Bush Institute Helps SMU First-Years Kick Off School Year

Students discuss the book with Dr. Eric Bing (far left) and Patrick Kobler (far right). (Photo: Patricia LaSalle)
Students discuss the book with Dr. Eric Bing (far left) and Patrick Kobler (far right). (Photo: Patricia LaSalle)

HPISD kids weren’t the only ones going back to school today. Students returned to the halls of SMU as well, and the first-year class got a head start through the school’s annual Common Reading discussion — with a bit of help from the George W. Bush Institute.

Students discussed this year’s book, The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates, with SMU professor and Bush Institute senior fellow Eric Bing, as well as former SMU student body president and Bush Institute program coordinator Patrick Kobler.

The book delves into the lives of two African-American boys who share the name “Wes Moore.” The real-life account explores one boy, who served in Afghanistan and in the White House. The other Wes Moore failed to finish high school and is serving a life sentence for murder.

Bing hopes the crossover effort will impact the new students.

“By bringing these young SMU leaders over to the Bush Institute so early in their careers, it is my hope that they will see it as part of what the SMU experience has to offer,” he said in a statement.

He asked the students to write down how the hope to impact the world, and what they will do at SMU to prepare for such goals.

Best of luck in the new school year, scholars!

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