Motivational Speaker Comes to Jefferson High

One of the world's top motiviational speakers will make his way to Jefferson High School on Tuesday to engage with students and parents to offer insight and advice he's learned from his past experiences.

Keith Hawkins, who addresses more than 400,000 students, educators, business owners, and parents each year, will first speak to the high school students during the day for two assemblies, and then at night for a special parent/student night at 8 p.m. in the high school audiorium.

Hawkins, who took his challenging experiences while growing up and saw it as an opportunity to help others, offers inspirational messages to his audiences, and hopes to help them work toward a personal change in their lives.

Under the bio on his website, it says that Hawkins "helps people understand the greatness that is bottled up in them and the opportunities that life has to offer them."

This is Hawkin's second time coming to the school after speaking to the students back in 2009. Michelle Cannarozzi, the high school PTSA president, said that she saw Hawkin's speak to the students last time and was amazed at the impact he had with the kids in just an hour.

"It is truly amazing how they can connect with him and accept his message from a stranger speaking from real world experiences, speaking from the heart," she said. "He's very animated, he's very funny, and he has a way of connecting with kids that have difficulty connecting with adults."

Principal Karl Mundi, who referred to Hawkins as a "student favorite," said he has noticed that Mundi's impact on students has brought a long-lasting effect on the culture and climate of the high school.

"From my past experiences with Keith, attendees can expect an uplifting session that will provide a unique perspective of the parent-student bond during the adolescent years," Mundi said in an e-mail.  "Keith will share humorous anecdotes that promote the value of a supportive family in a child's life in a memorable and meaningful way."

At the parent/student night, Cannarozzi said that Hawkins will reiterate much of what he said to the students, but will engage the parents so that they can have a dialogue with their kids.

"He hopes to close that communication gap between parents and students to open up that conversation of motivation," she said.

Hawkins will make his way to the middle school on Wednesday, where he will relay the same message about the importance of leadership, diversity, and positive school climate to the 6th to 8th graders.

The event is sponsored by the high school PTSA, middle school PTA, and Jefferson Township Municipal Alliance.

Cannarozzi said this event was made possibly through fundraising and planning for a year.

All parents are invited to attend on Tuesday night.

For more information about Keith Hawkins, visit KeithHawkins.com.