Post by Heather Poiry Hopkins

To the educators, mentors, and leaders who pour into others—your impact reaches further than you know. I know this because of Dr. Roland Winston. Under his mentorship, I learned to dream bigger and trust in my own potential. Educators like Dr. Winston do more than teach—they shape futures. They may not always witness the full ripple effect of their belief, yet it carries across generations. To all the Dr. Winstons out there—thank you. Your guidance, encouragement, and belief in others before they believe in themselves creates lasting change. The sun is always shining—sometimes, we just need the right lens to see it. This Tribute was written to Honor both Dr. Roland Winston and our Research Group that made a profound impact on my life. Robyn K. Lukens Kevin Balkoski Kevin Rico Uday Bali Christopher Thomas Roy Taylor Gore Sam Fong Chunhua (Amy) Wang Lun Jiang Alejandro Sankaran-Garcia and so many more. With love and gratitude, Heather