Project Summary
Teens Inspiring Excellence is a program of the EVE Foundation of Missoula, Montana. It inspires hope, courage, and action in teens. The program is a series of short documentary films highlighting high school seniors who have overcome significant obstacles and adversity. These students successfully graduated from high school and moved forward to create productive and hopeful lives for themselves. They have taken simple, courageous steps, to improve their own situation, help others, and grow in the process.
Three videos, each with an accompanying facilitator’s guide, are currently available for licensing to clubs, high schools, youth groups, and youth counseling facilities. You may request an evaluation copy of the program by contacting us through our contact page. If you are interested in licensing the videos for use, please contact the EVE Foundation. It is our goal to make these available to every organization that wants them. If the nominal licensing fee precludes your organization from using the program please contact us. We can assist you in finding outside grants or funding.
These films provide a dynamic forum for conversation, resources, and modeling of successful pathways for all youth; from honor students to those who may be struggling with difficult challenges and a narrowed view of their own possibilities.
Over the past six years, EVE Foundation Founder, Lee Cox has traveled and spoken at over 100 high schools, youth groups, and youth correction and counseling facilities, finding a common theme among the teens with whom he’s visited. Over and over, he saw that life circumstances, events, and choices had narrowed these teens view of what was possible for them in their lives. His own life experience as an abused child has sensitized him to the hopelessness, resentments, and need for survival that often control and “fence in“ these young people’s dreams.
These documentaries show by example how simple steps, such as asking for help, changing an attitude, or taking a risk, can empower students to move forward in their lives regardless of the circumstances life has given them.
The Teens Inspiring Excellence program directly benefits teenagers, by exposing them to role models of students who have overcome adversity and, by fostering conversation in a supportive setting. This program impacts all teenagers who see it, whether they are at risk or successful.
Julie Hainline, Curriculum Coordinator, Missoula County Public Schools “We are excited that the Teens Inspiring Excellence videos will be viewed and discussed by all 9th grade health enhancement classes. For students to learn about perseverance, acceptance, positive attitude, and self-motivation through the life stories of teens is a relevant model that meets our health enhancement standards and increases student awareness and understanding of the complicated issues facing young people today.”
Dr. Alex Apostle, Superintendent, Missoula County Public Schools “The TIE program’s goals and objectives align with the mission of MCPS and the school district’s goal of creating positive change for educational excellence in Missoula. “I believe the TIE program is a valuable tool for educators to assist our students to take responsibility for their futures and overcome obstacles in their past.”
Philip Keller, Teacher, Willard Alternative High School, Missoula, MT “Teens Inspiring Excellence is an easy to use program that promotes classroom discussion on how to be successful and overcome adversity.”
For more information or to purchase this program, please contact us.
Student Quotes about videos:
Shayna’s Story, Video One
- She can change her life.
- It gave me a new perspective. Inspirational, that you can do your own life with ease.
- Her happiness stands out, even though her life was hard.
- People don’t fail as bad as I thought they did.
- One day of going to a counselor’s office changed her life.
- You can always change what your future will be like, no matter what.
Brad-itude, Video Two
- He doesn’t give up. He’s strong-willed.
- How altruistic he is. My sister has MS, and she doesn’t tell people how she’s feeling. I’m going to treat her differently from now on.
- His acceptance of what he’s dealing with.
- His attitude. He’s self-driven. He thinks it’s not as bad as everyone else does.
- He’s motivated. He has ambition. He tried to be normal and did what he wanted to do.
- I will try to come to school with a smile on my face no matter what.