Students and staff heard advice and lessons from panelists during the recent second annual “Celebrating Black Excellence” panel discussion at Sandy Springs Middle School.
Sponsored by Sandy Springs Together and Sandy Springs Middle School, the panel brought together successful Black changemakers who Principal Laurie Woodruff said are making a positive impact in their communities.
The panelists included Dr. Juana Mendenhall, the Walter E. Massey Professor of Physical Sciences at Morehouse College and president and founder of TheraVisc Biotech; Hank Stewart, an Emmy Award-winning poet and author; Julius Williams, NFL and CFL veteran; and Dr. Edward Jackson, director of Sports Medicine for Grady Health System and assistant professor of Orthopedic Surgery for the Emory Department of Orthopedics-Division of Sports Medicine.
Adrianne Murchison, a staff reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, served as the moderator for the panel sessions. She asked the panelists about the purpose in their lives, the advice they’d give to the students, and how they’ve succeeded.
She asked Dr. Mendenhall how students who are inhibited by STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) can become comfortable with it.
Mendenhall said that STEM is a fascinating area that’s ever-evolving. She said a gap can always be found where there’s a question to answer and to say if it will be beneficial for use.
“It’s about asking questions, reaching out to mentors, asking the different questions, and figuring out ways to actually close that gap to solve those questions,” Mendenhall said.
Jackson said he wants to use his platform to give back to people because so much has been given to him. He had the opportunity to go to school because people helped him on that journey.
“[I’m] investing in other people’s legacies, so that they can provide an incredible environment for their families and their networks to be able to…
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