A familiar Camden County name showed up in front of a national audience this week.

Cole Loden, a St. Marys native and Camden County High School graduate, joined President Trump on stage Wednesday at Wheeler High School in Marietta. Loden and his wife, Allison, recent first-time homebuyers and new parents, were invited up to talk about a federal child savings program.

Loden spoke as a dad. "As a father, it's encouraging to know that our children's future can begin with an investment from day one," he told the crowd, urging other new parents to open an account for their kids.

Folks around here might know the Loden name from Friday nights. Cole was a four-year letterman at Camden County High in football and baseball. He went on to play defensive back at Kennesaw State from 2017 through 2021, where his brother Cade suited up for the Owls too.

From the secondary at Camden County to a microphone in front of the President, it was a long trip for a hometown kid. This week he made it.