But this summer, he also became one of the anchors of a revolutionary elementary school outreach program.
As part of his Writing 340 class this summer, O'Dowd and a few of his USC classmates created a free online summer school website for elementary schools in the cash-strapped L.A. Unified School District. O'Dowd, a third-year starter for the Trojans, ran the language arts program for kindergartners through second-graders on SOSClassroom.org, producing online content to help the kids through a summer that has seen all L.A. schools drop summer classes for financial reasons.
O'Dowd and his classmates worked with professor Mark Marino at USC's Writing Program to create the unique website and then speak to the school's students on July 24.
"We spoke about the influence of education, persevering through struggles and that we're not only athletes, but student-athletes at USC," O'Dowd said. "Overall, it was a really cool opportunity this summer."
Center Kristofer O'Dowd speaks to kids at the Hancock Park Elementary School on July 24 after his summer-long project -- creating an online summer school website -- came to a close. [Photo courtesy of Kristofer O'Dowd]
Center Kristofer O'Dowd signs a poster for one of the children at Hancock Park Elementary School after speaking to the students who participated on SOSClassroom.org, the website O'Dowd and some of his USC classmates created for an elementary school summer program. [Photo courtesy of Kristofer O'Dowd]
