CPB is presenting its Thought Leader Award tonight to former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education. The alliance is a partner in CPB’s ongoing American Graduate drop-out prevention initiative.
“Gov. Wise and the Alliance for Excellent Education are champions for public media’s American Graduate initiative and the educational services that public broadcasting stations provide to their communities,” said CPB President Patricia Harrison in the announcement. “His lifelong commitment to the education of American youth is making a difference, helping more students to graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and in their careers.”
The CPB Thought Leader Award is given to persons who “affirm the essential services that public media provides to citizens in areas of education, journalism, and the arts,” according to CPB. The honor will be presented tonight as part of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) Public Media Summit in suburban Washington, D.C., by Sharon Rockefeller, president of WETA-TV, and wife of West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller.
Also speaking will be Wes Moore, host of the Beyond Belief show on the Oprah Winfrey Network, founder of STAND! (Students Taking a New Direction), an organization working with Baltimore youth in the criminal justice system, and author of the best-selling The Other Wes Moore.
Last year’s Thought Leader winner was actress Anna Deavere Smith.