Huffington Magazine Issue 3-4 | Page 98

Exit says. “We knew that what we had done was pretty cool, but when you have a place like Princeton tell you that you’ve helped people and recognize you for it, that’s pretty awesome.” For Burchett, seeing her students learn and grow and share their findings with others was one of the highlights of her teaching career. “This was learning that was taking place in the real world that can’t happen in the classroom,” Burchett said. “I was really so proud of them.” For the students, making the film wasn’t enough: they wanted to spread the message of acceptance and diversity. The girls shared the film with numerous student groups, churches and community groups in the St. Louis area and are continuing to field requests to present the film and talk about their experiences. Although the three will split up to begin their college careers this fall — Ribant at College of Charleston, Garland at Truman State University and Davidson at the University of Kansas — none of them think they’ll ever lose their passion for civil rights after making Colorblind. “It was an amazing feeling to GREATEST PERSON OF THE WEEK do something like this. It reminds you that there are plenty of everyday people who believe in and work toward tolerance and equality, just like we do,” Ribant says. “I consider these young women part of the civil rights movement today,” said their teacher, Julie Burchett, who mentored them along the way. “They are helping spread the word of tolerance and diversity.” HUFFINGTON 07.01-08.12 Stills