About the Liberty Gala
Join us for the 5th Annual Liberty Gala benefitting Northwest Ohio Classical Academy, Toledo’s only public K–12 charter school dedicated to forming students in truth, virtue, and wisdom through a time-tested classical approach.
This year’s theme, “Shaping Lives, Changing Culture” captures what NOCA is building every day: young men and women who can think clearly, speak persuasively, read deeply, and live with purpose. Classical education doesn’t just prepare students for tests—it prepares them for life, cultivating courage, character, and a love of what is true, good, and beautiful.
The Liberty Gala is more than a fundraiser—it’s a celebration of a growing community committed to renewing education in our city and investing in the next generation of leaders.
Come enjoy an unforgettable evening of fellowship and vision—and help ensure more Northwest Ohio students can access the excellence of classical education at NOCA.
Questions? Email us! gala@nocafoundation.org
Keynote Address
We’re honored to welcome Dr. Mark Bauerlein as our keynote speaker, bringing timely insight and encouragement for families and supporters who believe education can shape the course of a culture.
"Take Your Time, Savor the Beauty, Absorb the Meaning"
As American students proceed to college, one disposition is crucial: the capacity to study a meaningful object slowly and deliberately. Most youths can't do it--they've been too ramped up by videos, games, and messages. Their wavering attention will harm them at the next level. I know, I've seen it in my freshman classes over the years. Students at classical schools such as NOCA can do it, however, and it's going to show all the more when they hit the college campus. Let's talk about why this is so important, with lively examples to make the case.
Mark Bauerlein is Contributing Editor at First Things, trustee at New College of Florida, Professor Emeritus of English at Emory University, and Visiting Professor at Ohio State University. He earned his PhD in English at UCLA in 1988. For two years, he served as Director of the Office of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts. His books include Whitman and the American Idiom, Literary Criticism: An Autopsy, The Pragmatic Mind: Explorations in the Psychology of Belief, The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future, and The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults. His commentaries and reviews have appeared in Chronicle of Higher Education, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, New York Post, and other national periodicals. He has appeared on CNN, BBC World Today, Fox and Friends, ABC's 20/20, Nightline, PBS Frontline, CBS News, All Things Considered, and other national venues.