OUTLET: Inside Business

By Virginia Lascara
virginia.lascara@insidebiz.com

Norfolk-based Access College Foundation honored its scholarship recipients at its annual Luncheon Scholarship Awards, hosted by Wes Moore, New York Times bestselling author and CEO of BridgeEdU, an educational program that prepares students for college success.

The luncheon, held last Tuesday at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, honored 184 students from local high schools, some of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

Each student received a $5,000 scholarship toward their college education.

The Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation presented Access with a $454,000 check.

Moore’s bestselling book, “The Other Wes Moore,” tells the story of two young men growing up in Baltimore at the same time, with the same name. One Wes Moore grew up to become a Rhodes Scholar, serve in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army and later became a White House Fellow. The other is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of an off-duty Baltimore police officer.

The author’s past didn’t always look so promising. At age 13, it would have been hard to imagine that Moore would grow up to become a Rhodes Scholar, proud veteran, bestselling author and CEO.

It was at this age when he failed out of school and was sent to a private military school in Pennsylvania.

Moore says it was at this point where he could have been one decision away from becoming the other Wes Moore, just like many others are one decision away from traveling down two completely different paths.

He challenged the students to decide who they will fight for during their lifetime, saying that who they will become is determined by that decision.

Currently, Moore said he’s determined to fight for the veterans in America.

“Your accomplishments need to mean more – to more people than just ourselves,” he said. “That’s how we’ll be remembered and be defined.”

Study what makes you passionate, and do something you care about, Moore advised.

“Access [College Foundation] isn’t about acknowledging what you have done,” he said. “It’s about acknowledging what you will do.”