Story and photos provided courtesy of Baldwin County Schools.

B raylen K. Howell, a Georgia College Early College Student and a recent honors graduate from Baldwin High School, captivated the audience at the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) Conference with his inspiring presentation. As a student speaker, Howell shared his personal story of the transformative power of public education with conference attendees. His remarkable journey from Atlanta to Wilkinson County and ultimately to Baldwin County showcases the resilience and dedication of both himself and his mother.

Howell was chosen to speak because of the number of accolades he has accrued during his educational journey, including earning an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Banking and Finance from Central Georgia Technical College, as well as an Associate of Science in General Studies, serving on the Milledgeville Main Street Board of Directors and the 4-H Board, and being a part of the 2023 Youth Leadership Baldwin cohort.

Throughout his speech, Howell reflected on the various stages of his educational journey. He highlighted the pivotal role educators and administrators played in his life. The Georgia College Early College (GCEC) program became a turning point, enabling Howell to explore new opportunities and experiences that defined his path. Howell's accomplishments speak volumes about the impact of public education on students' lives. He attributed a lot of his success to the culture and expectations instilled in him by the GCEC program. Howell's motivational speech left a lasting impact on the conference attendees and set the stage for his upcoming presentation at the Baldwin County School District Convocation.