It’s not every day that kids get to meet a former professional football player, let alone get to hear one speak to them directly and sign a personal autograph.

But the organizers behind a summer learning camp, housed at and partnered with Cornerstone Family Worship Center, made it happen.

Terrance Copper, a former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, came to speak with the campers on Wednesday afternoon to encourage them to be the best they can be. Copper is a Washington native and played college football at East Carolina University. He brought along his wife of almost 10 years and three children on Wednesday.

The four-week summer camp is part of the Cornerstone Community Learning Center and is an offshoot of the afterschool program run by Beaufort County Schools, thanks to money from the Afterschool Quality Improvement Grant.

Alida Sawyer, the afterschool program director with the learning center, said she reached out to Copper’s wife Kandi to set up the visit after Sawyer’s daughter-in-law put them in contact.

She said the campers participate in a variety of activities, including math, art and physical education, but she asked Copper to speak as part of character education.

Some of the main concepts of his speech included lessons in self-control, determination and respect.

Copper said he has made some mistakes in his life, but when that happens, it’s important to get back on track.

“You’ve got to steel your mind,” he said, referring to a phrase a former coach used to tell the team. “Don’t let anything get into your mind.”

Copper encouraged the kids to avoid bad influences, and he said his faith was what changed his life.

“Your faith in God and your determination will get you back to where you need to be,” he said. “Say, ‘No thanks, I’ve got a purpose in life.’ … One mistake can cost you.”

Christian Norman, 10, a student at John Small Elementary School who attends the camp, said he thought Copper’s speech was good and inspiring.

He said it was encouraging to see someone who was successful in life, and he wants to try to learn to keep to the right path.

“This community is depending on you,” Copper said, as he encouraged the kids to follow in his footsteps and come back to Washington as thriving adults to encourage others. “We need you to become successful in life.”