When Jonathan Ogden was drafted to play left tackle by the Ravens, football wasn’t the only thing on his mind.
With fame, and a big salary coming to him as a fourth-overall pick in the NFL, he looked to fill a need in the Baltimore community. And that was to help high school student-athletes improve academically—not only those who needed the assistance, but those who wanted to go on to college and do well.
Retired Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden (top row, right) has continued working with Patterson High School athletes who want to put effort into their grades and volunteer work. “Whenever someone wants help, that’s the greatest part for me,” he says. Photo courtesy Jonathan Ogden Foundation
Each year, the party is held to recognize the student-athletes in the club that have gone above and beyond in the classroom during the school year.
“I just want them to know there’s something out there,” Ogden said. “Academics get you to school and can give you an opportunity to get a good job in this world. There’s no guarantee because if you don’t get an education you have no chance.”
In the 2000 school year, newly-hired Patterson academic coach, and girls basketball coach, Kelley Bagdasarian teamed up with the Jonathan Ogden Foundation. She has since put in many hours mentoring student-athletes in her 12 years at Patterson.
Bagdasarian helps set academic goals for each of the student-athletes. The ultimate goal is to place each student into college as the public school fights limited resources and negative outside influences on a regular basis.
At the Christmas party, each Foundation club member received a gift from Ogden as part of a reward for their work in the classroom. He also presented each student with scholarship money to help pay for college tuition.
“It’s exciting to see the kids working hard to help themselves and then get rewarded like this, and to have someone as great as Jonathan in their lives,” Bagdasarian said. “It can’t be beaten.”
One student-athlete that’s benefited from the Jonathan Ogden Foundation is Craig Oliver, who quarterbacked the Patterson football team this past fall. Oliver transferred from Silver Oak Academy, a reform school for juveniles.
Since arriving at Patterson, and with the help of the Jonathan Ogden Foundation, Oliver’s grades and SAT score have made him eligible to play football at the college level. Towson has offered him a scholarship, and Old Dominion, Delaware and Maine are interested in his services.
Though Oliver has the necessary SAT score to play college football, Bagdasarian has set a higher goal for him. Oliver said he will continue to take the SAT until he reaches that goal.
“I wanted someone to be there for me other than my athletic abilities,” Oliver said. “I believed that it would be her. She wouldn’t treat me different because I could throw a ball, or how fast I could run. I came here for her.”
Said Ogden: “I’ve got the name and the backing and can raise the money. But she’s the one doing the work with the kids every day, helping them with their SATs, getting them the tutoring, trying to teach them what they need to move on to the next level. Without someone like that, then all the work doesn’t mean anything.”
At the Christmas party, the students played a game of touch football on M&T Bank Stadium’s field, a day after the Ravens defeated the Colts 24-10. They ate lunch in the team’s locker room and held a song-and-dance competition, which was judged by Patterson coaches and Ogden.
To be a member of the club is simple: You have to want to be there. You have to want to improve academically and you have to want to be pushed. You also have to be involved in the community and give back. Club members will then vote students who meet the criteria in.
The group held a canned food drive and helped with a Toys for Tots drive at Graceland Park. They also tutor younger students in the school system.
The fact that these students are working to better than standing academically makes Ogden’s job worthwhile.
“It’s not me, it’s these kids,” Ogden said. “Whenever someone wants help, that’s the greatest part for me.”
One Comment on "For Jonathan Ogden, ‘student’ comes first in ‘student-athlete’"
Please look at a video posted on worldstarhiphop.com jan. 19 2012 at some students in your school. I’m in Memphis Tn. And this is killing my soul. Please take action.