Sen. Bob CorkerCLEVELAND, Tenn. - U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., urged Walker Valley High School students on Wednesday to embrace bold vision and give something back to their community.
"I love the position I'm in, but I will say to each of you that I have not done anything more meaningful in my life than to serve at the local level and touch people in a real way," Corker said in an address given in the school's auditorium.
He praised the ideals and community service efforts of the high school's Key Club, sponsored by Kiwanis International.
Corker asked his audience to "master something" as a way to shape their lives, citing his own experiences in the construction industry. And he recommended that the students "create a bold vision" for whatever they do, stretching themselves instead of settling for small goals.
Giving a portion of one's time to others is another key to life's fulfillment, Corker said.
He expressed hope that Bradley County would benefit from "one of the greatest achievements" experienced by Chattanooga in the last 15 to 20 years: having people return home to pursue their goals and dreams.
"I have a sense that the same kind of thing is happening in Bradley County," Corker said. "I believe that I'm looking at a group of people in this room that will ... over time, come to mean a great deal to this community as you give back here, as you give back to our state and as you give back to our nation."
Miss Tennessee 2014 Hayley Lewis also spoke during the event, addressing the need for respect.
Lewis serves as Gov. Bill Haslam's official spokesman for character education.
Key Club members showed their enthusiasm with long, standing ovations and words of gratitude.
"I think it's amazing that our federal legislators are coming here to talk to us and engaging themselves with our next generation's leaders," said club President Blake Kitterman.
The messages delivered by Corker and Lewis strike a chord with what the school wants for its students, Walker Valley High School Principal Danny Coggin said.
"Wisdom, vision, honor and service" is the school's motto, he said.
"We want to ... give back to our community, because our community has blessed us with this beautiful building," Coggin said. "It is our opportunity on a daily basis to give back to our community."
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.