT STAND AGAINST A WALL AND SEE EACH OTHER, LOOK AT EACH OTHER IN THE EYE.

I THINK THEY THOUGHT I WAS CUKOO CRAZY, BUT AT LEAST WE WEREN'T TAKING A TEST SO THEY WERE GOING TO MILK IT.

THEN CAME THE QUESTIONS.

AT FIRST THEY WERE ABOUT POP CULTURE THAT.

IS OUR COMPETITION.

IT IS THOSE SONG, THOSE MOVIES, THOSE MARVEL CHARACTERS.

THOSE FIRST FEW QUESTIONS I ASKED, STAND ON THE LINE, IT WAS ABOUT AN ARTIST.

AN ATHLETE.

AN ICON.

THEY KIND OF LAUGHED, KIND OF ROLLED THEIR EYES, DID THOSE FIST BUMPS AND STOOD ON THAT LINE.

AFTER ENOUGH CRAZY QUESTIONS ABOUT A MARVEL CHARACTER, A MOVIE OR AN ICON, I TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND THE QUESTIONS GOT SERIOUS REAL QUICK.

STAND ON THE LINE IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS POOR.

JUST LIKE THAT MOVIE, JUST LIKE THAT MARVEL CHARACTER, JUST LIKE THAT ATHLETE OR THAT ICON, EVERY ONE OF MY STUDENTS STOOD ON THAT LINE.

THAT SOMEONE WAS SOUNDED BECAUSE EACH KNEW WHAT IT FELT LIKE IN THE PIT OF THEIR STOMACH TO BE HUNGRY.

TO OPEN UP A REFRIGERATOR AND NOTHING BUT A BAR OF BUTTER.

GO TO A CUB BARD AND IT IS RAMEN NOODLES AGAIN, HAVE THE GAS CUT.

WANT OR ASK FOR THINGS FOR THIS CHRISTMAS OR BIRTHDAY AND WONDER WHAT WILL MY HARD WORKING MOM HAVE TO SACRIFICE.

IN THAT MOMENT WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF MY STUDENTS STANDING ON THAT LINE, REGARDLESS OF SHAPE, SIZE, COLOR AND HUE, THE QUESTIONS CONTINUED.

THEY WERE HARROWING.

SOMETIMES HEARTBREAKING.

OH SO HEROIC.

SO AS THOSE STUDENTS STOOD ON THAT LINE I KNEW WHAT RESILIENCE LOOKED LIKE.

OR PERSEVERANCE.

I KNEW THEY WEREN'T STANDING ALONE.

I KNEW THEY WEREN'T STANDING IN JUST SILENCE.

FOR SO MANY KIDS THEY ARE IN THE DARKNESS.

SOMEHOW, SOME WAY SOMEONE WAS GOING TO SEE THEM.

IN SEEING THEM WE WOULD SEE THEIR STORY.

SEEING THEM, WE WOULD HEAR A CRY FOR HELP.

THEY WOULD MATTER.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WITH EACH AND EVERY QUESTION I ASKED MY STUDENTS THAT IT WOULD CHANGE THE GAME.

USUALLY WITH GAMES THERE IS A WINNER, A LOSER, MIGHT BE A GOLD STAR OR A PRIZE OR AS WE SEE TODAY, MEDALS, MONEY, ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITION.

THIS GAME DIDN'T HAVE THAT BUT IT HAD SOLIDARITY.

IT TAUGHT ME FAMILY CAN BE WHAT WE MAKE, COMMUNITY CAN BE WHAT WE CREATE.

IN THAT VERY CLASSROOM MY STUDENTS BECAME BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THEIR MAKING.

I DECIDED WE WOULD HAVE A TOAST FOR CHANGE.

WE WOULD SOMEHOW, SOME WAY TAKE EVERY REASON THAT BROUGHT THEM TO THE LINE, WHETHER IT WAS DEPRESSION, POVERTY OR ANY OTHER AILMENTS THAT HAD KEPT THEM FROM GETTING THOSE GOOD GRADES OR COMING TO SCHOOL OR RAISING THEIR HANDS OR JOINING THAT CLUB OR BEING PART OF SOMETHING THAT WAS BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES.

SO I BLUE BLEW /* /* BLEW UP BALLOONS, GOT PLASTIC CHAMPAGNE GLASSES, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A TASTE FOR CHANGE.

WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO RIGHT THEN AND THERE IS WIDE THE SLATE CLEAN.

DIDN'T MATTER THEY HAD A.6GPA OR KICKED OUT OF EVERY SCHOOL THEY HAD ATTENDED.

DIDN'T MATTER THEY DIDN'T LIKE READING OR WRITING OR ME.

STARTING TODAY WAS A DO-OVER.

AS MY STUDENTS CAME IN AND THEY PICKED UP THOSE PLASTIC CHAMPAGNE GLASSES FILLED WITH SPARKLING APPLE CIDER, FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY DARED TO DREAM.

HAVE COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEIR PAST.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ABOUT THEIR PRESENT.

THEIR DREAMS ABOUT THE FUTURE.

AS THEY STOOD AND RAISE ED THAT GLASS AND ACTUAL IZED, DARED TO JOIN, IT WAS AS IF THE UNIVERSE WAS LISTENING.

SUDDENLY THOSE BROTHERS, SISTERS AND FAMILY DECIDED AS FRESHMAN, WE ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR WEAKEST LINK.

THOUGH THE STIGMA AND LABELS AND STEREOTYPES WERE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GRADUATE.

FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GO TO COLLEGE.

THAT GRIT, THAT GUMPTION.

I STAND BEFORE YOU AS AN ORDINARY TEACHER WHO HAD EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS WHO LEARNED INSTEAD OF FIST AND GUN TO PICK UP A PEN AND FACE A FEAR.

PICK UP A PEN AND TELL A TRUTH.

PICK UP A PEN AND SHARE A STORY.

TO BECOME AUTHORS.

TO BECOME ACCIDENTAL ACTIVISTS.

STAND UP, SPEAK UP, MOST IMPORTANTLY TORQUES SPEAK OUT.

THEY TOOK THIS NAME, FREEDOM WRITERS, IN HONOR OF THOSE 1960 ACTIVISTS WHO WERE YOUR AGE.

SOME WERE JUST HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

SOME WERE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF ACADEMIC STUDIES.

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER AND CHALLENGED THE LOT OF OUR COUNTRY.

THEY HAD EVERYTHING TO GAIN AND NOTHING TO LOSE.

AS MY STUDENTS WATCHED IN HONOR THEY THOUGHT IF THOSE FREEDOM WRITERS CAN RIDE THOSE BUSES AND CHANGE EVERYTHING WHY QUESTION WENT CALL OURSELVES FREEDOM WRITERS.

PICK UP A PEN.

WRITE AS ANN FRANK DID IN ATTIC, AS A YOUNG GIRL IN BOSNIA DID IN THE MIDST OF A WAR IN SARAJEVO, AS CASELL IN THE CART.

TELL A TRUTH, SHARE A STORY.

AT THAT TENDER AGE OF A TEENAGER MY STUDENTS HAD NO IDEA THAT AT SOME POINT SOMEONE WOULD PICK UP THEIR BOOK READ IT.

THEIR WORDS WERE LIKE A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE.

MAYBE IT WOULD WASH ACROSS THE SHORE OR LANDS IN THE HANDS OF A NEIGHBOR OR ME OR GRANDPARENTS OR A PARENT.

WE SENT THAT BOOK TO EVERY SINGLE PUBLISHING HOUSE IN AMERICA.

THIS IDEA WE CALLED OUR BOOK A LITTLE BOOK THAT COULD IN HONOR OF THAT TRAIN GOING DOWN THE TRACK SAYING I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN.

THEY DID.

EVERY SINGLE PUBLISHING HOUSE IN AMERICA TURNED US DOWN.

LITERALLY, EVERY SINGLE ONE.

WHO WANTS TO READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY 150 TEENAGERS, THEIR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

THEN WE TRIED ONE MORE TIME.

WE SENT THE BOOK TO THE SAME PUBLISHING HOUSE THAT PUBLISHED THE BOOK BY A LITTLE GIRL IN A TEENY ATTIC WHO DARED TO WRITE FROM THE AGE 13 TO 15 WHILE LOOKING OUT A WINDOW IN A SECRET ANNEX.

SO IT IS AS IT SHOULD BE THE SAME PUBLISHING HOUSE THAT PUBLISHED THE DIARY OF ANN FRANK TOOK A CHANCE ON MY STUDENTS AND PUBLISHED THE FREEDOM WRITER'S DIARY.

IT WASN'T EASY.

THAT BOOK HAS BEEN BURNED AND BANNED.

YOU FIND OUT WHEN YOU HAVE A BOOK BURNED OR BANNED, THAT THE BEST WAY TO GET A TEENAGER TO READ IT.

TEENAGERS DON'T BELIEVE IN SENSORSHIP OR SILENCE.

I'M HONORED THAT ALL OF YOUR TEENAGERS TODAY ARE GOING LEAVE HERE WITH THAT BOOK.

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN.

THE BATON IS PASSED IN THE FORM OF A PEN, AWARD AND RECOGNITION.

IT IS NOW YOUR TURN TO FACE A FEAR, TO TELL A TRUTH, TO SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT.

YOU HAVE A ROOMFUL OF SCHOLARS AND WE ARE LISTENING.

WE ARE LEANING IN.

IN THIS TIME WHERE A PANDEMIC IS PERSISTING, YOU ARE THE LIGHT.

YOU ARE THE LIGHTHOUSE.

YOU ARE THE BEACON.

YOU ARE WHAT IS GOING TO GET US TO THE OTHER SIDE.

MAY YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY BOLDLY.

MAY YOU LEAVE HERE KNOWING YOU ARE THE VOICE TO THE VOICE LESS.

MAY YOU LEAVE HERE THOSE ACCIDENTAL ACTIVISTS AND MAY YOU RAISE A GLASS, MAKE A TOAST TO CHANGE AND KNOW THAT CHANGE IS INEVITABLE.

THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE WITH YOU AS YOUR KINDRED SPIRIT, AN ORDINARY TEACHER THAT BELIEVES IN HEROISM OF EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS, THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> SHE STILL HAS IT.

AS YOU STUDENTS -- AWE YOU STUDENTS FOR INTRODUCING YOURSELF, SHE HAD THE BIGGEST GRIN.

NEVER LEFT HER FACE.

SHE STILL FEELS IT.

THAT POSSIBILITY ALL OF YOU HAVE.

NEW EDUCATORS.

IT WAS THE HAPPIEST LOOK BECAUSE I COULD SEE HER WHOLE FACE FOR ONCE.

NO MASK, BUT WHAT A LOVELY SMILE.

IT IS ALL IN SIDE THERE.

ERIN'S STORY IS ONE OF SEEING POSSIBILITY IN OTHERS, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE OR SURROUNDINGS.

IN BELIEVING IN SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.

HARD WOR PERSEVERANCE.

HER STUDENTS WERE LABELED AS UNTEACHABLE, FORGETTABLE.

TOSSED OUT LIKE THE TRASH UNTIL THEY SHOWED THE REMARKABLE SPIRIT, THAT HUMAN SPIRIT THAT LIES WITHIN EACH OF US.

LABELS PUTS IN BOXES, OFTEN UNFAIR AND UNEARNED.

IT IS THEN WE HAVE TO CLEAR THE OBSTACLES AND PROVE OURSELVES.

ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS, YOU HAVE BEEN LABELED TOO.

GIFTED, TALENTED, BRAINIAC, NERD, SOMETIMES THOSE ARE LAURELS PEOPLE CO VET OR SOME HURT BECAUSE THEY DON'T CONSIDER THE WHOLE , THE MARVELOUS BEING OF YOU.

YOU HAVE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF YOU.

AS THE WORLD SEEMS TO ADVANCE AND CHANGE EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES IT SEEMS NOT FOR THE BEST, BUT WE ALWAYS LOOK AHEAD BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY DIRECTION TO LOOK WITH ANY CONFIDENCE.

YOU HAVE HAD MARVELOUS, DEDICATED TEACHERS, COACHES AND PARENTS BEHIND YOU, LIFTING YOU UP, PUSHING YOU FORWARD AND ENCOURAGING YOU.

MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T.

MAYBE THERE HAS JUST BEEN ONE OR TWO PUSHING YOU FORWARD.

LIKE THE TEACHERS AND PROFESSORS WE HAVE HONORED HERE TODAY.

BUT ALWAYS BELIEF IN THE POWER OF ONE OR TWO.

I DON'T KNOW YOUR BACKGROUND, THE PITFALLS AND SETBACKS YOU HAVE FACED, OBSTACLES YOU HAVE HAD TO CLEAR.

I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD TO DO THAT.

I THINK THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT YOU ARE BRIGHT, INTELLIGENT AND THE WORD HAS COME EASY TO YOU.

WE KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE.

YOUR CHALLENGES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE CHALLENGES ERIN'S STUDENTS FACED BUT WE ALL HAVE SETBACKS AND STUMBLES AND OFTEN ARRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CONFUSION KNOCKING US BACK.

YOU ARE AMONG THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST OUR STATE HAS TO OFFER TO THE REST OF THE WIDER WORLD.

YOU CAN TRULY DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

CONSIDER THAT FOR A MOMENT.

WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

WHAT AN AMAZING PRIVILEGE.

DON'T WASTE THAT.

DON'T EVER WASTE THAT.

OUR WORLD NEEDS EVERY ONE OF YOU PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION TOWARDS PROGRESS, DECENCY AND HOPE.

YOU CAN FIND THOSE THINGS IN ANY MANNER OF WAYS AS YOU MOVE THROUGH LIFE.

DON'T EVER STOP PULLING FORWARD.

WHEN THE INEVITABLE STUMBLES COME REMEMBER ALL WHO HAVE BROUGHT YOU TO THIS PLACE, ALL THE MAGICAL PLACES AND PEOPLE YOU HAVE YET TO SEE AND MEET AND EXPERIENCE AND THEN PICK YOURSELF UP AND START PULLING AGAIN.

AMIDST ALL YOUR HARD WORK, DRIVE AND FOCUS, REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN.

BECAUSE FUN, JOY IS WHAT GIVES LIFE ITS MEANING.

WE NEED MUCH MORE FUN.

LIVE YOUR LIFE SURROUNDED WITH IT.

BREATHE, ENJOY, APPRECIATE.

AS YOU DO, AS YOU LEAVE THIS HALL TODAY AND BEGIN THIS NEXT CHAPTER AND EMBRACE ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT LIE BEFORE YOU, REMEMBER THOSE PEOPLE WHO ERIN ENCOUNTERED AS SHE DID THE SAME, STEPPED OFF IN HER YOUNG LIFE.

THEY ARE ALL STILL HERE.

THE UNREACHABLE, THE UNTEACHABLE.

THE FORGETTABLE.

THE DISPOSABLE.

THE LABELED.

THINK OF THEM.

WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM.

YOU WILL FIND THEM EVERYWHERE.

THEN KEEP PULLING FOR YOU AND FOR THEM AND FOR ALL THE REST OF US.

WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU.

YOU GO WITH OUR BEST WISHES, OUR HIGHEST HOPES AND DEEP AND ENDURING LOVE.

NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE OF OUR ACADEMIC AWARDS CELEBRATION ENJOY THE OKLAHOMA ART'S INSTITUTE'S ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE OF THE MAGNIFICENT 7 AND BE LOVED SONG, OKLAHOMA, WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS THE WORDS TO, AS WE GIVE A SALUTE TO THE MAGNIFICENT 100 ALL-STATERS.

♪ ♪ NOEKZ NOEZ ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] NOEZ ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] ♪