Santa Clara resident Chris Underwood calls himself "a country boy at heart." But don't be fooled by his soft-spoken style.

 

In his work with at-risk teens in San Jose's pioneering Alternative Placement Academy, the Air National Guard Master Sergeant knows how to make some of the area's toughest kids pay attention. In June, the NAACP recognized him with its Roy Wilkins Renowned Service Award.

 

The annual award recognizes active or reserve military members and Department of Defense civilian employees making significant contributions to civil/human rights and community service, and who have shown outstanding leadership.

 

A native of Chadbourn, NC (population 2,077) Underwood has packed lots of experience into his 35 years.

 

He played professional football player in the Arena Football League where he earned a Championship Ring with the Grand Rapids Rampage in 2001, and, briefly, was a member of the 2002 San Jose SaberCats. He has a BA in politics from St. Mary's College. In addition to his day job, Underwood operates his own consulting business, Cwood56, providing career counseling for athletes and entertainers.

 

Underwood first came to California when he was stationed at Edwards Air Force base. In 1995 he transferred to the National Guard and was stationed at Moffett Field.

 

In 2002 the California Youth Authority called him. The agency was looking for people with Underwood's background – he previously taught at Oakland Military Institute – to teach at the Alternative Placement Academy, an innovative new program for at-risk young people who attend the school as an alternative to incarceration.

 

In 2003 he joined the school's staff, where he teaches physical training and leadership, and serves as a student advisor and volleyball coach. It's a challenging job that takes a special dedication and Underwood loves it.

 

"Working with these kids, there's never a dull moment," Underwood says. "You have to have a lot of patience. You're dealing with kids that come in with a lot of baggage, a lot of pain."

 

While military structure and discipline provide the school's format, the program is collaborative.

 

"We provide a military structure and let them lead each other," Underwood explains. "We give them the tools they need to run their own program. We instill in them to carry themselves with pride, speak with pride, wear a uniform with pride, and have them step outside their comfort zone."

 

The program has a high success rate, boasting a 50 percent graduation rate and a negligible recidivism rate among graduates.

 

"You find some kids who come into the program who don't want to be in the program. Then when it comes time to graduate, they deliberately fail because they don't want to go back to regular school. They like the structure."

 

Although he's traveled a long way from Chadbourn, family is his foundation. Of all his accomplishments, he's proudest of his two daughters. "That's what makes my day – seeing them have more chances than I have."

 

His hero is his grandmother, a deeply religious woman and a midwife who "always had the right words at the right time," he says. "If I had a bad day she knew how to lighten up my day and if it was a good day, she knew how to help me build on that.

 

"Her last words to me were 'work hard, always be honest, and make me proud.' I feel like I'm just getting started," he adds.

 

Carolyn Schuk can be reached at cschuk@earthlink.net.