Just four years after graduating from Azusa Pacific University, Tevin Krall ’18 is thriving in ways he never expected. Raised by a single mom, Krall moved more than 10 times as a child. Anytime the rent would increase, they would pack up and find a new place in his hometown of Ventura. Although he didn’t know it at the time, these experiences equipped him to one day start his own moving company, Mama Boy Movers, along with the education he received at APU.
Krall came to APU on a football scholarship, enabling him to become the first in his immediate family to go to a four-year college. “My scholarship opened the door for me and gave me an opportunity. I probably wouldn’t have been able to afford college otherwise,” he said. A powerful defensive lineman, Krall totalled 9.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss in his career. He earned second-team all-GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) honors and was named to the GNAC academic conference team. This was a huge accomplishment, especially considering Krall entered APU on academic probation. “My coaches at APU took a chance on me. My GPA wasn’t the best in high school, but I told them I would work hard and find a way to keep my grades up,” Krall said. “Receiving tutoring and going to study hall sessions were part of the journey. It was a lot of hard work, but it all paid off in the end.”
Although he began college as a social work major, Krall quickly switched to sociology after taking an introductory class. He had never felt very interested in most academic subjects growing up, but he became engrossed with sociology. “I remember learning about topics like race and pay gaps and having an instant connection with it because I felt that I had gone through a lot of those things my whole life. It was so relatable,” he said. Krall wasn’t sure what he would do after college, but he knew he had a strong desire to help others.
After graduation, Krall served as an assistant high school football coach for one year with former APU football coach Ben Buys. While this allowed him to continue with the sport he loved, it didn’t pay the bills, so Krall delivered packages for Amazon part-time. During a delivery one day, he had an epiphany. “In sociology, you learn that single parents move far more often than families with both parents. Moving is something that always just came second nature to me. I wanted to build a business that could help single parents,” he said. “Being raised by a single mom, I wanted to dedicate my company to her, so I started Mama Boy Movers.”
Krall took a leap of faith and opened his company in January 2020 with the help of several APU alumni including Jonah Wataru ’17, Keeka Kaakau ’18, Cordell Smith ’18, Olivia Johnson ’18, Katie Little ’19, Gaige Allen ’19, Jay Brylka Duvu ’20, Noel (Ming) Hosnell ’20, Brandon Jackson ’20, and Maeaeafe …….
