Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Sports and Activities

From Classroom to Career: Two We Are G.A.M.E. Alumni Kickstart Their Professional Lives

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Graduating from college and embarking on a professional career is a rite of passage for young adults. This summer, two talented alumni from We Are G.A.M.E. have made that important leap: Bailey Wong and Hannah Walker. Their stories serve as an inspiration for aspiring student-athletes and highlight the power of education and mentorship.

Bailey Wong is a shining example of how hard work and determination can pay off. After graduating summa cum laude from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona's College of Environmental Design, Bailey's passion for urban and regional planning, social justice, and community development found the perfect outlet. She took internships at organizations like Eco Rapid Transit, where she created alignment maps, and Strategic Action for a Just Economy (SAJE), where she researched vacant public-owned properties in Los Angeles.

These internships honed her skills and enabled her to land a position as a Data Analyst and Community Engagement Coordinator at Murakawa Communications right after graduation. Now, she gets to use her degree and focus on community development every day in her new role.

Hannah Walker's journey from student-athlete to a career in marketing and communications showcases the value of pursuing your dreams. While completing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), Hannah also worked with CSUB Athletics as a Marketing and Fan Experience Graduate Assistant. She was able to complete her bachelor's degree debt-free, thanks to a full-ride track and field scholarship, paving the way for her master's degree. Now, she's channeled her experiences into a role as the program's Communication and Marketing Specialist, where she is responsible for developing and executing marketing plans and advertising campaigns to support CSUB Athletics.

Both Bailey and Hannah have benefitted greatly from the support they received from their We Are G.A.M.E. mentors. By empowering them with the tools and skills needed to excel in the world of college athletics and academics, We Are G.A.M.E. has helped these two incredible student-athletes transition into successful careers. They have not only navigated higher education successfully but have also been set up for long-term success in their chosen fields.

Empowering the Next Generation of Student-Athletes

We Are G.A.M.E., Inc., stands for "Those Empowering Athletes by Mentoring" (T.E.A.M.), and is comprised of community members committed to supporting student-athletes. The nonprofit focuses on helping young athletes achieve their full potential, both on and off the field, by providing mentorship, support, advice, and life guidance.

By identifying student-athletes as early as ninth grade, We Are G.A.M.E. aims to positively impact their lives. The organization's mentors work with students and their parents to develop game plans that prioritize both academic excellence and athletic success. By encouraging a strong focus on education, We Are G.A.M.E. ensures that young athletes are equipped to thrive in their future careers.

To learn more about We Are G.A.M.E. and the incredible work they do for student-athletes, visit their website at https://www.wearegame.org/.

Contact information:

Allen Thigpen

wearegame3@gmail.com

800-576-0413 x 103

424-294-1248

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WeAreGAMEinc

DJ Reed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Ulhpa7fsc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAGamePlan

Related link: https://www.wearegame.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Sports and Activities

We Are G.A.M.E. Alumnus Elijah Walker Finds His Place in the United States Football League

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Elijah Walker got connected to We Are G.A.M.E in 2016 when DJ Reed - the G.A.M.E. alumnus who is now a cornerback with the New York Jets - introduced him to Blaze Bhence while he was in college. He was then introduced to Joyce Thigpen, co-founder of the nonprofit. She helped Walker develop a class schedule to move him forward in both his academic and athletic careers. Before Joyce, he said, the trajectory of his education was leading nowhere.

"We Are G.A.M.E. has played a huge role in my life in general - in sports, academically, and in my life as a whole," he said in a recent interview. From Joyce's athletic guidance to Allen Thigpen's ongoing support of this athletic career, Walker had a foundation from which to build. He reported that he doesn't remember Allen missing a single practice of his. At the same time, Karen Rogers, another integral part of the G.A.M.E. team, came alongside Walker to offer guidance.

As a whole, the G.A.M.E. team helped him develop both his athletic and academic skill sets. Their support was important because his path forward wasn't always straight.

While Walker started playing football around age eight, he didn't play through a school program until his senior year of high school. Despite a limited high school athletic career, Walker was talented enough to join the team at Cerritos College. There, he says he met amazing people, particularly his football coaches: Coaches Caines, Mazzotta, and Grosfeld.

He played for the Falcons for two years, growing his skills after a commitment following his first year to become the best safety in the nation. "I went out and I worked for it along with the people who were put in my life to help me," he says. His game transformed in his second year at Cerritos and he left that program having accomplished his goal: he was the #1 Junior College Safety recruit in the country.

That secured Walker a full-ride scholarship to Kansas State University, where he says he learned a lot of life lessons.

After college, Walker went to training camp for both the Seahawks and Redskins (now Commanders), but got signed by neither team. Despite receiving offers from the Canadian Football League (CFL), he declined them, holding firm in his belief that he would play professional football in the U.S. After two years of unpaid football in the Spring League, Walker found his spot on the U.S. Football League (USFL)'s Pittsburgh Maulers.

Meanwhile, the academic drive instilled in him through We Are G.A.M.E. held strong, and Walker is also pursuing a master's degree at KSU.

About We Are G.A.M.E.:

We are G.A.M.E., Inc. is made up of a T.E.A.M. (Those Empowering Athletes by Mentoring) of community members strongly committed to empowering student-athletes with the tools and skills needed to successfully tackle the world of college athletics. The T.E.A.M. serves a population of students in need of support, advice, and, most of all, life guidance.

* By identifying student-athletes in the ninth grade or earlier, the nonprofit aims to positively influence their lives. The mentors at We Are G.A.M.E. want to see young athletes develop to their fullest athletic potential but ensure that the students also focus on education. The mentors work with students and their parents to create a game plan to pursue academic excellence as well as athletic success.

Learn more at https://www.wearegame.org/

RELATED LINKS:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WeAreGAMEinc

DJ Reed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Ulhpa7fsc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAGamePlan

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/WWe1Sfi1duc

Related link: https://www.wearegame.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Sports and Activities

The Roberson Brothers – Two We Are G.A.M.E. Alums – Find Success On and Off the Field

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Today, the Roberson brothers are two pictures of success. Jacen, the younger brother, was recently drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixteenth round. Meanwhile, his older brother, Cameron, graduated last year from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which he attended on a full-ride scholarship. They attribute a portion of their combined athletic-academic success to their connection with We Are G.A.M.E. (Getting Athletes Mentoring and Education).

The Roberson brothers plugged in with We Are G.A.M.E. at the beginning of their high school careers via Kevin Keyes. They said they expected to pay to get started, but were surprised when the services were free and "straight from the heart."

The G.A.M.E. T.E.A.M. (Those Empowering Athletes by Mentoring) members, including founders Allen and Joyce Thigpen, came alongside the Roberson brothers throughout their high school and college careers. That meant emphasizing both academic excellence and athletic performance.

For Jacen, the support helped him juggle three varsity sports - including four years as a varsity baseball starter - with his classes at Garces High School in Bakersfield, California. After winning the Valley Championship in 2015 and 2018, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a high school senior. He instead chose to attend Cal State University Bakersfield (CSUB), where he hit the first cycle (single, double, triple, and home run in one game) in the baseball program's history.

Today, Jacen plays High-A Minor League for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization (the Visalia Rawhide, to be specific).

His brother, Cameron, is a case study in the We Are G.A.M.E. mentality: pursuing athletics and academics at the same time. At Garces High School, he was a three-year varsity football starter while also playing varsity basketball, track, and baseball. He was the two-time Southwest Yosemite League MVP for track, but particularly shone in football.

He had two scholarship offers for football but turned them down to go to Bakersfield College where he could play wide receiver. That paid off, as his performance on the field landed him a full-ride scholarship to UMass Amherst.

In 2021, he graduated from UMass with his communications degree. Today, Cameron is pursuing a career in teaching, but sports still play a big role in his life. He's currently back at Bakersfield College - this time as a coach.

VIDEO: "Fifteen Minutes with Cameron & Jacen Roberson" - https://youtu.be/PCKqS5isjCo

About We Are G.A.M.E.

We are G.A.M.E., Inc. is made up of a T.E.A.M. (Those Empowering Athletes by Mentoring) of community members strongly committed to empowering student-athletes with the tools and skills needed to successfully tackle the world of college athletics. The T.E.A.M. serves a population of students in need of support, advice, and, most of all, life guidance.

By identifying student-athletes in the ninth grade or earlier, the nonprofit aims to positively influence their lives. The mentors at We Are G.A.M.E. want to see young athletes develop to their fullest athletic potential but ensure that the students also focus on education. The mentors work with students and their parents to create a game plan to pursue academic excellence as well as athletic success.

Learn more at https://www.wearegame.org/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WeAreGAMEinc

DJ Reed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Ulhpa7fsc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAGamePlan

RELATED LINKS:

https://www.kget.com/sports/local-sports/bakersfield-native-jacen-roberson-to-play-minor-league-baseball-for-visalia-rawhide/

https://www.bakersfield.com/sports/headed-to-umass-roberson-s-choice-to-forgo-d-i-scholarships-for-bc-pays-off/article_70ad6a18-1b7c-11e9-9c7e-e7932d60a10b.html

Related link: https://www.wearegame.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Sports and Activities

We Are G.A.M.E. Alum DJ Reed’s NFL Career Demonstrates ‘It Takes a Village’

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Allen Thigpen, co-founder of We Are G.A.M.E., grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey rooting for the New York Jets, even back when they were the Titans. After graduating from Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University), in Chester, Pennsylvania, Thigpen was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in the United States Army and served as an officer during the Vietnam era.

Fast forward to 2008, and Thigpen - still a Jets fan - founded We Are G.A.M.E. (Getting Athletes Mentoring and Education) with his wife Joyce. A few years later, the Thigpens received an email from Linda Reed, a single parent and cancer survivor in Bakersfield, California. She inquired if her son, DJ, could join the program while attending Independence High School.

The answer was yes. After mentoring DJ through high school, the Thigpens helped to set him up for success in college. Joyce attended Fresno State University's "Dog Days" orientation with DJ and Linda. At the time, it was unheard of for a student-athlete to arrive on campus with their own college counselor.

Ultimately, after some time attending Fresno State, DJ determined that it wasn't the right fit. The Thigpens jumped back in, helping him interview at four different community colleges. DJ chose Cerritos College, where Linda made the three-hour drive to attend every home game. At the same time, Blaze and Cheryl Bhence attended his home games and practices and took him out to dinner frequently. Meanwhile, Joyce developed an education plan, helping DJ get his Associate of Arts degree in just one year.

His performance at Cerritos landed him a football scholarship to Kansas State University, where Allen and Joyce, along with mentor Karen Rogers, regularly attended games. They also traveled to Phoenix to watch DJ and Elijah Walker play in the Cactus Bowl. At that game, DJ literally gave the shirt off his back and his cleats to kids in attendance so they wouldn't leave empty-handed.

After that bowl game, DJ declared for the NFL draft. The We Are G.A.M.E. family got to attend the draft party to hear his name called in the fifth round as he was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers.

The story doesn't end there, though. One day, Allen got a call that DJ had signed with the New York Jets. His football life had now come full circle. As the regular season starts this weekend, you can spot DJ wearing #4 for the Jets, his mentor's longtime team of choice.

About We Are G.A.M.E.:

We are G.A.M.E., Inc. is made up of a T.E.A.M. (Those Empowering Athletes by Mentoring) of community members strongly committed to empowering student-athletes with the tools and skills needed to successfully tackle the world of college athletics. The T.E.A.M. serves a population of students in need of support, advice, and, most of all, life guidance.

By identifying student-athletes in the ninth grade or earlier, the nonprofit aims to positively influence their lives. The mentors at We Are G.A.M.E. want to see young athletes develop to their fullest athletic potential but ensure that the students also focus on education. The mentors work with students and their parents to create a game plan to pursue academic excellence as well as athletic success.

Learn more at https://www.wearegame.org/.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Allen Thigpen

wearegame3 @ gmail.com

800-576-0413 x 103

424-294-1248

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WeAreGAMEinc

DJ Reed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Ulhpa7fsc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAGamePlan

Related link: https://www.wearegame.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Sports and Activities

Two We Are G.A.M.E. Alums Graduate with Notable Degrees and Clear Paths

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Two more student-athletes who connected with We Are G.A.M.E. (Getting Athletes Mentoring and Education) have put what they learned to work. Now, their G.A.M.E. foundation has propelled them into success as they graduate with not just significant degrees, but also jobs.

Dakota Jones, a basketball player and graduate of West High School in Torrance, California, recently completed her master's degree in public health at New York University with a GPA of 3.75 and a job offer. Alyssa Charles, a softball player who attended Stockdale High School in Bakersfield, California, graduated from Menlo College in northern California with an accounting degree, a 3.96 GPA, no student loan debt, and a job. Clearly, We Are G.A.M.E. emphasized the student portion of student-athlete for these two young women, setting them on a path toward success.

Charles says that Joyce and Allen Thigpen of We Are G.A.M.E. played a critical role in helping her explore her college options, looking at everything from pros and cons to pricing. "We Are G.A.M.E. really helped my college career," she explains. And it paid, quite literally. Charles, part of the first generation in her family to graduate college, personally paid off her student loans during college. She graduates with no student debt thanks to jobs she held while pursuing her degree.

Charles's We Are G.A.M.E. involvement also helped her chart her post-college course. Allen Thigpen connected her to mentors in the accounting world. As a result, she was able to shop her options and is confidently headed in the direction of audit accounting as she grows her career. After completing two summer internships with KPMG International, one of the Big Four accounting organizations, she's joining their team full-time.

During her time at Menlo College, Charles was on the dean's list all four years. She was also:

* The manager of her softball team

* On the weightlifting team

* President of the Latinx club

* Secretary of the accounting club

* A resident assistant (RA)

* A member of the Alpha Chi and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies

Jones had a similarly illustrious post-high school career. At Lesley University in the Boston area, where she earned her psychology degree, she was a three-year captain with two all-honors conference nominations. Not only did she finish her basketball career there with over 1,000 points, but she also set the university's single-game record with 25 rebounds.

It wasn't all basketball for Jones. She graduated with four semesters on the dean's list and secured an internship at Harvard University, where she was a research assistant in a social psychology lab. That led her to her current path. Not only did Jones complete her master's degree in public health with a concentration in social and behavioral sciences, but she also landed a job. Jones has accepted a position as a research grant specialist for the Georgetown University Medical Center.

These two women applied what they learned at We Are G.A.M.E. to not just support their sports careers after high school, but to chart their course into meaningful careers as adults, too. Both graduate with notable degrees headed straight into positions that fit their skills and interests.

About We Are G.A.M.E.:

We are G.A.M.E., Inc. is made up of a T.E.A.M. (Those Empowering Athletes by Mentoring) of community members strongly committed to empowering student-athletes with the tools and skills needed to successfully tackle the world of college athletics. The T.E.A.M. serves a population of students in need of support, advice, and, most of all, life guidance.

By identifying student-athletes in the ninth grade or earlier, the nonprofit aims to positively influence their lives. The mentors at We Are G.A.M.E. want to see young athletes develop to their fullest athletic potential but ensure that the students also focus on education. The mentors work with students and their parents to create a game plan to pursue academic excellence as well as athletic success.

Learn more at https://www.wearegame.org/

More info on Alyssa Charles: ​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rty4yXfchc

More info on Dakota Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RvtWPsr-kA&t=4s

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAGamePlan

MULTIMEDIA:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WeAreGAMEinc

Related link: https://www.wearegame.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Defense and Military, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Government, Sports and Activities

We Are G.A.M.E. Alum Haley Jones Graduates from the U.S. Air Force Academy

TORRANCE, Calif. -- On May 25, 2022, Haley Jones, one of the most distinguished We Are G.A.M.E. (Getting Athletes Mentoring and Education) alumna, graduates from the U.S. Air Force Academy (AFA), concluding her storied collegiate basketball career.

Jones's dreams of playing college basketball fell into place when she (along with her sister, Dakota) met Allen and Joyce Thigpen, the founders of We Are G.A.M.E. The Jones sisters were raised by an amazing single mother. Dakota is also graduating this May, having completed her master's degree in public health from New York University.

When she met the Thigpens, Jones was in 8th grade and the nonprofit was getting off the ground. Allen Thigpen offered to come alongside the sisters as prospective college student-athletes. That connected Jones with other students who had dreams of not just playing basketball in college, but also playing at the highest division-level possible. At the same time, the Thigpens offered access to the academic resources necessary to bring that dream to life.

Throughout high school, Jones played for the West High School Warriors in Torrance, California. During her four-year career there, she led the team to a California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) Division I title, was honored as Player of the Year for the Division, and earned the girls' basketball Player of the Year title from The Daily Breeze, a local publication.

Upon graduating high school, Jones enrolled at the Air Force Academy. Donning her jersey with the AFA Falcons was the realization of her dream of playing Division 1 (D1) basketball, something she and We Are G.A.M.E. worked toward throughout her high school education.

Fast forward to Jones's senior year, which news publications called a "dream season" for the Falcons. It started with an opener against the University of Denver. Although they trailed by 13 points at the half, the Falcons bounced back to win 79-62, thanks in part to Jones's four steals and six points.

The Falcons went on to secure a total of 19 wins overall - including 11 in the Conference - during the season, the most in school history since the team went D1 in the mid-90s. They were also invited to their first postseason tournament (the Women's National Invitational Tournament) and secured their first postseason win.

During the second round, the Falcons faced off against UCLA. Jones was the Falcons' leading scorer with 10 points and leading rebounder with 12 rebounds, marking her fifth double-double of the season. Unfortunately, the Falcons would fall to the Bruins, ending Jones's career with the AFA.

She can look back with pride, though, knowing she collected 614 rebounds during her time as a Falcon, the fifth-most of any player in the D1 era. 276 of those came during her senior year, the second-most of any player in a single season.

After graduating, Jones will begin her first duty assignment in Oklahoma. She then plans to tackle the challenge of becoming an Air Force pilot, a notable undertaking as only 7% of Air Force pilots are currently women.

About We Are G.A.M.E.:

We are G.A.M.E., Inc. is made up of a T.E.A.M. (Those Empowering Athletes by Mentoring) of community members strongly committed to empowering student-athletes with the tools and skills needed to successfully tackle the world of college athletics. The T.E.A.M. serves a population of students in need of support, advice, and, most of all, life guidance.

By identifying student-athletes in the ninth grade or earlier, the nonprofit aims to positively influence their lives. The mentors at We Are G.A.M.E. want to see young athletes develop to their fullest athletic potential but ensure that the students also focus on education. The mentors work with students and their parents to create a game plan to pursue academic excellence as well as athletic success.

Learn more at https://www.wearegame.org/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WeAreGAMEinc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAGamePlan

Related link: https://www.wearegame.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Sports and Activities

New York Jets Sign We Are G.A.M.E. Alum DJ Reed with a 3-Year, $33 Million Contract

TORRANCE, Calif. -- When DJ Reed connected with We Are G.A.M.E. (Getting Athletes Mentoring and Education) during his junior year of high school, he had big plans to play Division I football in college. He needed scholarships to do so, though, and scholarships didn't come. Fast forward nearly a decade, and Reed just inked a three-year, $33 million contract with the New York Jets.

How does a kid from Bakersfield become one of the hottest cornerbacks available in the offseason? More importantly, how does he go from community college football to a standout NFL career?

Part of Reed's success stems from his hard work, determination, and unwavering faith. Another portion of it, though, can be attributed to We Are G.A.M.E., a nonprofit that helps student-athletes learn the skills they need to not just navigate the world of college athletics, but the world at large.

When Reed connected with We Are G.A.M.E. in high school, his mentors placed a heavy emphasis on education. They encouraged him to apply to a variety of colleges as a backup plan if football didn't provide the path he wanted. As it turned out, the scholarship offers Reed needed to play higher-level college football didn't materialize. Fortunately, he had applied and was accepted - with a small academic scholarship - to Fresno State.

There, Reed started his collegiate academic and football careers. At Fresno State, he didn't get much playing time, but he moved to Cerritos College and had an explosive season there - so much so that he caught the eye of ​​then-Kansas State defensive coordinator Tom Hayes.

During his first year playing for Kansas State, Reed ranked fifth nationally in passes defended, was voted First-Team All-Conference, and was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. His second season was equally successful, if not more so.

It was enough to get drafted into the NFL in the fifth round with the San Francisco 49ers, but his 5-foot 9-inch height held him back at first. His playtime was limited and he was pigeonholed because the coaching staff felt he was too small to play on the outside (they now admit that was a mistake).

Fortunately, the Seattle Seahawks picked him up and Reed had a stellar start, picking off an interception against his former quarterback in his Seahawks debut. Initially put in as a replacement for the injured right cornerback, Reed performed so well he kept the spot once the other player was deemed healthy.

In his last year with the Seahawks, Reed started 14 games, defended 10 passes, had two interceptions, and posted 78 tackles.

Now, as Reed begins his tenure with the Jets, a recent Bleacher Report article says, "Cornerback D.J. Reed has elite potential and headlines a list of quality starters."

As Jets fans and We Are G.A.M.E. team members alike anticipate Reed's first season in New York, one thing is certain: his involvement with We Are G.A.M.E. helped Reed navigate the more unpredictable steps of his path to get to this point.

About We Are G.A.M.E.:

We are G.A.M.E., Inc. is made up of a T.E.A.M. (Those Empowering Athletes by Mentoring) of community members strongly committed to empowering student-athletes with the tools and skills needed to successfully tackle the world of college athletics. The T.E.A.M. serves a population of students in need of support, advice, and, most of all, life guidance.

By identifying student-athletes in the ninth grade or earlier, the nonprofit aims to positively influence their lives. The mentors at We Are G.A.M.E. want to see young athletes develop to their fullest athletic potential but ensure that the students also focus on education. The mentors work with students and their parents to create a game plan to pursue academic excellence as well as athletic success.

Learn more at https://www.wearegame.org/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WeAreGAMEinc

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SAGamePlan

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/5RvtWPsr-kA

Related link: https://www.wearegame.org/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.