Hill Harper motivates ‘Ben’s Kids’ to study and prepare

By Darragh Doiron

BEAUMONT — Just a short time ago Tiara Blanchard said she had a “nasty attitude.”

The Beaumont teen’s time with IEA–Inspire, Encourage, Achieve/Ben’s Kids has given her a new perspective. She said she’s learned communication skills and is considering a career in law.

Moments before, Hill Harper, who plays Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on “CSI: New York,” was pumping Blanchard about her SAT preparations. “I need you to do the SAT,” Harper said as he signed his new book for her Thursday.

Hill addressed teens at the Camp Bright Star IEA luncheon for teens at the John and Mary Gray Library at Lamar University in Beaumont. “Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny,” currently on the New York Times Best-Sellers List.

Hill said he understands his celebrity status enabled him to publish the book. As teens gathered for the signing, he said he thought the celebrity world has become “Paris Hiltonized” and said he hopes to use his fame to elevate others. He said his grandfather was a pharmacist who accepted chickens as payment and he is part of a legacy of giving back to society.

Philanthropist Regina Rogers is the daughter of the late Golden Triangle businessman Ben Rogers, for whom Ben’s Kids is named. Rogers said she was moved by the time and attention Harper gave to each of the participants.

“That makes me want to cry,” Rogers said, and added Harper is the epitome of caring and loving graciousness.

Kristen Alexander, 15, of Beaumont, said the program has given her the opportunity to make speeches, get tutoring and learn clerical skills.

“It changed me a lot. When I started, I had a bad attitude,” she said.

Now she is planing to study psychology. Alexander said she’s a fan of Harper’s character on “CSI,” a doctor who performed autopsies for several seasons, and now works in the field gathering evidence. She said she hadn’t caught the previous night’s repeat, which featured Dr. Hawkes nearly losing his life in a diving incident.

“Oh, I’m glad I didn’t see it,” Alexander said, moving her hand to her heart.

Kandis Sterling, 17, of Beaumont, said the Ben’s Kids program has “transformed” her.

“I used to be bad and now I’m better,” she said.

Harper graduated magna cum laude with from Brown University, cum laude from Harvard Law School and has a masters in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

At his talk, Harper wore a T-shirt promoting presidential candidate Barack Obama, one of his former classmates.

For information on volunteering as an IEA mentor, call 839-8778.

Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.

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