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About Mr Underwood
Mr Underwood seen here with his beautiful wife Katelynn
On July 30, 2011 Mr Underwood married his amazing wife Katelynn. The two originally fell in love while walking through the campus of Oregon State University on a Saturday afternoon in Fall 2008. It was this very place that Mr Underwood later proposed to his fiancé during the summer of 2010. In his free time away from school, Mr Underwood enjoys traveling, watching sports and working out. Though his favorite sports teams are generally from the Northwest, Mr Underwood's favorite city to travel to is San Francisco. Mr Underwood is also a an avid videographer and loves making not only school and sports related videos but hopes to someday direct his own documentary.
The Early Years
Senior James Underwood in 1996
Born in Milwaukie, Oregon in 1979 James Underwood’s family moved to Corvallis, Oregon when he was two years old. One of eleven children (eight girls and three boys) in his family, James grew up on a small family farm on the outskirts of Corvallis. James would later credit his work ethic from his time on the farm. “Growing up on a farm taught me responsibility,” James once commented, “Whether it was feeding the cows, cleaning out pig pens or moving irrigation pipes, I learned the importance of follow through because the animals and plants relied on us so there was never an option of taking a day off.”
As James grew older he began playing sports. Football and baseball were two of the sports James enjoyed playing but it was basketball that was his true passion. A life long Portland Trailblazer fan, James often stayed up late on his driveway basketball court pretending he was such Blazers as Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler. His freshman year of high school that all changed when James broke his hand during the last game of the football season. Unable to tryout for the basketball team James decided to go out for wrestling once his hand had healed. The decision ended up being the best thing that could have happened to James. "I loved basketball so much and still do today but wrestling was a sport I excelled at which gave me a newly found confidence that later paid dividends," commented James. Despite loosing his first 19 matches, James won five of his last six matches to place at districts his freshman year and went on to have a stellar four year wrestling career. In total James lettered seven times as an athlete in high school.
In senior year at Crescent Valley High School James was voted ASB president. It would be his experience as a student leader that James would later tribute as one of the driving forces to become an educator.
As James grew older he began playing sports. Football and baseball were two of the sports James enjoyed playing but it was basketball that was his true passion. A life long Portland Trailblazer fan, James often stayed up late on his driveway basketball court pretending he was such Blazers as Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler. His freshman year of high school that all changed when James broke his hand during the last game of the football season. Unable to tryout for the basketball team James decided to go out for wrestling once his hand had healed. The decision ended up being the best thing that could have happened to James. "I loved basketball so much and still do today but wrestling was a sport I excelled at which gave me a newly found confidence that later paid dividends," commented James. Despite loosing his first 19 matches, James won five of his last six matches to place at districts his freshman year and went on to have a stellar four year wrestling career. In total James lettered seven times as an athlete in high school.
In senior year at Crescent Valley High School James was voted ASB president. It would be his experience as a student leader that James would later tribute as one of the driving forces to become an educator.
The College Years Part I
James & his stunt partner Kelsey in 2000
In the spring of 1997 James decided to attend the University of Oregon over the University of Portland and the University of San Francisco. Declaring psychology as a major, James originally hoped to either become a child psychologist or a youth minister. Though James only attended the University of Oregon for six terms it was at the UofO that James met two individuals that would change the course of his life. The first was his friend Brian Cao, a member of the Oregon Cheerleading Squad, who would convince James to try out for the team. Underwood credits Cao, who would go on to become one of the all time greatest cheerleading coaches in the state of Oregon after graduating, with getting him into cheer. "I met Brian in the weight room one day and then again at a student church service and he asked me to come to one practice," recalled Underwood, "He said if I didn't like it, he would never ask me back... I guess you could say the rest is history."
The other person of great importance James met while at the UofO was legendary Educational Studies professor Dan Close. During an office hours visit one day after class, Dr Close asked James why he wanted to become a child psychologist. When James answered he wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of children, Dr Close spoke candidly to James and said, "If you really want to impact people's lives then you need to become a teacher." It was soon after this encounter that James officially switched his career path to teaching. Unfortunately, because he had missed the deadline to apply for the education program at the University of Oregon, James was faced with a rather large decision: wait until the following year to apply for the program at the UofO or transfer to another school. "That was probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," commented James, "I had made so many friends in Eugene and had a blast cheering for the UofO but I knew in the end, my studies were the most important thing."
The other person of great importance James met while at the UofO was legendary Educational Studies professor Dan Close. During an office hours visit one day after class, Dr Close asked James why he wanted to become a child psychologist. When James answered he wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of children, Dr Close spoke candidly to James and said, "If you really want to impact people's lives then you need to become a teacher." It was soon after this encounter that James officially switched his career path to teaching. Unfortunately, because he had missed the deadline to apply for the education program at the University of Oregon, James was faced with a rather large decision: wait until the following year to apply for the program at the UofO or transfer to another school. "That was probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," commented James, "I had made so many friends in Eugene and had a blast cheering for the UofO but I knew in the end, my studies were the most important thing."
The College Years Part II
OSU Mascot "Benny the Beaver"
Ultimately James decided to transfer to Oregon State University. Though James had grown up in Corvallis and been a huge Beaver fan his entire life, he couldn't help but notice that his hometown had changed quite a bit when he transferred home to Oregon State. "I remember going to OSU football games in middle school and high school and for five dollars you could sit almost anywhere. The stands were virtually empty. OSU had always been the lovable loosers" recalled James, "around 1999 and 2000 all that started to change. It was an exciting time to not only be at Oregon State. The stadium was suddenly full, the games were often on national TV, it was a cool feeling to be in the middle of it all."
A two year captain of the cheerleading and stunt squad, James says his best memory was the 2001 Fiesta Bowl when the Beavers beat Notre Dame 41-9 on national TV. As the clock ticked down during the closing seconds of the game, James thought he had cheered his final college football game. That spring he knew we was scheduled to begin volunteering in schools as a part of the education program, which would severely limit his extracurricular options. When James approached his coach, Amber Bezates, about not being able to cheer, she suggested that he tryout for the mascot. "It was the perfect solution," remarked James, "I was able to take my regular classes and do my volunteer work but I was still able to be involved because being the mascot allowed me to practice on my own time. As long as I was ready on game day, they let me do my own thing," James spent the next two years as the official OSU mascot, Benny the Beaver.
In 2003 James officially graduated from Oregon State University with his bachelors degree and geared up for the next chapter in his life.
A two year captain of the cheerleading and stunt squad, James says his best memory was the 2001 Fiesta Bowl when the Beavers beat Notre Dame 41-9 on national TV. As the clock ticked down during the closing seconds of the game, James thought he had cheered his final college football game. That spring he knew we was scheduled to begin volunteering in schools as a part of the education program, which would severely limit his extracurricular options. When James approached his coach, Amber Bezates, about not being able to cheer, she suggested that he tryout for the mascot. "It was the perfect solution," remarked James, "I was able to take my regular classes and do my volunteer work but I was still able to be involved because being the mascot allowed me to practice on my own time. As long as I was ready on game day, they let me do my own thing," James spent the next two years as the official OSU mascot, Benny the Beaver.
In 2003 James officially graduated from Oregon State University with his bachelors degree and geared up for the next chapter in his life.
National Service (Americorps)
James on a church mission to Mexico in 2006
Faced with the decision of what to do after graduating from OSU, James decided to take two years off and volunteer with the Americorps program. “I knew I would eventually have to go back to school to finish my masters degree if I wanted to teach but I wanted to do something to give back to my country,” said James, “I weighed the option of joining the military, joining Peacecorps or doing Teach for America but in the end Americorps seemed like the best fit.”
As an Americorps volunteer, James spent the next two years volunteering in high schools, helping students get into and pay for college through the ASPIRE program. “That was easily the best and most rewarding experience I have ever had,” reminisced James, “I could have done that forever, but unfortunately since I was volunteering I never got paid. At some point I knew I would have to go back school.“
While volunteering with Americorps, James also spent a considerable amount of time working at a teenage drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. He also coached football and wrestling and led several mission trips with his church.
As an Americorps volunteer, James spent the next two years volunteering in high schools, helping students get into and pay for college through the ASPIRE program. “That was easily the best and most rewarding experience I have ever had,” reminisced James, “I could have done that forever, but unfortunately since I was volunteering I never got paid. At some point I knew I would have to go back school.“
While volunteering with Americorps, James also spent a considerable amount of time working at a teenage drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. He also coached football and wrestling and led several mission trips with his church.
Return to Eugene/Springfield
2010 Thurston Cheerleading team that took 3rd in the nation
In the spring of 2006, James was offered the opportunity to move back to the Eugene/Springfield area to help start the ASPIRE program at Thurston High School. Excited to move back to Lane County, James jumped on the opportunity. "Even though I'm a die hard Beaver Believer, I felt as though I was being called back to Eugene," he later commented.
After spending a year helping to establish Thurston's ASPIRE program, James went back to college to get his master's degree in teaching from the University of Oregon. This ultimately led to his hiring at Thurston High School where he currently teaches social studies and coaches the varsity coed cheerleading squad. "I actually assumed I would coach football and wrestling like I did in Corvallis," James once mentioned, "but when I interviewed for the position they asked if I would be interested in starting a coed cheer program. Naturally, I wanted the job so I said yes... I guess you can say the rest is history."
After spending a year helping to establish Thurston's ASPIRE program, James went back to college to get his master's degree in teaching from the University of Oregon. This ultimately led to his hiring at Thurston High School where he currently teaches social studies and coaches the varsity coed cheerleading squad. "I actually assumed I would coach football and wrestling like I did in Corvallis," James once mentioned, "but when I interviewed for the position they asked if I would be interested in starting a coed cheer program. Naturally, I wanted the job so I said yes... I guess you can say the rest is history."
Teaching at Thurston High School
James and former student and cheerleader Brandy Duren
Since getting hired on in 2007, James has taught virtually every social studies class offered at Thurston High. "I love teaching our Global History classes," James remarked, "But without a doubt, my favorite class to teach is Psychology." In the summer of 2009 James was offered to opportunity to study at Stanford University as part of their Decision Education Program.
When asked what the most original class he has ever taught was, James responded, "One of the neatest opportunities I have had at Thurston High has been my work with our Peer Group Program." Peer Group is Thurston's community service class that gives students an opportunity to create a service project that directly impacts either their school or community. "I love the type of students Peer Group attracts," James added, "It's just full of students who want to make a difference in both their school and their community."
As a coach, Underwood's' teams have not only won five state titles (2009, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) but they have also finished in the top three in the nation on four different occasions (2010, 2012, 2013 & 2015). James has also had ten former cheerleaders continue on to cheer in college.
When asked what the most original class he has ever taught was, James responded, "One of the neatest opportunities I have had at Thurston High has been my work with our Peer Group Program." Peer Group is Thurston's community service class that gives students an opportunity to create a service project that directly impacts either their school or community. "I love the type of students Peer Group attracts," James added, "It's just full of students who want to make a difference in both their school and their community."
As a coach, Underwood's' teams have not only won five state titles (2009, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) but they have also finished in the top three in the nation on four different occasions (2010, 2012, 2013 & 2015). James has also had ten former cheerleaders continue on to cheer in college.
