GREENVILLE – The Light Foundation completed its 13th Vohokase Cultural Leadership Camp with the graduation of the class of 2024, Dalton Neptune, Isaiah Nicholas, and Xavier Newell.
“This ceremony carries a lot of weight,” said Matt Light. “We are very proud of these young men and their accomplishments.”
In 2001, Greenville graduate Matt Light, a former NFL player and three-time Superbowl Champion, and his wife Susie established The Light Foundation to help young people develop the skills, values, and mindset they need to create a meaningful and productive future.
Upon founding the Light Foundation, Matt dreamed about starting a camp where young men could learn lifelong skills that would help them be R.E.A.L (Responsible, Ethical, Accountable, Leaders). The Light Foundation’s premier program, Camp Vohokase has done just that.
“This year, three out of the four who committed four years ago are graduating, and those three individuals are incredible,” Light noted. “This is a night for us to brag about them, to let others brag about them, to acknowledge the things they have accomplished in a short period of time.”
The tradition of the graduating seniors signing a post on the grounds of Chenoweth Trails continued, with the three seniors putting their signatures on the prestigious post. The bell ringing in the camp’s bell tower is an added graduation tradition in its second year.
“It’s been four years for these graduates, and for us, it’s the ability to sit back and reminisce about what we’ve learned,” said Light. “This is a special time. We finished everything by having these young men sign a post to hold that accomplishment and ring the bell.”
Xavier Newell received the $1,000 Tony Award scholarship, named in memory of Hershel “Tony” Wray.
The Leadership Academy curriculum includes Camp Vohokase, Timber Frame Leadership Camp, Youth Turkey Hunts, Leadership Conference, LIGHT Project, Matt Light All-Conference Football Camp, Hooked on Fishing, and Chenoweth Trails Family Programming.
