SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A South Alabama mayor is turning personal experience into purpose—bringing young students face-to-face with opportunity during a powerful visit to Alabama A&M University.
Gainesville Mayor Gerald Holloway transported several buses of students from Greene County to the historic HBCU, giving them a firsthand look at college life, athletics, and the possibilities that lie beyond their hometowns. For many of the students, this was more than a trip—it was their first glimpse of a future they can now envision.
The students explored campus, learned about track and field, and experienced the energy of college life—opening doors to dreams that may have once felt out of reach.
For Mayor Holloway, the mission is deeply personal.
In an interview with WAFF 48, Holloway shared,
“I wished I had that when I was coming up. And by me not having it, I guess it motivates me to help others where I fell short… maybe, you know, with a little push… go further than I did.”
His commitment is already making an impact. Several students from previous trips have gone on to enroll at Alabama A&M—proof that exposure can change the trajectory of a young life.
In communities across Alabama, access and opportunity don’t always come easy. But initiatives like this show what happens when leadership meets intention.
This wasn’t just a visit—it was a call to dream bigger.
When young people can see themselves on a college campus, they begin to believe they belong there.
And with the right push, they just might go further than anyone imagined.