Lawrence Gardner believes everyone deserves to have access to the tools and resources they need to learn. The rising senior at St. Mark’s School of Texas—the alma mater of Ken Hersh, Clark and Lamar Hunt, Tommy Lee Jones, Owen and Luke Wilson, and Ross Perot Jr.—was in fifth grade when he discovered that not everyone has access to those things.
“I was at a friend’s house, and his older brother mentioned how some students didn’t have calculators for the SATs,” Gardner says. “It struck me as unfair that some had access to tools and knowledge that others lacked. That moment opened my eyes to the inequalities in our educational system, leading me to join various councils and eventually discover Beacon Hill.”
Founded in 2006, Beacon Hill, which serves over 1,500 students across 24 locations a year, provides free tutoring for DISD students in school or after school. One hundred percent of the students it tutors are below reading level.
Once introduced to Beacon Hill, Gardner saw an opportunity to connect the organization with his school, so he proposed a partnership between Beacon Hill and St. Mark’s to mobilize his classmates for tutoring efforts. Lawrence established the Beacon Hill Online Tutoring Club at St. Mark’s, allowing students to earn community service hours while helping others. The club has grown to include 20 students this fall—up from about 10 last year—who also become part of Beacon Hill’s Civics Board Council.
This past summer, Gardner took things a step further by securing an internship with Beacon Hill. He’s currently focused on fundraising, with a goal of raising $25,000 for the organization’s programs. To date, he has raised more than $16,000.
The emerging leader says he hopes to inspire a sense of responsibility among his fellow students to use their advantages to support others.
“It’s truly incredible to see students at St. Mark’s not only help the kids improve their reading proficiencies but also gain an eye-opening perspective on the challenges faced by others,” he says. “St. Mark’s can sometimes feel like a bubble, and witnessing the diverse communities and the difficulties some face in education is a valuable experience for all involved.”
Author
