PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – The youngest of seven children, Otis Hooper grew up in the Hampton Roads area. After moving to DC for college and graduating from Howard University with a degree in engineering, he worked on solar and nuclear energy projects as well as served in the DC national guard. In 1968, he took an interest in hand-to-hand combat. Otis Hooper is this week’s I Am Hampton Roads. Otis has run the Peninsula Boxing Academy since 2004. In addition to the non-profit that works to provide a positive impact on young people through boxing, Otis is also passionate about teaching a self-protection program for women in the community.