MORVEN — Dozens of high-schoolers attended a mentoring and motivational retreat on April 8.

Forty-five ninth-graders with Anson High School’s Youth Career Connect program attended the male mentoring and motivational retreat at the HOLLA Center in Morven on April 8.

“I am blessed by this,” said Ted Ward, veterans benefits officer for Anson County government, as the teens came in with firm handshakes.

Ward was one of several men invited to share inspirational life experiences with the youth. Other speakers included Sheriff Landric Reid, Wadesboro Police Chief Thedis Spencer, HOLLA activities director Alex Gaddy, local DJ Kenwyn Gatewood, county Commissioner Jarvis Woodburn and Robert Gatewood, founder and president of The Marketing Pulpit International in Washington, D.C.

“Gatewood traveled to North Carolina on a mission to encourage young men to prepare for a future that is increasingly technology-based,” according to The Marketing Pulplit International’s website. During the event, Robert Gatewood broadcast a live radio segment on Radio One WOL-AM News/Talk 1450. The live radio segment featured HOLLA’s founder, Leon Gatewood, two of the student participants in the YCC program, Timothy Marshall and Justin Lee, as well as teacher Daniel Burrows.

The event, which included prizes, motivation, breakfast and lunch, was sponsored by the nonprofit group whose catchy name is short for Helping Our Loved ones Learn and Achieve.

HOLLA partnered with the Anson County school system to present the Youth Career Connect retreat.

YCC is an initiative by President Barack Obama designed to retool the high school experience for America’s youth. It is meant to challenge schools to scale up innovative models that personalize teaching and learning so that students stay on track to graduate with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to succeed in college and in careers.

It is also designed to expose students to learning that links their studies in school to future college and career pathways, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Anson County Schools is one of only 24 school systems in the United States to receive funding for the YCC program. Deborah Davis is Anson County’s director.

After a day packed with excitement and motivation, the retreat came to an end with a balloon release. The balloons represented the release of barriers to success.

“Mrs. Davis and the families these youth represent would have been very proud of them today,” Leon Gatewood said.

Courtesy photo Dozens of high schoolers released balloons representing their barriers during a male mentoring and motivational retreat at the HOLLA Center in Morven on April 8.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_YCC-retreat-balloon-release-fz.jpgCourtesy photo Dozens of high schoolers released balloons representing their barriers during a male mentoring and motivational retreat at the HOLLA Center in Morven on April 8.

Courtesy photo Justice Leak, Robert Gatewood and Timothy Marshall were live on Radio One WOL-AM News/Talk 1450 during the retreat.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_YCC-retreat-Justin-Lee-Robert-Gatewood-Timothy-Marshall-Live-on-Radio-One-fz.jpgCourtesy photo Justice Leak, Robert Gatewood and Timothy Marshall were live on Radio One WOL-AM News/Talk 1450 during the retreat.

Courtesy photo Forty-five high schoolers attended the retreat, which was sponsored by Anson High School’s Youth Career Connect and hosted at the HOLLA Center in Morven.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_YCC-retreat-participants-fz.jpgCourtesy photo Forty-five high schoolers attended the retreat, which was sponsored by Anson High School’s Youth Career Connect and hosted at the HOLLA Center in Morven.

For the Record