Oakland Raiders honor local student for his Commitment to Excellence
Photos Courtesy of Tony Gonzales/Raiders.com
As a father of four children, I try my best to instill the importance of education in the world today. 3 out of the 4 live with me (14, 14, & 7), and it has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. However, when I see a story like the one I’m about to impart upon Raider Nation, it gives me hope that my children will one day understand that education is the way to get ahead in life. Education is the key, and we are the doors that must be unlocked.
The Oakland Raiders are a football team located within the community of Oakland, CA, but the team is not just there to play sports. The Oakland Raiders organization recognizes the importance of being a leader within the community it resides, and the team continues to build that rapport with its many charitable contributions and community outreach programs.
One such event took place on May 22, 2014, as the Oakland Raiders recognized Akintunde Ahmad, a senior at Oakland Tech High School, who will be graduating with honors. Ahmad will be graduating with a 5.0 GPA and he will be attending Yale University in the Fall of 2014. As if the 5.0 GPA wasn’t a big enough accomplishment, Ahmad also scored a 2100 on his SAT’s.
The Oakland Raiders organization honored Ahmad by bringing him to the Oakland Raiders Facilities and had him share in a day dedicated to himself. Oakland Raiders Legend Willie Brown along with current players Taiwan Jones, Nick Roach, and Rod Streater, were on hand to give praise to Ahmad as he received a shopping spree at the team’s Raider Image store in Alameda, CA, courtesy of the Oakland Raiders.
Photos Courtesy of Tony Gonzales/Raiders.com
An even bigger surprise presented itself when Oakland Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie gifted Ahmad with a brand new laptop. All this for a student who truly deserves everything he was given. Not only does he have countless academic accolades, but he is a star on the Oakland Tech High School Baseball Team, and he plays the French Horn and African Drums in the school orchestra. Talented just doesn’t seem like the right word to use, but it’s the only word I can think of at the moment.
One example of the team’s ongoing commitment to the community is the organization’s innovative program to benefit local students. The program, named First & Goal Kids, provided local youth and their chaperones the opportunity to attend a game at no cost during the 2013 regular season. Cytosport, Bibby’s Chocolates, New Era, and THE GLAD Products Company, partnered with the Raiders as sponsors to assist in making this endeavor come to fruition.
The Raiders provided students in the Oakland Unified School District with game tickets, transportation and meals. In addition, they were treated to a chalk talk by Oakland Raiders Legends Willie Brown and Bo Jackson. They also got a visit from Raider Rusher, the latest addition to the Silver and Black’s community relations roster.
As you can clearly see, the Oakland Raiders are dedicated to their community, and one only hopes that this will continue in the Oakland Area for years to come. I would like to say a special thanks to Mike Taylor of the Oakland Raiders Public Affairs department for allowing Just Blog Baby to utilize the pictures provided by Tony Gonzales and the Oakland Raiders website. Furthermore, Just Blog Baby would like to praise Akintunde Ahmad for his accomplishments, and I would like to wish him well in his future endeavors. Go Raiders!