The Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) will welcome popular youth speaker Stu Cabe to the district April 9, and local community members are invited to attend.
The event is part of the Merrill Great Speaker Forum, a 36-year-old program that brings in high-quality speakers to present to MAPS middle school and high school students on a yearly basis. Cabe is an engaging speaker and the founder of The Ovation Company – taking a stand on bullying.
“We are very happy to welcome Stu Cabe as this year’s Great Speaker Forum presenter,” said Wally Leipart, Superintendent of MAPS. “As in the past, we are inviting you, the members of our community, to take part in this event and witness the value that outstanding guest speakers bring to our students.”
Stu’s Keynote presentation can be summed up in two words: “Be Nice.” No elaborate pillar structure, no “5 step program,” no acronyms or clever play on words. Just… Be Nice. The brilliance of his message lies in the simple, tangible way it can be applied and recalled. Stu’s ability to weave rich, vibrant and profound stories around his simple “be nice” concept is the sole reason his presentation has captivated hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.
Since 1978, the Merrill Great Speaker Forum has attracted numerous engaging speakers to the school district, focusing on subjects like self-esteem, self-worth, dignity of person, pride in self, goals and achievement, patriotism and coping with societal problems like drug abuse and teen pregnancy. The series is completely funded by donations from throughout the Merrill business community, and even from Wausau, with individual contributions ranging from $25 to $1,000.
“We continue to be very appreciative of the support the Great Speaker Forum has received from local businesses and community members,” said Leipart. “This is just another example of the Merrill community doing whatever it takes to make its local public schools great. The students of MAPS truly benefit from this level of support.”
This year’s Great Speaker Forum will take place Wednesday, April 9, at Prairie River Middle School at 8:30 a.m., with another presentation at Merrill High School at 1 p.m.