The Scholarship Foundation of Indian River County invited neurosurgeon and author Dr. Ben Carson to speak in front of a sold-out crowd last Thursday evening in the Waxlax Performing Arts Center at St. Edward’s School. Prior to the presentation, a select group of donors and sponsors attended a private reception in the Wachter Activity Center enjoying hors d’oeuvres and cocktails and mingling with Carson.
Guests were anxious to meet the charismatic, soft-spoken man, who has recently been on the Republican political radar as a potential 2016 presidential nominee. There was a noticeable spark of energy in the room as he walked in, with some people encouraging him to run for office, but Carson steadfastly refused to fuel any political flames that evening.
Carson was there to speak about his incredible rise from poverty, discussing the latest of his six books, Gifted Hands, The Ben Carson Story. He credits his mother’s strong will and the importance she put on education with enabling him to rise out of poverty and become director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Many St. Edward’s children, alumni and parents attended the presentation, as did approximately 70 middle and high school students who had been given donor-sponsored tickets.
“Several of our charitable supporters felt that it was important for young people from our community to attend this event to hear Dr. Carson’s impactful story,” said Joan Cook, Scholarship Foundation board president, before introducing Carson to the audience.
“Because of their generosity we are happy to welcome young men and women from the Boys & Girls Club, Gifford Youth Achievement Center, Daisy Bridgewater Hope Center, Hibiscus Children’s Center and Youth Guidance.”
Cook expressed hope that some of them would become recipients of future scholarships from the organization, formerly known as Dollars for Scholars.
Carson spoke plainly about his early school life, saying he was dubbed by fellow classmates as the “dumbest kid in school, maybe even in the world.” His rise to fame was a testament to children and parents that anything is possible through hard work and education. And, although Carson began his speech by saying he had no plans to be politically correct, his message stayed friendly and right on track, focused on overcoming adversity with determination.
Mike Mersky, Head of School at St. Ed’s and SRIRC board vice president, met Carson when he headed a school in Baltimore attended by Carson’s children and said it was a major coup to have him speak here.
“One of the things that really good independent schools do is to be private schools with a public purpose. That is what St. Edward’s wants to be,” said Mersky. “This is a very accomplished individual and one of the reasons the Scholarship Foundation wanted him was that he epitomizes what we are trying to do.”
Angelia Perry, GYAC executive director, was hopeful that the youth from her group could relate to Carson’s experience and learn from his message.
“We started a boys mentoring group, Boys to Men Mentoring, where we pair up young men with black role models in the community to see that if they can do it, they can do it too.”
Cook said that was the intent behind inviting children to hear the presentation, adding, “I just hope it encourages them to work and study hard so they can pursue and accomplish their dreams and aspire to what he has accomplished, never giving up.”
