The M.V.P. Program (Most Valuable Person)

    

Whether you like sports or not, everyone can be an M.V.P. (Most Valuable Person) in life. It doesn't matter how fast you can run, how many points you score, or how fast you can throw a ball, and it doesn't matter if you don't like sports at all! What's most important is that you try to be the best person you can be every day.  That's what David Lee Morgan, Jr., the founder of the M.V.P. Program, learned during his collegiate days at Youngstown State University.


What David learned during his time at YSU was that before you could be a success in sports, you had to be a success within yourself--in your life every day.  He learned that caring about those around you would help you feel better about yourself and, in turn, would make other people feel good about themselves.  "Pay it Forward," is his philosophy.


With his M.V.P. Youth Character and Literacy Program, David Lee Morgan, Jr. uses this philosophy, as well as his own personal experiences throughout his life, to engage students in lively, fun and interesting discussions along with quick reading and writing exercises to improve those important skills.


The goal of the M.V.P. Program is to get students to understand that being a winner in life doesn't always mean winning on the playing field.  The M.V.P. program is about understanding that if you can improve your reading and writing skills while at the same time improving your character, you can become a winner in the game of lie, every day of your life!

 

 

 

David Lee Morgan, Jr.

 

David Lee Morgan, Jr. earned his Bachelor's Degree in Professional Writing & Editing through the English Department at Youngstown State University and earned a minor in Journalism. He was a baseball and basketball player at Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio and was inducted into the Trumbull County African-American Achievers Hall of Fame.

 
Prior to creating and developing the M.V.P. (Most Valuable Person) Character Education & Literacy Program, Morgan was an accomplished sports journalist. He has written for numerous newspapers including the Warren Tribune-Chronicle, Youngstown Vindicator, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin, Raleigh News & Observer and Akron Beacon Journal. Morgan also was a television reporter for WYTV-Channel 33 in Youngstown, an ABC affiliate.

While at the Akron Beacon Journal, Morgan covered the Cleveland Cavaliers, the University of Akron athletics and was the beat writer for the Akron Aeros, the Indians' Double-A affiliate, from 1997 to 2003. He also was part of the Beacon Journal's coverage during the Indians' 1997 playoff run, which included a World Series appearance against eventual champions the Florida Marlins.

Morgan has also written numerous books which were met with critical success including, "LeBron James: The Rise of a Star" (2003) , Kelly 'The Ghost' Pavlik: The Pride of Youngstown (2009), High School Heroes: Athlete's Stories of Inspiration, Dedication and Hope (2009), More Than A Coach: What It Means To Play For Coach, Mentor and Friend Jim Tressel, A Ring For The King: King James, Shaq and the Quest for an NBA Championship (209), Game Changers: The Greatest Plays in Ohio State Football History (2010) and Broken Heroes and Enduring Hope: The Cleveland Diagnosis of Injured Title Dreams and Indestructible Fans (2012).         

Morgan was named the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Writer of the Year three times (2004, 2007 and 2009) and was the runner-up for Best Sports Feature Writer of the Year in Ohio in 2010 in the prestigious Associated Press Society of Ohio Newspapers competition.

An author and caring father, David Lee Morgan, Jr. engages students and leaves a lasting impression long after the program has ended. Morgan has helped thousands of young men and women build character and confidence.

 

 

 

About the Program

 

The goal of the M.V.P. program is to get students to understand that being a winner in life doesn't always mean winning on the playing field. The M.V.P. program is about understanding that if you try to incorporate one or more of the ``Fundamentals For Winners'' everyday, you can become a winner in the game of life, every day of your life!

The program can be delivered in weekly 45-minute sessions per class for 9 weeks (a grading period), 18-weeks (a semester) or 36 weeks (full school year.) Morgan works with students from 4th- through 8th grades and is also available to work with high school students, as well.


The goal of the M.V.P. Program is to motivate students to understand that being a winner in life doesn't always mean winning on the sports playing field. Through a series of lively, engaging, and educational discussions, along with reading and writing exercises, the program helps students understand:

If you can improve your reading and writing skills while at the same time improving your character, you can become a winner in the game of life.

 

For more information, contact David Lee Morgan, Jr. at dmorgan@brightwaycenter.org or call (740) 733-7480.

 

  • Sign In