Meet Lester

THE STORY

Lester knows about turning unfavorable circumstances, adversities, and tragedies into hope and fuel for goal and dream achievement. While growing up in Canton, Ohio, he managed to navigate the maze of numerous inner-city distractions, poverty, and the disadvantages of single parenthood. 

His journey cultivated expertise in Vision, Life Choices, Resiliency, Motivation, and Persistence. Vision to see himself being successful beyond his past and current adverse circumstances. Life Choices like committing to being a student-athlete to avoid the pitfalls of inner-city street life. Resiliency to bounce back after failing second grade and losing a cousin and two classmates to violence between 6th – 9th grade. Motivation to never give up in pursuit of success even when he didn't know what was next. And Persistence to be a full-time college student and work part-time to not burden his single mother, who paid college tuition herself, with his daily living expenses.

THE PERSISTENCE PAID OFF

Lester earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Kent State University in Kent, OH, where he concentrated on prevention in the Juvenile Justice System and Positive Youth Development.
 

THE EXPERIENCE

Currently, Lester is the Program Coordinator for Rising Scholars, a Kent State University at Stark campus college access and readiness program. Prior to this, he was an Admissions Counselor at the University of Mount Union.
 

After 20+ years of frontline student development experience as a Case Manager, Life Skills Facilitator, College Admissions Counselor, College Access Program Coordinator, and Communicator, Lester honed a rare gift for connecting to today's young people and a unique ability to inject information, knowledge, service, hope, love, and innovation into the culture. Simply put, when Lester speaks – they get it!

Click this link to view Lester's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lester-sanders/
 

THE METHOD

Lester immediately captures his audience's attention with interactive connections, spoken word poetry, thought-provoking stories, and the right mix of humor to earn their trust, which opens the door for a practical yet powerful message for success in everyday life.

Lester shares his message with thousands of teens and young adults yearly at schools, conferences, college success events, organizations, camps, and churches. 

He has spoken at the NFL's Atlanta Falcon's Youth Sports & Education Conference, Georgia Southern University's National Youth At-Risk Conference, North Dakota National Guard's State Youth Symposium, and even facilitated a pre-season six-session 1st-year student-athlete development series with the 13 times NCAA Division III Football National Champions, the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders.