FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2016, 4:00 p.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402.872.2429
Peru, Nebraska- Wes Moore is a youth advocate, Army combat veteran, social entrepreneur and host
of Beyond Belief on the Oprah Winfrey Network. His first book The Other Wes Moore became an instant New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller.
Moore will speak on March 31, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the College Theatre. The event is
free and the public is welcome
Dr. Michaela Wills, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, wrote,
“ recently spoke at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and received a standing ovation
for his talk. He is a dynamic speaker and currently one of the top on the speaking
circuit with a powerful and uplifting message appropriate for all ages.”
William S. Cohen, former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Defense writes, “Wes Moore
is destined to become one of the most powerful and influential leaders of this century.
You need only to read The Other Wes Moore to understand why. A powerful and poignant reminder that we have a moral obligation
to remain our brothers keepers . . .”
The National Center for Family Literacy reviewed his time with them by writing, “Wes
Moore’s message really resonated with the audience and provided a much-needed boost
for educators who often go unrecognized and work under difficult circumstances. In
addition, his spirit and demeanor were wonderful.”
Moore was a paratrooper and captain in the United States Army and served a combat
tour of duty in Afghanistan with the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. He
then served as a White House fellow to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
He currently serves on the board of the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA),
The Johns Hopkins University, and founded an organization called STAND! that works
with Baltimore youth involved in the criminal justice system.
Moore is committed to helping the parents, teachers, mentors, and advocates who serve
our nations youth. A portion of all book proceeds for “The Other Wes Moore” are being
donated to City Year and the US Dream Academy.
Peru State established the Distinguished Speaker Series in fall 2010 as part of its
commitment to student engagement and success. The intent of the Series is to bring
diverse, nationally and internationally recognized speakers to southeast Nebraska
to enrich the educational experience of students while also providing the surrounding
communities with opportunities to engage in interesting and relevant topics. Speakers
are encouraged to connect with the community in a variety of ways during their visits
through classroom discussions, guest lectures, meet-and-greet receptions and a keynote
address.
Previous guests include the inspiration behind the Disney film Million Dollar Arm,
JB Bernstein; civil rights leader and Little Rock Nine member, Minnijean Brown-Trickey;
Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Arun Gandhi; Bawa (Cameroon, Africa) Health Initiative
co-founder, Dr. Dennis Richardson; Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Sonia
Nazario; consumer advocate and former Green Party presidential candidate, Ralph Nader;
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Shirin Ebadi; and others.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.peru.edu/speakerseries or contact Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Dr. Michaela
Willis at 402-872-2224.
Wes Moore
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For more information, visit www.peru.edu or call 1-800-742-4412.
About Peru State College: Nestled in the historic hills of the Missouri River, the “Campus of a Thousand Oaks" is Nebraska’s oldest college and will celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary in 2017. Peru State College’s constant commitment to academic excellence has resulted in a unique and innovative mix of online, traditional, undergraduate and graduate programs. Similarly, the college's ongoing student engagement promotes inquiry, discovery and innovation on-campus and across the region. Peru State College is committed to being a good steward of education, students, the region and Nebraska for another 150 years.