Students and faculty of Wilkes University gathered in the Henry Student Center Ballroom Tuesday afternoon to hear four guests of different religious backgrounds talk about this subject and strategies that will help young people succeed in life.

The guests included the Rev. Dr. Robert Zanicky, a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Wilkes-Barre, Rabbi Larry Kaplan from Temple Israel, Monsignor Vincent Grimalia, a chaplain at St. Luke’s Villa, and Dr. Mahmoud Fahmy, professor emeritus at Wilkes University.

The men directed many of their messages to future teachers. They brought up topics of religious tolerance, multiculturalism, equality, freedom and responsibility. They encouraged future teachers to be leaders and good educators.

“I have a great faith in this generation,” Fahmy said. “I have a great faith in you.”

The message sent out by these speakers had a positive effect on students.

“They all have different perspectives but it was nice to hear all of the different spectrums,” Megan Petrochko, junior English middle-level education major, said. “I think that that they had a lot to say that we could use as future educators.”

The event was held as a part of The Drs. Robert S. and Judith. A. Gardner Educational Forum Series. It was the final lecture of the spring semester’s series. Robert S. Gardner and Judith A. Gardner are co-founders of the series and are members of the Education Department faculty at Wilkes.