Feature -- by Justina Labute

"You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give." This philosophy is exemplified by the person we are highlighting in this month's Career Profile.

If you are into football, then you've probably heard of Mark McLouglin, one of the CFL's top place kickers. What you probably don't know is that as a teenager, school seemed a waste of time to Mark. It was a commitment that kept him from making money and from hanging out with his friends. There seemed very little incentive for him to stay in school, so he dropped out. He figured that football players did not need algebra to kick a ball. However he soon began to realize that football players not only needed algebra, but they also needed to be part of a college team, which meant pursuing a degree.

Through hours of solid determination and a bit of luck, Mark made his dreams of becoming a football player and empowering others a reality. He returned to high school to complete his diploma, and then received an athletic scholarship to the University of South Dakota, where he obtained a Bachelor of Education degree.

In the 1988 CFL College Draft he was drafted twentieth overall by the Calgary Stampeders. Since coming to Calgary he has developed an impressive portfolio of accomplishments on the field including winning the Western Division Scoring Crown, Western All-Star, and CFL Tom Pate Award numerous times, and setting club and league records for number of converts, points scored, and longest field goal. But what he has done off the field is even more impressive:

• Establishing Calgary's Stay-In-School Initiatives since 1992
• Presented to over 1000 schools to promote the importance of staying school
• Developed a community partnership model to ensure equitable educational opportunities for students
• Lending his support to the Mount Royal College Kids Program, the Hot Technology Expo, City of Calgary Police 'Play Ball' program, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Calgary and the City of Calgary's Sister City Commission
• Volunteering for numerous community organizations that benefit youth
• Becoming the Partnership Coordinator for the Calgary Education Partnership Foundation.

As an athlete, he appreciates the opportunity to contribute back to the community that has helped and supported him to do what he loves. He feels that supporting the initiatives and charities he does is an exciting way to give back to the "great community" in which he lives. Hand-in-hand the with contributions that he has made, has come a network which he can use to benefit youth.

Mark McLoughlin is not just being highlighted because he is a great person who plays football. It is the contribution that he chooses to make to his community, his belief in education, and his desire to empower others, which makes him such a suitable person. His choices have taken him places that he could not have imagined as a teenager, and have provided him with more than just a living, but a life that can make a difference.