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Itinerary
Keynote Speakers
Timothy Alexander, from Birmingham, Alabama, was a high school football star before a 2006 accident left him paralyzed. Undaunted, he graduated from Erwin High School and attended Wallace State Community College before making history at UAB, becoming the first paraplegic on a football scholarship and excelling academically in Criminal Justice and Communication Management. Active in campus life, he was pivotal in the #FreeUAB movement, raising $40 million to reinstate various programs. Earning a Master’s, standing unassisted in 2016, receiving an Emmy®, and becoming a keynote speaker, Timothy’s journey is a powerful testament to overcoming adversity.
Tony Weaver, Jr. is an award-winning writer, educator, and influencer. After struggling with his mental health as a child due to negative representation, he sought to use comics to give kids hope. He founded his social impact organization, Weird Enough Productions, whose mission is to use the narrative ability of graphic novels to foster greater self-awareness, social responsibility, and agency in students. He is the creator of the WEBTOON Original series, The UnCommons, and author of the upcoming Weirdo, a middle-grades memoir chronicling his childhood battle with suicide. Tony has also built up an audience of over half a million on TikTok, where he uses his positive influence in the nerd community to combat harmful media narratives and uplift young people.
Rochelle Whellams is an influential speaker and Co-Director of RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Districts 5180 & 5190), with 14 years of experience in motivating young adults in the Western U.S. Her workshops focus on accountability, action, and attitude, incorporating programs like Breaking Down the Walls, Microsoft Digigirlz, and various leadership events.
