‘Developing The Best Me That I Can Be!’
IEA-Inspire, Encourage, Achieve recently hosted its 22nd Camp Bright Star (CBS) Awards Ceremony at the Martin Luther King Middle School Gymnasium to honor more than 25 scholars participating in the five-week summer program. In addition to the students, their parents and IEA staff, guests included representatives from numerous community agencies, sponsors, project partners and volunteers.
Since 1997, IEA-Inspire, Encourage, Achieve, founded by Regina Rogers and her mother Julie (in honor of Regina’s father, Ben), has been providing educational programming and rehabilitative services “with compassion, understanding and love” for at-risk Southeast Texas youth.
Through a comprehensive program that includes motivational assemblies, learning experiences in reading, science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and art, as well as a host of enrichment activities, CBS strives to counter summer learning loss and build healthy relationships and a sense of community. Integral to camp, scholars receive team building, character development and self-empowerment activities led by camp counselors. Professional community volunteers provide career exploration and awareness, health and wellness sessions, a “dress for success” shopping experience and exposure to higher education opportunities. Camp scholars also have access to counselors, mentors and support groups.
This year’s camp featured Maestro Chelsea Tipton with the Symphony of Southeast Texas, Beaumont Mayor Roy West, Provost Umphrey Law Firm attorney Sean Villery-Samuel, Dr. J. Coffy Pieternelle, TAN Healthcare’s Dena Hughes, and Brittany de la Garza of Embracing Freedom (formerly Harvest House) providing encouragement and career mentoring for the students. Scholars also enjoyed a friendly competitive basketball game with the Beaumont Police Department; field trips to the Port of Beaumont, the office of Jefferson County Clerk Roxanne Acosta-Helberg and the Court of Judge Naomi Doyle, Jefferson County Justice of the Peace; a financial literacy session with Gulf Credit Union; and an Anti-Tobacco & Anti-Vaping Health Session conducted by Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas and the Julie & Ben Rogers Cancer Institute.
In addition to more than 40 individuals, local businesses and organizations sponsoring the CBS include Jefferson County Juvenile Probation, Beaumont Police Department, Lamar Institute of Technology, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Workforce Solutions and Beaumont ISD.
IEA President Kim Phelan welcomed guests and introduced a CBS scholar, who explained the purpose of IEA. Phelan also thanked IEA founder Rogers, IEA board members and CBS staff and volunteers for their invaluable contributions. Rogers recognized program sponsors, and IEA service coordinator Donna Taylor introduced scholars that led the audience in a motivational song and an inspirational message.
A highlight of the ceremony and luncheon was a presentation by featured guest speaker, Dr. Ron Jackson, Beaumont ISD athletic director, who exhorted the students to “Be The Best You Can Be.” Jackson shared his own story of growing up in Beaumont in challenging circumstances and how he was determined to change the direction of his life.
“You can use adversity in your lives not as a handicap but as fire, as fuel, to change your trajectories,” Jackson said. “Whatever you have going against you, use it as fuel, not as an excuse. Every successful adult had to go through something hard to get where they are today. So you can, too. The decision is yours to be the best you can be.”
As a punctuation point to Jackson’s inspiring message, Taylor emceed the awards ceremony, honoring the summer scholars’ achievements. Special awards included: Most Spirited, Most Improved, Female and Male Campers of the Year, and Outstanding Leadership.
“Have we had our ups and downs? You bet! But the students stuck with it. And we celebrate them being here today,” Taylor said.
IEA Executive Director Alexis Patronis concluded the awards program by recognizing the efforts of IEA staff. Among 2024 CBS sponsors are: Jefferson County Commissioners Court, Valero Benefit for Children, Robin Dauphin, Wilton & Effie Mae Hebert Foundation, Entergy, Family of Julie and Ben Rogers, H-E-B, Mildred Yount Manion Charitable Foundation, Motiva Enterprises, Capital One, Mamie McFaddin Ward Heritage Foundation Trust, Port Arthur LNG, Simpson-Omohundro Foundation, Texas Women for the Arts – Texas Cultural Trust, YMBL, Helen G. Bell Charitable Trust of Hancock Whitney Wealth and Asset Management, Beaumont Independent School District / Vincent and King middle schools, Mike Burrow / Burrow Global, Cheniere, Domino Family Charitable Foundation, Echo Group, ExxonMobil, Esther Friedman Family Foundation, GMJ, Inc. /The Honorable Carl R. Griffith, Suzanne and Donald Maloney Family Fund of the Foundation for Southeast Texas, BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals, Gladys D. Bevil Charitable Trust, Imogene and Timothy Chargois, Chick-fil-A, Church of Philadelphia, Karen and Mike Fuljenz, John Johnson, Carolyn and James M. “Bubba” Martin, Jr., Vernice Monroe, Kim and Speaker Dade Phelan, Vivian and Dr. J. Coffy Pieternelle, Tracy and Gary Stein, TotalEnergies and Town & Country Ford.
-Kathie Platt Special to The Examiner