State School Board member Rod Hall visits Ben Lomond High School
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- Utah State Board of Education member Rod Hall speaks to students at Ben Lomond High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.
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- State School Board member Rod Hall, Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski and others pose for a photo during an Urban Student Alliance event at Ben Lomond High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.
OGDEN — Utah State Board of Education member Rod Hall — the first ever Black person elected to the board — was in Ogden on Thursday to visit with members of the Urban Student Alliance at Ben Lomond High School. Hall was the last in a series of speakers to meet with students as part of the club’s Black History Month programming.
During a 20-minute speech, Hall advised students to embrace the adversity they face and to acknowledge the role it plays in shaping them as individuals.
“I want to challenge you, because I hope and pray that when I leave this room, there’ll be some young people that say, ‘You know what? When tough times come, I’m going to embrace them, because I realize this is here to help me become the person that I’m supposed to be,'” Hall said.
Hall, a youth pastor for more than two decades and Honorary Wing Commander of the 388th Fighter Wing, also implored students to maintain a proper outlook on life — both internally and externally — and to take stock of the individuals and influences they allow into their lives.
“If there’s no one in your room that you aspire to be like, go find another room or invite somebody like that into your room,” Hall said. “Seek people out. Get around people who are going to help lift your spirit. I guarantee they’re all around you all the time. We just have to change our mindset to begin to move forward.”
After delivering his message to students, Hall participated in a brief question-and-answer session. Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski, representation from Ogden School District and community members were also on hand for the event.
“This probably means more to me than it does to them,” Hall told the Standard-Examiner afterward. “It just means a lot to give a little piece back, talk about some things that I’ve learned from my past and what I’ve been through, and hopefully try to see young people come out of it. … This is what I was made for. You know what I mean? I love it, man. I do. I can’t put it into words. I’m excited to be plugged into the education system. I’m excited to help and hopefully see kids be lifted up there, too.”
Hall was preceded by life coach/motivational speaker Letroy Woods and Cari Bartholomew, who presented “The Life of Harriet Tubman,” in visiting with Ben Lomond’s Urban Student Alliance during the month.
The Urban Student Alliance was launched in 2021 as the Black Student Union peer leadership class. When the class was canceled due to a loss of funding, it transitioned to club status and was renamed to open membership to students of all backgrounds, according to club advisor Delores Banks-Green.
Banks-Green told the Standard-Examiner that club members discuss history, their personal and shared experiences and self-worth/personal identity during meetings, in addition to receiving academic guidance. Additionally, student members are engaged in the local community and participate in field trips. Students previously enjoyed a tour of historic Black colleges.
“I think when people are interested in our students, our kids, it opens them up and makes them feel wonderful. Because a lot of them are left behind,” she said. “In this day and time, they still get left behind. We don’t know what’s going on in their homes, but when they come here, when they come to this club, see, they are happy … They know that they are cared for, and we talk about things that they don’t ever open up and talk about. They teach me.”
Banks-Green said the club has designs on being involved with the reopening of the Marshall N. White Community Center in May and will also be visiting local junior high schools.
