Message to IEA Ben’s Kids:

IEA-Inspire, Encourage, Achieve, supporting educational programming and rehabilitative services for at-risk youth in Southeast Texas, recognized year-end achievements and celebrated character qualities demonstrated by IEA Ben’s Kids during the year at the recently-hosted annual Awards & Recognition Dinner at the LIT Multi-Purpose Center. IEA staff and board members, mentors, volunteers, representatives from Jefferson County Juvenile Probation (JCJP), elected officials, BPD Cops ’N Kids officers and family members joined IEA youth in celebrating their participation, perseverance and growth during the 2023-2024 IEA program. 

During the ceremony, Ben’s Kids participants were honored with Character Counts Awards, as well as awards for involvement in the Social Learning Project, Global Youth Service Day, the BPD Cops ’N Kids Program, and special awards for the following Outstanding Girls Leadership, Outstanding Boys Leadership, Outstanding Community Service and Most Improved. Several IEA youth received Certificates of Completion of the IEA program, and this year’s high school graduates also received special recognition. 

IEA volunteers and supporters from throughout the community served as award presenters and offered words of encouragement for Ben’s Kids. Among those present were IEA mentors Mary Young and Dora Nisby, who has volunteered with the organization for the past 27 years; LIT Outreach recruiter, Karina Salgado Estrada, who provided a brief overview of LIT’s services and educational offerings, encouraging IEA youth to explore LIT’s two-year programs; and Motiva Enterprises safety specialist Sanders Wilkerson, an IEA volunteer, who shared his own transformational story with the audience. 

Motiva, an IEA sponsor of the Motiva Excellence Scholarship since 2018, named this year’s proud recipient in Justin Littles Jr., a graduate of Evolution Academy, who will begin his CDL program at LIT in the fall. 

IEA Executive Director Alexis Patronis and IEA Service Coordinator Donna Taylor welcomed guests that included elected officials, including Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, whose wife, Kim, serves as IEA Board President; Jefferson County judges and Beaumont ISD trustees in celebrating Ben’s Kids accomplishments. 

“The awards ceremony is all about showing support for the youth in the IEA Ben’s Kids Program,” Taylor said. “It matters every time these kids show up and participate. If they don’t get congratulations from anyone else, they will get it from the people in this room tonight!” 

IEA supporters were also acknowledged during the event for exceptional volunteerism to the youth of Ben’s Kids. IEA Program Director Joe Evans announced Kate Carroll as recipient of this year’s Outstanding 

IEA Mentor of the Year Award, recognized for showing “deep compassion and empathy in her mentoring relationship with IEA Ben’s Kids.” The Dr. Preston Shaw Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Donta Miller. IEA Mentor Gwendolyn Lavalais, MD, Medical Director of Harbor Hospice and the Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program, received this year’s Judge Tom Mulvaney Caring Spirit Award, presented, as shared by IEA Founder and Chair Regina Rogers, in recognition of Lavalais’ remarkable journey from sharecroppers’ daughter to internal medicine, having specialized in oncology, and caring for her community. 

“I just hope that I can make a difference in a child’s life,” Lavalais said. 

Jefferson County Court at Law No. 2 Judge Terrence Holmes, shared his own David-and-Goliath journey with IEA students and guests, highlighted the event with his message: “If you believe, you can achieve.” 

“Young people, you have to understand that the God that’s within you is bigger than the giant that's in front of you,” Holmes said. “God on the inside is bigger than anything that you come up against, and you can accomplish anything that you want to accomplish just as David believed that the battle was his.” 

Holmes, who said he grew up in a broken home in the projects of Baton Rouge, failed second grade, went to college as a drummer, and later, law school, graduating magna cum laude. Holmes wasn’t discouraged by naysayers saying, “You’ll never win;” “Don't run;” “You're wasting your time;” when he decided to run for judge – a position he’s now held since 2016. 

“I just stopped by here tonight to tell you,” he said, “if you believe, you can achieve.” 

Celebrating IEA Ben’s Kids successes provided a transition to Camp Bright Star, the IEA summer program now in its 22nd year, which began June 24 and runs through July 31. 

For more information, contact iea@ ieainspires.org or (409) 839-8778.

— Kathie Platt, Special to The Examiner