As a former student-athlete at Dakota State University, I was honored to achieve recognition through the Hampshire Honor Society, the National Football Foundation (NFF), and as a Campbell Trophy Semi-Finalist. My journey wasn’t a straight line—after taking a year off from both school and sports following junior college in California, football became the spark that led me back to prosperity.
Earning a scholarship reignited my drive, gave me the opportunity to complete my bachelor’s degree, and reminded me how powerful athletics can be in shaping a person’s future.
This local chapter is my passion project—created to extend that same opportunity and encouragement to the next generation of scholar-athletes. It’s vital that young people are recognized for their real accomplishments and shown that their hard work can propel them to the next level. That recognition can be the push that inspires them to keep striving for excellence.