By Shawn Williams – Dallas South News Editor
Jason Terry visited John B. Hood Middle School on Thursday to help them celebrate their victory in the HP Digital Assist Education Grant Competition. Hood students took first and second place in the contest and their school will receive over $80,000 in technology equipment as a result.
Terry helped kick the program off last September when he delivered HP computers and printers to students at Alex W. Spence Middle Learning Center (Dallas Weekly). Using a seed grant of two HP Tablet PCs, an HP Photosmart All-in-one Printer and access to NBA photos, footage and other materials, teams of students at participating schools produced nearly 300 digital, sports and basketball-themed submissions that demonstrated their knowledge of math, science and reading concepts (HP News release).
But at Hood, Terry spoke of what it was like having people around who didn’t believe in his abilities. He then asked students to stand and raise their hand if they initially thought they had a chance of winning the contest. Nearly all the students assembled raised their hands. “If you can believe it,” Terry said, “you can achieve it.”
He spoke of an encounter he had growing up with a teacher who told him that his dream of making it to the NBA was too lofty. Terry said that he couldn’t understand where she was coming from and that his mother helped him stay focused on his goal.
“These kids are amazing,” Terry said after the assembly recognizing the student’s achievements. “I was from inner city Seattle, Washington,” he said, “we didn’t have much but what we did have we took pride in it.” The HP Digital Assist program targets underserved school that could benefit from the technology grants.
Hood Principal Fred Davis said that he would like for Terry to come back and sign autographs for students if they meet the academic goals they have set for the year. “I’ll be back,” said Terry. The students clapped and shouted their approval, and were excited that JET landed on the John B. Hood runway for their special day.
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