Football may mean nothing to some and is just a pastime to others. Yet for some people, football changes their entire lives and gives them a shot at new opportunities. As an OSU football alum and the son of first generation Haitian immigrants, Yvenson Bernard proves the power that a sport such as football can have and is an inspiring example of how hard work and dedication open up new possibilities for the future. Vince Lombardi, an NFL head coach for the Washington Redskins and the Green Bay Packers, had a famous quote about the impact of football on life: “Football is like life--it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” Of the many athletes who have played football and other sports for OSU, Yvenson Bernard is one whose life exemplifies the qualities of football that Lombardi described as “perseverance,” “respect” and “dedication.”

Before becoming a record setting OSU running back at third in 1,500 yard career rushes for OSU and fourth in career touchdowns with a total of 38, Bernard was a shy high schooler in south Florida with a decision to make. As a senior with recruiters knocking and only five official college visits to base the future of his athletic career on, Bernard chose to spend one on a trip across the country to visit his best friend and Beaver Nation. Bernard’s best friend, Sabby Piscitelli, was a year older and had chosen to spend his collegiate athletic career as a football player for OSU. Piscitelli convinced Bernard to visit to the west coast and he unintentionally fell in love with the west coast and Oregon State. “The team was doing really well at the time and they won,” said Bernard. “I knew the star running back at the time, Steven Jackson, would be leaving the following year. So, I guess it was kind of an easy decision where I knew my best friend was attending, there was going to be a hole at the position I was playing and I would have the chance to be on the west coast. I probably never would’ve been on the west coast if it wasn’t for coming to Oregon State.”

Bernard currently works as Discovery Officer and Fundraiser for Athletics, but was a star running back for the OSU Beavers Football team from 2004 to 2007. His spectacular stint at OSU helped lead the team through a stunning era of winning, including two bowl appearances and wins. In particular, Bernard was key to the phenomenal victory of the 2006 Sun Bowl. With 12 minutes left in the game, the Beavers overcame a 14-point deficit with two touchdowns, one of which was scored by Bernard. With 23 seconds left and a score of 38-37 in favor of the Missouri Tigers, head coach at the time, Mike Riley, chose to go for a two-point conversion that would clench the win. An incompletion of the attempt would give the victory to the Tigers and cause the Beavers to fall short of the win. Despite a strong defense barricading victory, Bernard completed the two-point conversion to secure the win for the Beavers with 22.1 seconds left in the final quarter.

When asked about his favorite memories of football at OSU, Bernard referenced the Sun Bowl as one of the top two. “I think it’s one of those games that was totally a ‘David and Goliath’ moment for us again,” said Bernard, “We’re known to be giant killers and that team was a very great team….We beat them at a really tough game that came down to the wire, so I think that this in history is a game that Oregon State fans will always remember, and I was lucky to be a part of that.” The second memory was his brother and his father flying out to see him play his last game in Reser Stadium his senior year. After four years of only being able to experience his games via television, Bernard was able to pool a portion of his scholarship money to fly the two out for his final game. His perseverance throughout his career at OSU, fueled by a desire to pay his way through college by hard work and sweat, provided him the many experiences he had through the sport, from giant slaying to family pride.

Despite the love for the game, Bernard misses the team bonding--the “locker room” as he calls it--more than the game itself. “[I miss] the locker room, being with the boys before and after games and practices. Just talking about stuff, joking around, just being goofballs, it’s funny, it’s like a little fraternity,” Bernard reminisced, “We all have the same vision; we all want to go play in the pros and we want to all be successful. When you’re around so many people like that, you feed off of it. We had a special group when I was here. We went to bowl game after bowl game, we won a lot of games. The baseball team was hot at that time with back to back National Championships. It was fun to be on campus.” Bernard’s thoughts about the electricity of a college campus banding around the influential wins and victorious sports programs prove Oregon State fostered an unparalleled atmosphere during that era.

After college, Bernard played a year in the National Football League and a few years in the Canadian Football League. The woman who would become his wife was still in Corvallis, but his heart still felt home in Florida. Bernard moved to Florida, a decision he cites as being an easy one, but while there, he didn’t feel his heart in the work. With his heart and career not aligning, he once again relocated and returned to Corvallis. Though he still strongly holds to his Florida roots and believes he is a Florida boy to his core, he also recognizes that Corvallis is currently the right fit. “Without Corvallis, without Oregon State University, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.

In 2014, Bernard came on board as a graduate coaching assistant for the OSU football team under head coach Mike Riley for what would be Riley’s final season at OSU before being hired as the head coach for Nebraska the following year. Despite the connection with Riley and extensive experience as a running back at the college level, he noted the struggles of being a running back coach during that season. “It was fun, [but] it was tough...It was tougher than playing,” he admitted. “It’s kind of hard teaching and being around kids that took stuff for granted that we didn’t...so it’s kind of weird to see that. It was definitely challenging; it was more challenging than I thought it’d be.” Undeterred by the difficulty of the position, Bernard continued with the athletic department the following year. Today, he continues his work by fundraising and marketing for the athletic department with a continual focus in philanthropic opportunities.

Non-profit and philanthropic work have always been a focus and interest for Bernard. As the son of Haitian immigrants, his focus has always been working hard with determination to follow the character that his parents set by establishing their lives in the United States. College football provided him the opportunity of an education Bernard is sure he would not have been able to receive otherwise, but also has given his family a platform for their own charitable work in Haiti. Together, Bernard and his brother, Giovani Bernard and current running back for the Cincinnati Bengals, created the RunGio Foundation, which aims to provide quality education for the children of Haiti. Their non-profit work centers around what was once an all-girls school, but is now a boys and girls school with programs for the students such as sports, crafts and learning opportunities. The school is named after their mother who passed away in 1999; in English, the name translates to “The Garden of Josette,” but in French is “Le Jardin Vert de Josette.” The two brothers return to the school at least once every year to spend time serving the community and to help continue building the programs. “It’s very near and dear to us….It’s a really amazing foundation that’s been going on for almost 8 years now,” Bernard explained, “We still can’t give our full time to it because we are so busy, but one day we definitely want to be full time. My aunts, they’re there 24/7, so that makes it a lot easier. We basically raise the money for it and try to go out there and give the little time that we have to give. One day we definitely want to...do something that is really thriving and making a lot of money where the students can be sent off to school.”

The school and town that initially changed his and lives of his family is now home to Bernard, his wife and their son. He noted that the community feel and athletic support as highlights of Corvallis. The rallying around the teams and family aspects of the town are what he finds to be the best parts of Corvallis and Beaver Nation. Bernard feels that the job he has now gives him an opportunity to give back to the school and community that gave him so much. He also has the chance to personally interact with the donors, who so generously donate to OSU athletics, bringing him to a point of greater appreciation for those who choose to support the school. “I have a whole new respect for our donors and the people that give to the program,” says Bernard. “[This job] is an awesome way for me to give back in a different way besides scoring a touchdown and all that and bringing attention. It’s really neat to give back.”

Lombardi lists the characteristics “perseverance,” “respect” and “hard work” as the skills needed for both life and football. Bernard encompasses all of those things, but holds true to the greatest characteristic of all: humility. The best football players and the best players in life embody humility, staying true to their roots and genuinely caring about those they encounter. Who better than Yvenson Bernard, the football turned philanthropist advocate, to exemplify the characteristics of a football star and role model for all. Humility, hard work, and Haiti; Bernard inspires all to strive for their dreams while encouraging others along the way.

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