Tavis Smiley, author and award-winning PBS talk-show host, spoke to about 50 Franklin High School students this week as part of his 10-city tour to enlighten, encourage and empower students to become strong leaders.

The visit by the 2006 Talented Tenth Tour, organized by the Tavis Smiley Foundation, was held on October 11 at Franklin High. The tour was created to identify and train non-traditional leaders in underserved and underrepresented communities. Its goal is to help students develop the skills needed to become powerful leaders in their school, community and the world.

The students were chosen based on several criteria, including demonstrated leadership potential and a passion for an issue or cause.

As partners of the tour, representatives from the ExxonMobil Foundation were there to encourage careers in science, technology, engineering and math -– areas vastly underrepresented by African-American students. The ExxonMobil Foundation awarded Franklin a $500 grant to enhance work in those areas.