Rachel’s Challenge Coming to Ashland University Campus

The Columbine High School tragedy in April of 1999 took many lives. For one of those lives, her message of kindness, compassion and character has since been carried on and will be shared at Ashland University this fall. The Ashland University Center of Religious Life will present “Rachel’s Challenge,” a program inspired by Rachel Scott, the first shooting victim of the Columbine tragedy. The presentation will take place Thursday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. in the Jack & Deb Miller Chapel.

Rachel’s father, Darrell Scott, created “Rachel’s Challenge” programs inspired by her life and writings. He has shared Rachel’s legacy with millions of people around the world and has witnessed Rachel’s story become a proven catalyst for positive change in schools, businesses and communities.

The Ashland University Center of Religious Life is partnering with several other campus organizations to bring “Rachel’s Challenge” to the campus and the greater Ashland community, according to Dean of Religious Life Dr. Dan Lawson. “Our objective in bringing ‘Rachel’s Challenge’ is to shed light on issues of ongoing inhumanity, persecution, prejudice, discrimination and violence against fellow human beings and to train our students, as well as the greater Ashland community, to inspire, equip and empower others to bring a permanent positive change,” Lawson said.

When Rachel was 13 years old, she traced her hands on the back of her dresser and wrote in big black letters, "These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of peoples' hearts". Her life and writings have impacted over 15 million students in live settings in the last 11 years, and we hope you'll be able to come hear the inspiring true story of hope, acceptance, and redemption.

Rachel’s Challenge is the largest school assembly/keynote programs in America. It is designed to help school administrators, parents and students create a safer and more productive place to learn and achieve. The goal is to motivate and equip students and administrators to embrace new values of kindness and compassion so that no one is left behind because of fear and violence in their school. Powerful footage of Rachel’s life and the Columbine tragedy holds audiences spellbound during the one hour presentation that motivates and encourages people to make positive change in the way they treat others.