To help celebrate Black History Month, Highland Home enlisted the help of several of its students and a doctor from Jamaica.

Dr. Victor Brown, who was born and raised on the Caribbean island before coming to America to finish his education, was the keynote speaker.

Brown issued challenges to both teachers and students.

“When it comes to role models, you should look to teachers and pastors, not athletes and actors,” he said.

He also said that teachers have to find a way to motivate students to excel.

“Students, you need to be trendsetters and trailblazers,” he said.

Following Brown’s speech, HHS teacher Cathleen McCoy and members of the Future Business Leaders of America showed the student body several of the important inventions from African-Americans.

The demonstrations included an explanation of the traditional church hats and tributes to aviator Bessie Coleman, inventor Elijah McCoy (the source of the term “the real McCoy”), Benjamin Banneker, George Crum (who invented potato chips), George Washington Carver, Augustus Morgan, Sarah Boone, Willis Johnson and Alabama native Lonnie Johnson, who invented the Super Soaker.