Biola University alumna, Tanya Walters ('04), was featured on Jan. 21 episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show. The show was a special, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his vision for a better future.

Eight years ago, Walters was driving a bus in Los Angeles. It was there that she met kids from a "rougher neighborhood" who were mostly known for the trouble they got into.

Instead of ignoring the kids on her bus, Walters chose to build relationships with the students, inquiring about their lives, families, and even grades. When Walters found out most of her students were failing, she decided to challenge them to improve. Students took the challenge and five weeks later, 54 of them made improvements on their report cards. To reward their hard work, Walters took them on a marine biology cruise outside of the city.

In 2005, Walters founded Godparents Youth Organization, offering an opportunity for kids to see things beyond the familiar streets of Los Angeles. According to the organization's web site, Walters and staff are "committed to making a better future for youth in the inner city."

Walters told the Oprah Winfrey Show, "My goal, when I bring our kids together, is for them to dream again, for them to bring back hope. Because when you have hope, you have determination."

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