ABC's 24th Annual College Conference
Featured Speakers
MICHAEL GERSHE
Touching & Inspirational! "The Magic of Life: Feel Your Pulse, Live Your Dream!" has been hailed a life-changing program that inspires students to pursue their dreams. In his moving story, Michael Gershe tells how a drunken driving accident killed his mother and almost himself when he was just eight-weeks old. Despite suffering severe injuries from the car accident, he became a competitive swimmer and earned a swimming scholarship to Ashland University in Ohio. He earned a bachelor's degree in communications, and later received a master's degree from the University of Akron, where he served as a leadership advisor for the student government, BACCHUS and other student organizations. Michael has worked with college students for more than 12 years, tackling issues such as peer pressure, binge drinking and impaired driving. He also has 10 years experience as a stand-up comedian, and has worked with acts such as George Wallace, Diane Ford and Harry Anderson. "The lessons he teaches, the comedy and the magic - it's all excellent and makes the experience worth it."
CAROLYN E. CORNELISON, Ph.D.
Captivating & Powerful! Carolyn Cornelison's nationally recognized program "Courage to Care" has captivated students at more than 1,000 college campuses across the country. Carolyn uses her knowledge and personal experiences to talk about college drinking, taking responsibility, recognizing abuse and helping those with alcohol and drug-related problems. She speaks from the heart and shares her college experiences as both a sorority member and athlete. Highlights from her program include identifying risky drinking, responding to alcohol poisoning and suggesting specific "what to do" steps when friends need help. Carolyn holds a Ph.D. from Florida State University and was a former national staff member for the BACCHUS Peer Education Network. She also served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. A student in North Carolina wrote: "Carolyn's presentation will benefit me forever...my perception about alcohol has changed drastically."
CARESSA CAMERON
Meet Miss Virginia 2009! Caressa Cameron is a 22 year-old senior at Virginia Commonwealth University and the state's ambassador for the "Right Decisions, Right Now" program. Cameron believes strongly in this program's message, which encourages healthy choices for teens, including preventing teen substance abuse, tobacco use, pregnancy and other risky behaviors. A native of Fredericksburg, she is also the coordinator of youth services for Fighting the AIDS Crisis with Education and Support (FACES) project, and has spoken to more than 10,000 students at middle and high schools across the commonwealth. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award, and was presented with a congressional honor for her community service endeavors in Virginia. An accomplished vocalist, Cameron was honored to perform during the 2009 presidential inauguration festivities, and also sang at the historic Apollo Theatre in New York City. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications and hopes to become a leading anchor in television news.
KHIREE SMITH
Straight Talk for Young Leaders! Born on November 10, 1990 in Hartford Connecticut, Khiree Smith grew up in an urban setting where violence was commonplace. Raised in a single-parent, lower middle-class household -- in a city with often inadequate educational resources -- Khiree frequently had to rely on himself for his education while resisting the constant pressure to engage in negative activities. Recruited to the "Stump the Violence" Youth Leadership Institute in 2002, Khiree was discovered a talented public speaker, and was frequently asked to speak across the city. At "Stump," he held positions such as lead youth trainer and director of the TIHPSY (Teens in Hartford Promoting Sober Youth) coalition, and now volunteers as the director of youth training. He has received awards such as the HCTC (Hartford Communities That Care) Best Youth Trainer Award and the CAC Youth Leader award, and was honored with an official citation from Hartford's mayor for leadership services. Khiree is continuing his education at Hampton University and is the founder and executive director of The Young Trainers (TYT), where he strives to empower young people to produce "a nation of authentic young leaders."