AMERICUS —
Former Americus High School and University of Georgia football standout Leonard Pope, III, who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL), was the keynote speaker at the South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) African American History Month celebration recently. The theme for the program was “The Power of a Dream.”
Pope addressed a standing room only crowd to talk about the power of having a dream. He stressed the fact that there will always be an obstacle in your way, and that no one achieves their dreams on their own. Pope spoke of his struggles with getting into college, and how he overcame his obstacles to get where he is today.
“I’m not just playing football for myself and my family,” said Pope, “I’m playing for that little boy out there who has a dream just like I did.”
Pope, who is affectionately referred to as “Champ” is the son of Karen Bryant Pope and Leonard Pope, Jr. He is the proud father of two daughters, Cheryan and Laila Pope. He is a 2002 graduate of Americus High School, where he played for the Americus High Panthers, for whom he helped win state championship titles for two consecutive years, in 2000 and 2001. During that time, he was named to the All-State team and was invited to play in the Georgia-Florida High School game his senior year at Americus high.
Pope played one year at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia before earning a full ride playing for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. He was a two-year starter who entered the NFL draft after his junior season. He played in 35 games for the Bulldogs, 21 of which he started, and caught 59 passes for a total of 994 yards (16.8 average) with nine touchdowns. He was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman Team by The Sporting News. He majored in Consumer Economics.
He was drafted to the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, and was a starting player in Super Bowl XLIII (43) in 2009. Later that year, he joined the Kansas City Chiefs. Currently, he is a tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2008, he established the Leonard Pope CHAMP (Creating Hope and Making Progress) Foundation, the purpose of which is to enhance the quality of life for children and families by teaching them leadership skills, assisting in community revitalization, education, awareness, and providing role models for underprivileged youth.
In 2007, he led an effort to raise $32,000 for Phoebe Sumter Medical Center to repair it after it was devastated by a tornado. He was also recognized as a hero in 2011 when he saved six year-old Bryson Moore from drowning at a pool party. He is a member of Big Bethel Baptist Church in Americus.
Ronald Wright, SGTC Medical Assisting Adjunct Instructor, presided over the ceremony and offered closing remarks. SGTC Business Administrative Technology student, Minister Mary A. Minter of Americus, gave the invocation. SGTC President Sparky Reeves welcomed special guests, including Pope’s family, members of the SGTC Jets and Lady Jets basketball teams, and Becky Kerlin and the Sumter Primary School Singers, which included Bryson Moore, the young boy Pope saved from drowning in 2011.
SGTC Barbering student Jaqazeus Wallace of Americus gave the occasion before the Sumter County Primary School singers performed “I Have a Dream” and “There Will Be Peace.” SGTC Assistant to the President Don Smith introduced Pope as the guest speaker, and SGTC Marketing Management student Kimberly Jackson of Americus gave the benediction at the close of the program.
South Georgia Tech’s Gospel Choir also performed three songs throughout the program. The choir included Leonard Tyson, keyboardist; Derrick Bryant, Adjunct Culinary Arts Instructor; Carla Cladd of Americus, Medical Assisting student; Shannetta Cobb of Americus, Medical Assisting student; Janay Coleman of Fayetteville, Culinary Arts student; Brittany Dennard of Americus, Computer Information Systems student; LaShonda Durham of Americus, Criminal Justice Technology student; Kendra Foster of Americus, Business Administrative Technology student; Tony Fuller of DeSoto, Welding and Joining Technology student; Brandon Harrison of Decatur, Marketing Management student; Clarisa Holt of Americus, Culinary Arts student; Charnelle Jordan of Americus, Medical Assisting student; April Monts of Americus, Early Childhood Care and Education student; and Jaqazeus Wallace of Americus, Barbering student.
The African American History Month program committee included SGTC staff members Don Smith, Assistant to the President; Cynthia Y. Carter, Director of Career Services/Campus Life; Sammy Stone, Director of Campus Safety; Derrick Bryant, Adjunct Culinary Arts Instructor; Edna G. Laster, Executive Assistant to the President; and Linda Edge, Administrative Secretary.
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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end and Americus native Leonard Pope (pictured) was the keynote speaker at SGTC’s 2013 African American History Month program. Scott Phillips
NFL’s Leonard Pope, III speaks at South Georgia Tech African American History Month program
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