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Finding the Setup in the Setback: Jake Olson ’15
March 14 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
OLu Alumni Jake Olson confronted many challenges and setbacks during his battle and loss of sight, but remained strong through his faith in God. He has used his experience to inspire and motivate others by authoring two books, creating a non-profit foundation to help visually impaired children and support cancer research, and sharing his story openly as a motivational speaker. Join us on March 14 to hear his incredible story!
This event is free and open to the public. Click here to RSVP!
About Jake
When Jake was eight months old, he was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer, retinoblastoma. The disease claimed his left eye at 10 months old and his right eye 12 years later.
Jake is also a lifelong USC fan. As a student at Orange Lutheran High School, he learned to long snap and was the starting long snapper for his team during his junior and senior years. After being accepted to USC, he was offered a walk-on spot with the USC football team, making him the first completely blind D1 college football player. He saw his first live action when he snapped in USC’s home opener in 2017 and was named the Pac-12 Special Teams’ Player of the Week. During his college career, he had three successful PAT snaps, earning his spot as one of the two most inspirational stories in college football’s 150-year history.
His story has been featured on ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, Fox Sports, Hallmark, TBN, The Golf Channel, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post, Prager University, and more.
Since graduating from USC’s Marshall School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Jake has become the co-founder of Engage, an online platform that digitizes the process of booking talent for experiences.
This event, part of Orange Lutheran’s Legacy Series, is open to the public and appropriate for all ages. High school students are especially welcome. Open Q & A will be held after Jake’s presentation. There is no cost to attend, but RSVP is appreciated.
Books Authored
Open Your Eyes: 10 Uncommon Lessons to Discover a Happier Life (2013)
My Life with Cancer Holding Jesus’ Hand (2005)
About The Orange Lutheran Legacy Series
The Orange Lutheran Legacy Series features members of the Orange Lutheran community who have remarkable life stories.
