Strand helps with student project

Former Logan High School graduate and starting quarterback for the Eastern New Mexico University's Greyhounds football team paid a visit to his alma mater to help an elementary student with a research project.

Wyatt Strand, a 2015 graduate of Logan, and a freshman at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, paid a visit to Melissa Robert's third-grade classroom at Logan Elementary on Nov. 21.

Roberts said Strand was assisting a student with a Genius Hour project. She said the project is based on Google's theory, giving their employees a project to work on for 80 percent of the time and the other 20 percent is used on a project of their choice, Roberts added.

Roberts said Aydin Kotara's topic was "How did Peyton Manning learn to throw so far?" She said Kotara researched Peyton Manning's conditioning and exercise routines. In addition to Kotara's research, Strand came to the classroom, Roberts added.

"It was a great experience, one of the highlights of my year," Strand said. "I enjoyed having the opportunity to speak to the class."

Strand said the students asked him a variety of questions, including how many touchdowns he had scored as a quarterback for ENMU.

"Wyatt was so humble during the presentation," Roberts said. "When asked about his touchdowns, he told the children it's never about me; it's about the team."

Strand said the students asked him about the mechanics of holding and throwing a football. He said they even wanted to know the size of the biggest opponent he played against.

"It was a unique experience answering questions for the students," Strand said.

Roberts said after the presentation, Strand took the time to visit with the students and sign autographs.

"I appreciate Wyatt coming back to his hometown and taking the time to answer questions from the students," Roberts said.