'Coach Carter' to Speak at Baylor's 21st Annual Black Heritage Banquet Feb. 21

by Katie Brooks, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

The Baylor University Association of Black Students (ABS) will host the 21st annual Black Heritage Banquet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, on the fifth floor of the Cashion Academic Center in Baylor's Hankamer School of Business. The banquet will feature noted high school basketball coach Ken Carter as the guest speaker.

Carter was the head basketball coach at Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif., from 1997-2002. He made news when he locked out his undefeated varsity basketball team in order to push them to improve their grades. Carter not only closed the Richmond High School gym, but he banned all basketball-related activities and was prepared to cancel the entire season, because 15 of the 45 players were not living up to the classroom achievements they agreed to meet in contracts they signed earlier in the semester. His story was made into the feature film, Coach Carter, starring Samuel L. Jackson.

The theme for the evening is "Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving the Impossible." The program will include singing, a spoken word piece, dinner and a message from Carter, according to Taryn Ozuna, coordinator of multicultural activities.

"The purpose of Black Heritage Month is to highlight the contributions and sacrifices made my African-Americans. This particular program is to celebrate black heritage with a program featuring an inspiring and motivational speaker, Coach Carter," Ozuna said.

Carter is currently an advocate for youth in the Richmond area and works as a life coach and motivational speaker. He serves as founder and CEO of the Coach Ken Carter Foundation, whose mission is to assist youth by providing guidance and instruction in personal development, academics and athletics to improve socio-economic conditions for youth and their neighborhoods.

Tickets for the banquet cost $10 for ABS members and $15 for non-members. Tickets may be purchased through the Baylor ticket office at (254) 710-3210 or at Marilyn's Gift Gallery. The ticket price includes dinner and the program, but guests are welcome to come at 7:30 to hear the speech only.

For more information, contact Taryn Ozuna in the office of multicultural student activities at (254) 710-6949 or at taryn_ozuna@baylor.edu or visit www.coachcarter.com.