A Tampa mom volunteering to tutor H.B. Plant High School football players to become more attractive to Division 1 Universities is now helping all students have a better shot at making it into college with a new program called TUF.
Now top athletes around the world our getting involved in the grassroots program from WWE Star Thaddeus Bullard AKA Titus One, to Russell Wilson the QB for the Seattle SeaHawks. “It’s been so impactful, because kids hear these role model testimonials and they feel like they can conquer the world,” said Andria Rodgers of TUF, or Train Up First.
Rodgers did such an amazing job teaching H.B. Plant High School football players the life and academic skills they needed to make it into Division 1 Colleges, Hall of Famers and community leaders rallied around the mom volunteer to help her reach more kids. So, Rodgers launched her program digitally. The entire curriculum is now available online and is now being used in Hillsborough County Schools, the Boys and Girls Club, and Pace Center for Girls. One of the original Plant football player to be tutored by Rodgers James Wilder, who went onto to play for the Toronto Argonauts, donated a $25,000 grant to launch the program in Canada.
“One of our courses is building your brand. Everything we do is focused on building your brand. So we teach kids to be intentional about who your friends are, what you’re posting on social media and know what your focusing on in the classroom and what you are learning.”
Athletes and community leaders lead the online curriculum and students can access it on their smart phones.
“They can go right to the video and watch a lesson plan,” said Rodgers.
The program’s success is being professionally tracked and shows it to be so impactful that more schools and after school programs are signing up for TUF.
