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Message
from the Director
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Message from the DirectorIn 2005, the Durham community came together with a dream to create an academic environment that empowered students to believe in themselves and their abilities to succeed in school and beyond. Four years later, this community can be proud of its accomplishment, proud of the program it has created, proud of the lives it has so profoundly affected. Student U is the story of a young woman who came from fifth grade unwilling to share her brilliance with her classmates and left for sixth grade with confidence, maturity, and a belief that her voice needed to be heard. Student U is the story of a young man who on his second day of 6th grade raised his hand, answered a question correctly in math, and that night called his Student U teacher to brag about it. Student U is the story of students walking in a parade through the streets of Durham, honoring Martin Luther King Jr., chanting “Student U” with all their might and then the next year standing together on the steps on the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King himself stood, declaring “we are role models, students, teachers, and friends. We learn to live, we love to give. We are destined to succeed. We are Student U.” But more than anything, Student U is the story of factions of a community
putting aside their differences to rally around a mission. It is unlikely
partners sharing their best with one another to create something most
could never imagine. Student U is the story of private schools and public
schools, universities and foundations, experienced teachers and idealistic
youth, and hundreds of individuals putting their energy, their faiths,
and their hearts into first a dream, and then an idea, and now a program
which is making a difference in Durham. Yes, dreams do come true. But when they do, we cannot stop reaching up a little higher. There are still so many stars left to be discovered and so many dreams left to realize. As our students and teachers engage in our year-round activities, as we prepare to pilot our high school program, and as we begin to recruit our next classes of students and teachers to join the Student U family, we will be in the active process of enhancing our program. Each individual who joins this community demands that we stretch, grow, and learn from the talents that he or she has to offer. As we reflect on the past and celebrate the present, let us be reminded that together must continue to dream about the future. With great appreciation, Daniel Kimberg |
Dan KimbergExecutive Director
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