Samantha Freeman

Devin Wyman, of the New England Patriots, visited Orangefield High School on Wednesday, Dec. 2.  Wyman discussed how important getting a good education at school is, and that you need to have big dreams to make it in the real world.

Wyman connected with the students by sharing stories about how drinking will only lower your goals and outlook on life, and that drugs do not help you in any way.

Wyman displayed how his hard work and training in the NFL has paid off by amazing the crowd with his physical strength. He placed a solid steel bar across the shoulders of Dusti Lummus and Mrs. Scogin. Then he instructed them to hold onto the bar. He proceeded to lift the steel bar with a person at each end over his head and spin them around in the air. Later, he held the steel bar with his teeth and bent it into a U shape to show the students that no matter how far you are going down the wrong path you can still make a u- turn.

Wyman encouraged the girls to respect themselves and their body and not to give in to peer pressure. The boys learned to respect women and to treat them like a queen.

As Wyman finished up his speech, he allowed one student to try on his jersey and championship rings. Alec Lawson was the lucky student that was chosen.

Alec said, “It felt amazing to be able to try everything on because not very many people get a chance to do that.”

While Wyman was in Orangefield, another NFL player was giving a similar demonstration at Little Cypress Mauriceville.

Stacy Smith

On Wednesday, Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School students attended a “Champions for Life” assembly that was sponsored by local individuals in conjunction with Bill Glass Ministries.

The keynote speaker was Mr. Clarence Lee, who motivates students to make positive life choices by using personal stories to illustrate how positive treatment of others now can benefit you later. He also shared the value of life in general, stressing positive self worth.

Mr. Lee played football for Florida State University and for the NFL Buccaneers. In his presentation he demonstrated personal strength skills such as breaking a baseball bat over his head, bending a steel rod with his teeth, and doing a push up with a 300 pound student standing on his back.

Champions for Life will conclude their tour in this area with a rally that is free to the public beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, at the Port Arthur Civic Center. Students in attendance can register to win a free Ipod Touch, PS3, and an Xbox 360.

More information on Mr. Lee is available at http://www.clarencelee.org/pages/about_clarence.html or http://www.strengthteam.com/team/Clarence.html .