North Carolina Central's Terry Huff, coordinator of the Dimensions of Learning Program and the Aspiring Eagles Scholars Program (AES), will receive a sculpture in the shape of a star on July 4 from Light Up Durham at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in front of 10,000 people. Light Up Durham is the non-profit group that selected Huff for serving as a positive role model to young people. The awards ceremony is the organization's second annual "It's Cool To Care" celebration.

Huff is from Sanford, North Carolina, and is an alumnus of NCCU. He says, " I have positive young people doing positive things... I am elated, honored and humbled to receive this award." The AES program, which has about 100 students, is designed as a learning community to help students make the transition from high school to college.

Jennifer Langston is a graduate of the AES program and current Miss Sophomore from Richlands, N.C. She says, "I was made to feel at home. I learned about dedication and how to focus and keep my grades up."

According to Marion Youngblood, executive director and events producer of Light Up Durham, the
program is about "shining the light and exposing people in Durham to those who are giving our youth a brighter future." Youngblood hopes that others in the community will be inspired to become engaged in the lives of young people.

The Fourth of July event is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. with a concert by actor Kevin Costner and his band Modern West. Costner starred as the character "Crash Davis" in the 1988 movie, Bull Durham. The concert will be followed by welcome addresses from city officials; the Light Up Durham awards presentation to Huff and two others, and then a fireworks display.