VALDOSTA STATE MAGAZINE 39 “It definitely was the height that helped,” Bell said with a laugh. But more than his height or his T-shirt, Bell credits the support of Holley and the department for rallying to his cause and helping him to be prepared for his moment when it came. “I wouldn’t have been able to put together that question or understand the dynamics if it weren’t for the all-hands approach that was at Valdosta State,” he said. “They knew that I had a special opportunity, and they were willing to do anything possible to really help me make the most of it.” To show his gratitude, Bell brought Holley a copy of the picture. Inscribed on the back is a message thanking her for making it possible. Like Bell, Holley keeps it in her West Hall office and remembers it as one of her happiest moments. After graduating and saying goodbye to Valdosta, Bell went on to law school, first at the University of Georgia and then Louisiana State University. In law school, he founded a program for at-risk youth in his hometown called Generation Inspiration, which he continued while founding the Atlanta law firm Bell & Washington LLC a year later in 2006. Bell’s desire to make a difference has its roots in Gainesville, Georgia. He credits his parents for inspiring him with their own commitment to changing the lives of young people. “I was fortunate enough to have a mother and father that encouraged not only a good education but also an adventurous spirit in civics,” he said. Generation Inspiration began as a way to involve young professionals like himself with students, teachers, and parents, many of whom were working multiple jobs and found it difficult to attend parent-teacher conferences regularly. The goal was accountability, and Bell said the program has been a success. In the past decade, Generation Inspiration has awarded over $500,000 in scholarship money to deserving students. Scholarship recipients and graduates from Generation Inspiration’s eight-week leadership school have gone on to successful careers, and Bell said some have even gone on to serve in the Peace Corps. Photo: Paul Leavy Debra Holley, administrative assistant in the Department of Political Science, holds her photo of Ashley Bell and former President Bill Clinton.