The new student center at Helen Keller School has a new name, but the motivation behind it was years in the making.

On Tuesday, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees named the center for President Terry Graham, whose career with the institute began at Helen Keller. Graham served as principal of the school from 1977-1983, helping turn it into a school that is nationally recognized.

Since that time, Graham rose through the ranks, eventually becoming president of AIDB in 2002. And his leadership throughout all his years at AIDB has won him the respect of his peers and employees, students, parents and community.

Whether it was at Helen Keller or in any program of AIDB since, Graham has continually pushed to move them forward, not content until they became models for learning and achieving.

Naming the student center for Graham is an honor, yes, but it is a tribute to the man who has meant so much to so many throughout his service to AIDB.