SUMMIT, N.J. (Dec. 11, 2015) – Members of the Drew University Student Athlete Advisory Committee visited the PEP Program in Summit this week to impart their experiences and thoughts on preparing for and excelling in college with a group of public school students.
 
The PEP Program is committed to motivating and encouraging selected Summit Public School students with demonstrated need and academic potential to perform to the best of their abilities, to aspire to and obtain a post secondary education and in general, to become productive and responsible members of the community.
 
The program often provides mentors to encourage the young students to seek continued education. This week, it was a group of Rangers that filled that mentorship role. Included in the SAAC mentors were seniors Dylan Baxter (baseball) and Taryn Murphy (field hockey), junior Dina Abdeljabbar (cross country), sophomores Michele Pozyc (field hockey) and Eduardo Martinez (soccer), and freshman Andrew Pidhorodeckyj (fencing).
 
 
The Rangers answered the Summit students' questions on college preparation while in high school, the college selection process and what their education means to them. Each member of SAAC shared their personal experiences of making the transition to college life, while mixing in advice on how to handle the stress of making the decisions and following through on them.
 
About PEP Propram
In 1994, a caring and concerned Summit family wanted to create a program to provide an opportunity for children to perform to the best of their abilities. In spring 1996, the first students entered the PEP Program; and through the years the PEP Program has provided this opportunity to many students and their families in the Summit community. Today, through the continual support of the founders, about 40 students, from 5th grade through college or other post secondary education/pursuits, are working to realize their dreams.
 
The PEP Program works with the selected students, the Summit school system, the parents, and the community to add a "home away from home" for the students in the Program. We have an environment for learning where staff, tutors and other students help to grow the students' academic and social lives, preparing and motivating them to become valued members of their communities, and to achieve their short-term and long-term goals. PEP Program students, from the fifth grade on, are motivated and committed to finishing high school and getting a higher education, for which they are eligible to receive tuition assistance.
 
About Drew University SAAC
The goal of SAAC is to foster a better relationship between the Student-Athletes and the rest of the Drew community. SAAC will try to bridge the gaps between different groups and organizations by holding campus-wide events in hopes to create more attendance and school spirit at both athletic events and other events on campus. Each year a new cause will be selected to fundraise for which will benefit Drew and its neighboring communities.