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We have 130,000 alums of the University of Louisville and Debby becomes the thirtieth-
thirty out of 130,000 alums- to receive this award. Debbie just gets it. She cares about
the community she lives in, she cares about the community she came from, and she cares
about our university. She's inspiring for me because one of the things that you realize
is that you never know where life is gonna take you and it's taken her to a place where
she really has enormous capacity to do good for the community. I ended up at UofL, I think
probably like a lot of people in that era, going to school and working on my Master's.
I got a lot of wonderful opportunities from the experience. I had some wonderful professors.
Being a native Louisvillian, I've always followed the Cards. You know, the old games at Freedom
Hall. One of the great perks of grad school is I could take myself and a guest in for
a dollar. My husband has been involved in thoroughbreds for most of his life. You know,
we've had some wonderful experiences. The best being winning the Kentucky Derby with
Monarchos in 2001. I was standing there and looking up at the stands at Churchill at people
clapping and cheering and I'm thinking, never in my life did I ever think I'd be standing
here. This is like a Cinderella moment for a little girl from Louisville, Kentucky. Debby's
seen firsthand the importance and value of education. Our commitment to public education
encouraged us to get involved into the Signature Partnership Program. She has the opportunity
to help us help people by getting that education. My name is Margo Smith and I'm the teacher
in residence at Atkinson Academy. I serve as a resource teacher to all of the teachers,
K-5. The Oxley Foundation, they do provide funding for my position to be able to do what
I do for the teachers as well as for UofL. One of the things that is really cool about
being a student at Atkinson is that you're exposed to college life on a daily basis.
So, through the Signature Partnership, UofL teaches four classes, four college courses,
every week. They also have nursing students who take a class here on Wednesdays. So our
students are exposed to careers they may not have thought about. They are exposed to college
life. Our foundation thought this is something we'd really like to be involved in and through
the several years our interest in that has grown and I'm really also thrilled now that
it's been an expanded, the program's been expanded to Westport Middle School because
I was always concerned about what would happen to the kids when they left that environment.
I currently have two teachers who are going through the National Board Process. In the
past we have had nine. Most of them are still teaching here but some of them have moved
on to be go clarity coaches or onto other Signature Partnership schools. It's a very
costly process and they would not be able to afford to do that without the generosity
of grant money in order to pay for their successful completion of the National Board Process.
And then in return, they sign a gentleman's agreement that they will stay with our school
for three years, which helps us build capacity. We have made such huge gains in such a short
amount of time. My heart is truly here with the kids and with my colleagues that work
here at Atkinson because I see the potential. I feel truly blessed. I'm really proud of
what the university is doing in the city of Louisville in all different disciplines. I'm
very proud of what's going on academically. Our sports teams have given me much joy. And
it's a great time to be a Louisville Cardinal.