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Smoot Center for Academic Development Dedicated in Support of Student Success
For Smoot Carter III ’04, confidence and self-belief — both derived from the support of caring teachers and mentors — have been key to his success.
To recognize those who supported him, Smoot and his wife, Meagan supported the Campaign for the Boys and the restoration of the Walker Building with a gift from The Warren Smoot Carter III & Meagan Kate Carter Charitable Fund to support the expanded Academic Development Center, located in the Dunnington Reading Room on the B Dorm level. On September 9 the ADC was dedicated as the Smoot Center for Academic Development. Smoot had previously made a gift to the campaign in support of the dormitory renovation project.
“When I was in college, I felt like the Center for Student Athletes there was really helpful for me with mentoring and coaching, and at Woodberry it was the Academic Development Center,” Smoot said. “Sometimes you can’t achieve academic excellence on your own, so helping boys get help on the path to college is my goal.”
Smoot and Meagan — along with their son, Smoot Carter IV — were joined by other members of their family at the dedication, including Susie and Smoot Carter ’74, Ryan Carter ’02, and Carly Carter.
During the dedication Smoot noted a favorite saying from baseball great Roger Maris that will be visible in the center as a reminder to students of the importance of their work at Woodberry.
"You hit home runs not by chance but by preparation," Maris said.
Also present was the board of trustees, students who study in the ADC, and faculty members Ted Watson, Indira Cope, and Jackson Matteo, who all work with students.
During the dedication Smoot noted a favorite saying from baseball great Roger Maris that will be visible in the center as a reminder to students of the importance of their work at Woodberry.
"You hit home runs not by chance but by preparation," Maris said.
Also present was the board of trustees, students who study in the ADC, and faculty members Ted Watson, Indira Cope, and Jackson Matteo, who all work with students.
“Many students arrive at Woodberry from academic lives that are so content-driven, that they have not had the time to take a step back and reflect on their own learning strategies,” said Ted, who serves as the Smoot Center’s director. “Working alongside advisors and teachers, we help students find success and develop their own tools that will help them during their time here at Woodberry and then beyond, in both college and their careers.”
Headmaster Byron Hulsey ’86 also spoke at the dedication, thanking Smoot and Meagan for their gift and offering a closing prayer to dedicate the new space.
The Smoot Center for Academic Development is open Monday through Saturday. Some boys visit the center weekly to work with one of the teachers, while others stop by on an as-needed basis. The center is also open Monday through Thursday during evening study hall.
“On behalf of myself, Indira, and Jackson, I want to thank Meagan and Smoot Carter for their generous gift to the Smoot Center for Academic Development,” said Ted. “We will continue to serve the Woodberry boys who need the most academic help, as well as support our incredible faculty with professional development and educational tools to allow each boy to learn.”
Woodberry Forest School is an exceptional private school community for high school boys in grades nine through twelve. It is one of the top boarding schools in the United States and one of the only all-boys, all-boarding schools in the country.
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Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. The school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.