School Project Leads to Meeting a Hero

Last spring, Fifth Grade Science Teacher Victoria Bergman assigned a unique research project to her classes: to showcase a scientist on a sweatshirt. Sofia Grace Perkins ’31 chose Zoologist, Primatologist and Anthropologist Jane Goodall. The class project turned into a collaboration with designer Isaiah Shayle as a result of Sofia’s father, Bryan, who knew the designer. Shayle was so inspired by the project that he recreated Sofia’s sweatshirt to raise money for The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI). 

Bergman remained in contact with Lauren, Sofia’s mom, throughout the summer to keep track of the progress: over $10,000 was raised. In July, Bergman learned that Goodall would be on a speaker tour for her 90th birthday, “An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall.”

“When I saw the location [Atlanta, Georgia], I didn’t care where it was. If it was within even a reasonable distance, I was going,” she said. “I purchased tickets myself and contacted Sofia’s mom, but they were going to try to get into the SMU event. They thought it might be a possibility.”

With tickets to the Georgia event secured, Bergman’s goal became getting a sweatshirt in Goodall’s hands, or as close to that as possible. The Perkins family could mail it to The Jane Goodall Institute, but with all the mail the institute receives, they hoped to see it delivered directly, not lost amongst other items.

Bergman used her teacher status to reach out to people at JGI and connected with a director, Nicole Palardy. Palardy would be at the event in Georgia and agreed to get the sweatshirt from Bergman and present it to Goodall, promising a photo of her receiving it. A week before the event, the schedule changed, allowing Bergman to present the sweatshirt personally. 

On September 11, Bergman and her husband, Stuart, walked backstage in the Fox Theatre, where they had the unforgettable experience of meeting Goodall. A bit starstruck, Bergman told Goodall about Sophia and the project. 

And the story doesn’t stop there. During a planning meeting for the upcoming Dallas lecture, Palardy secured two tickets and time backstage, creating another momentous opportunity – this time for Sofia and her dad. On October 2, Sofia and Bryan met Goodall. Sofia showed her the original sweatshirt she created for the project.

As starstruck as Bergman, Sofia said that her first reaction to meeting Goodall was that “her hands were soft.” Goodall’s response to Sofia’s sweatshirt: “It’s fantastic!” 

What started as a research assignment became a personal connection to an icon, creating memories that will long be cherished. The impact of the experience extends far beyond the classroom, proving that when students are inspired, the possibilities are endless.