Sponsored by Vista Bank
Photos Credit: Don Tortellini and 52 Visuals for Images
The Camp Exposure Football Invitational (“Camp Exposure”) is a free, all-inclusive, three-day overnight football camp specifically curated for under-represented high school athletes. The highly anticipated event returns for its third annual installment from July 8-10th with on-the-field training at Highland Park High School, and personal and professional development off-the-field sessions at Embassy Suites of Dallas Park Central.
Sponsored by Vista Bank, the multi-day experience will invite elite players from the DFW Metroplex, to a day of “exposure” for athletic skills training (similar to the NFL Regional Combine drills). Professional instruction will be delivered by collegiate and NFL coaches such as Josh Hicks (Ezekiel Elliot and Melvin Gordon’s trainer), Chris Harris, Jr., Brandon Carr and Dezmon Briscoe; just to name a few. Off-the-field topics will be explored with expert speakers proficient in Mental Health, Spiritual Health, Identity, Nutrition, Relationship Skills, Financial Literacy, and The Business of the Game.
“The Camp Exposure Football Invitation is an opportunity for all high school football players – some with next-level (Division I / NFL) talent, as well as those who are preparing for a career right out of high school,” said Camp Exposure Co-Founder Jeremiah Hatch. “This once-in-a-lifetime experience gives these athletes a platform to enhance their football talents, cultivate their life skills, develop their character as young men, and to set the foundation for their professional brands and careers,” added Camp Exposure Co-Founder Tyler Patmon.
Camp Exposure has strategically partnered with sponsor Vista Bank and host Highland Park High School, in order to further initiatives and opportunities for the athletes and surrounding communities.
“It was essential for us to partner with Vista Bank and Highland Park High School because we share a similar dream to love our neighbors and serve our communities,” Camp Exposure Co-Founder Lubbock Smith said. “However, I also believe that there is something greater — albeit deeper — that has connected us to a dream bigger than our own: a vision of restoring and healing Dallas altogether, so that all communities can thrive. That starts here with these 100 young men and their families.”
“I truly respect the three young men leading this effort, and with Vista’s focus on financial literacy in South Dallas, it was a natural fit to support Camp Exposure,” noted Vista Bank President & CEO John D. Steinmetz. “That said, when Highland Park Athletic Director Johnny Ringo and Coach Randy Allen, along with Oak Cliff’s Carter High School Head Coach Spencer Gilbert joined in, I knew we had something special. South Dallas and Highland Park coming together to elevate these talented young men over more than just football, teaching them ‘how to fish’ through financial literacy, character, leadership, and community service will actually change lives.”
“When Coach Allen and I heard about the amazing work that Camp Exposure is doing, to not just elevate elite athletes, but strengthen these young men holistically, we were all in,” added Highland Park Athletic Director Johnny Ringo. “The opportunity to unite the South Dallas and Highland Park communities around our common love for the sport is something truly special.”
Camp Exposure athletes will be hosted for 3 days and 2 nights at the Embassy Suites of Dallas Park Central, as they prep to kick up the intensity for three days of sessions. Skills training will be provided by DeVante Harris, Steven Terrell, Aca’Cedric Ware, Cyrus Gray, Dezmon Briscoe, Chris Harris Jr., and Bradley McDougald. The athletes will also participate in intimate discussions on Identity by motivational speaker Shamiel Gary, Mental Health from Jay Barnett (Just Heal Bro), and Spiritual Health from Josh Ehambe. Top executives will also make appearances, equipping the athletes with training on Professional Development (Beneca Griffin), Relationship Skills (Yves Batoba), Financial Literacy (Lubbock Smith), and the Business of the Game (Carlos White, Brandon Carr, and Chris Harris). While Friday and Saturday are by invitation only, Sunday is open to the public free of charge with festivities and fun provided for families who register in advance on The Camp Exposure site, while space is available. The camp will conclude Sunday afternoon with a much anticipated, highly energetic, 7-on-7 Football Tournament at Highlander Stadium.
Click HERE for the Official Camp Exposure Website
About Camp Exposure
Camp Exposure was founded in 2017 and is a multi-day, football intensive targeting underrepresented, high school elite athletes from the Oak Cliff and South Dallas communities of Texas. Founded by Dallas natives and former collegiate and/or pro athletes Jeremiah Hatch (Carter High School, University of Kansas), Tyler Patmon (Vista Ridge High School, University of Kansas, Dallas Cowboys), and Lubbock Smith III (Carter High School, University of Kansas), the three-day experience includes skills training synonymous to the NFL Regional Combines, and personal and professional development for both on and off the field success.
About Vista Bank
Established in 1912, Vista Bank operates 15 locations throughout Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and West Texas. With disciplined, organic growth, Vista recently broke into the Top 100 Texas Banks by asset size. One of Dallas’ top commercial lenders, Texas’ largest Main Street Lending Program funder, and the second largest nationwide, Vista stood in the gap for small businesses during the pandemic. With a rich 109-year history of entrepreneurs banking entrepreneurs, Vista operates more like a start-up than a traditional bank, offering innovative solutions to personal and commercial clients alike, while never sacrificing the top priority – People First. Learn more at www.vistabank.com.
