One student, many hats

It's been just a few months since Panhandle Twenty/20 released its findings on the issue of educational attainment in the Amarillo area. And while time has passed, the results have not. They were not pretty. In fact, some were downright scary. In response to the study, much of which is covered in this special section, the Amarillo Globe-News and 19 other civic-minded partners are launching a yearlong program called Celebrate Education. The program is designed to bring awareness and begin to attack the pointed issues brought up in the Panhandle Twenty/20 study.

I hope you'll spend some time reading our first special section located at the top left of this site to find out more deatils of what the Celebrate Education program is all about. I'd like to thank the partners — that are listed on this page — who are helping make this program possible. It is a unique partnership that includes the leading business, government and educational organizations in our community. Also, other organizations, including many of the local school districts are helping to initiate this program. Without their cooperation, Celebrate Education would not be possible.

And most importantly, think about what you can do personally to help someone in their mission to be the most educated they can be. Our future depends on it.