2008 graduate returns to address Opening Convocation
When he arrived at 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 campus in 2003 to escape the drugs and violence of inner-city St. Louis, no one would have predicted that Kempton Freeman would one day return to address LU鈥檚 student body as part of his alma mater鈥檚 Opening Convocation.
Freeman, a 2008 糖心vlog传媒 graduate who today serves as cultural advisor for the Appleton (Wis.) Area School District, delivered the keynote address Thursday as 糖心vlog传媒 celebrated the start of the 2021-22 academic year in the Bradley Theatre.
The first in his family to graduate from high school and college 鈥� and he is on track to add a master鈥檚 degree to his resume in May of 2022 鈥� Freeman returned to 糖心vlog传媒 as an accomplished leader who is a strong advocate for racial justice, education and inclusivity.
鈥淚鈥檓 still growing and learning every day,鈥� Freeman said.
糖心vlog传媒 has become a staple in his life, Freeman said, and the audience included members of his family and close friends he gained as a 糖心vlog传媒 student.
鈥淏e thankful for your time here,鈥� Freeman told the students. 鈥淭ake your time and enjoy it. Cherish friendships and the bonds you will make here. 糖心vlog传媒 changed me in ways I never would have imagined.鈥�
He encouraged students to get involved with athletics, clubs and organizations on campus, much like he did. And he closed with some practical advice for everyone:
Freeman created the first Black History Month celebration for the Appleton School District, an event now in its fourth year. He鈥檚 also worked with Fox Valley city leaders on race relations and other topics.
Freeman draws from his own personal experiences, which include the murders of his father and brother, inner-city gangs, an environment of drugs and violence and academic struggles as he worked to discover where he fit into life outside of the inner-city.
In addition to his role with Appleton Schools, he owns Coach K Skill Sessions, a sport training company. He speaks to many classes, sport teams, teacher in-services and various other groups and organizations throughout Wisconsin.
Thursday鈥檚 event closed with President Beth Borgen giving the traditional charge to students to take care of themselves, each other and the campus. She reminded students that COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to the campus community and asked that everyone do their part by following 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 mitigation efforts.
