Kyle Golden and Jonathan MorrowTwo DPT students share a bond over a connected purpose. Jonathan Morrow (BMD, 2022), alumnus of our B.S. in Biomedical Sciences program, was always drawn to physical therapy. He played basketball in high school and suffered through his share of injuries, exposing him to PT and realizing he wanted to pursue the field. The main attraction for him was having a chance to help someone and he was able to enter the early acceptance program.
Kyle Golden (KIN, 2022) was a dual-enrollment student in high school. It allowed him to find the freedom to explore different career options and he eventually found physical therapy and pursued that avenue. Golden applied for the early acceptance program at UAB and during the interview process, he met Morrow.
Now, Golden and Morrow have each been involved in RANSOM – Radical Athlete aNd Student Oasis Ministry – since 2019, helping to grow the group and serving as peer mentors.
RANSOM, which has chapters at five universities including UAB, is a student-led ministry group aiming to provide a family-like atmosphere and provide students a connection to Christianity through unconventional faith-based mentorship and resource events.
They say many students struggle when arriving at college and need guidance. They may be first generation college students who struggle to adapt to the academic expectations, or those adjusting from a rural to urban setting, or those simply struggling to find their place.
Morrow was exposed to RANSOM while completing his undergraduate studies. The campus leader at the time drew him in due to his passion and he was mirroring that in a lot of ways.
“Everybody that was connected to RANSOM was purpose-driven and not content with being spectators in life,” said Morrow. “I went to that first meeting, loved it and have been serving ever since.”
Golden was linked to RANSOM by Morrow. The friendship between the two grew and Morrow continuously mentioned RANSOM to him and how cool and different it was, telling him he “had to go” to experience it. Kyle finally decided to go and was sold.
“I had never been in an atmosphere like that where it really felt like a safe space,” recalled Golden. “Anyone is welcome and has their own seat at the table.”
The UAB chapter was originally founded by Jeremy Towns, M.D., a former NFL player and UAB Medicine resident, who still serves as President of the organization. Towns became involved when he was a student at Samford University and brought it over to UAB.
“A lot of people have flipped their academic life, personal lives and/or professional lives,” says Golden. “They were struggling and years later have stories about their lives being changed through our intentional program that we do to support students here and beyond graduation.”
Jonathan aides on the marketing side for the group while Kyle serves as chair of the Fundraising Committee. They are continuing to expand RANSOM’s impact by developing further connection with alumni and the development of sports camps to connect with local youth, featuring current and former athletes from UAB and other nearby universities. Developing this self-described wrap-around support system to serve students in need is the main goal.
“The sports camps are a way to bring in children from backgrounds where they may not be exposed to the level of mentorship we have to offer,” said Morrow. “Giving people a different lens and perspective and realizing that there’s more for them.”
“We are trying to leave a legacy of impact and positive influence on everyone, from the youth to their parents,” stated Golden.
Several initiatives at UAB and within the School of Health Professions have been a key inspiration for Morrow and Golden. A welcoming space was provided to them to grow their platform and was a big role with their intentionality of bringing diversity and equality into the forefront.
The opportunities with RANSOM and the ability to have an impact on the lives of others through service has been monumental for these two Blazers, with Morrow saying that, “being able to find my voice as a young person has changed the trajectory of my entire life.”
“Engaging in service has facilitated the most worthwhile and satisfying friendships for me, compared to anything else I’ve personally experienced,” said Golden. “And with every opportunity I choose to serve, I grow and get better, because I’m choosing to elevate the interests of someone else over my own, which is one of the most admirable, yet difficult, tasks in life.”
