If you know former football player Keon Stowers, it's hard to fathom how difficult his upbringing was in Rock Hill, South Carolina. There was not much to look forward to in his environment, and it was even harder for him to trust others who wanted to help him. Stowers escaped a challenging family situation at home through football, where he found a family who cared, mentors who challenged him, and a place where he felt like he could make a difference.

He found success on the gridiron, and after two years at Georgia Military College, he found his way to Kansas, where he played two seasons for the Jayhawks and graduated with a degree in Sociology. Stowers has now found a home in Lawrence and is the Development Director for the KU Endowment, where he shares his story with others in the community and on campus.