Green Bay Packers defensive lineman and Canton, Ohio native Kenny Peterson was at the Hall of Fame on Friday (March 19) in support of a youth mentorship program he is helping to begin.
Peterson brought more than two dozen seventh and eighth grade students from Monroe Middle School in Columbus to participate in the Hall's Career in Sports program.
The popular presentation is a part of the Hall of Fame's Educational Outreach Program and focuses on the many professional opportunities available in the field of pro sports aside from being a player.
The second-year pro grew up in Canton and graduated from Canton McKinley High School which is directly across the street from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During his senior year in high school, he helped lead McKinley to a state and a national championship. He then went on to the Ohio State University where he had a successful career. He played a significant role during his senior season, helping the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002.
Kenny was drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played his first NFL game in the 2003 Pro Football Hall of Fame game versus the Kansas City Chiefs. The contest was played on Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium, the very same field he played on during his high school career.
Peterson hopes to further develop the mentorship program to be able to offer college scholarships to underprivileged children.
