Pro Football Hall of Fame to Host Inaugural NFL Prep Academy

The inaugural NFL Prep Academy, an invitation-only program designed for elite high school football student-athletes and their parent or guardian to teach the values of education, character, leadership, and community outreach, kicks off today at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced.  

This four-day program features a variety of classroom presentations that include “Goal Setting,” “Values,” “Academic and Career Planning,” “Healthy Relationships” “Life Beyond Football” and “Leadership & Character Development.”  The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania helped develop the curriculum and Wharton faculty and staff will assist the students in the classroom. In addition, The Jefferson Awards Foundation (JAF) will lead participants through community training sessions.

In keeping with NFL Player Engagement’s industry leading peer-to-peer model, students will gain knowledge and insight from those who have been successful on the field.  Sessions will include instruction from former NFL players who are trained as Transition Coaches, including Garry Cobb, Steve Fitzhugh, Scott Galbraith, Eddie Mason, Freddie Scott and Tony Stewart. Gold Jacket Anthony Muñoz will deliver the keynote address to participants and will be in attendance throughout the program.
 

The Academy will culminate with a service project at Cradles to Crayons, a resource for communities in-need and a hub of civic engagement in Philadelphia. The organization provides essentials such as donated clothes, shoes, books and school supplies to homeless and low-income children. The participants will visit the Cradles to Crayons warehouse to sort through donated items to ensure they are in good condition and package them to be delivered to those in need.

“Working with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and The Wharton School, we are pleased to host the first NFL Prep Academy to educate, inspire and empower football’s next generation of leaders,” said Charles Way, vice president of NFL Player Engagement.  “We want to thank David Baker and his team at the Hall of Fame for their dedication to helping instill and celebrate character and leadership in football players at all levels of the game.”

“We are so pleased to work with Charles Way and the NFL Prep Academy and bring the nation’s top football prospects for this inspirational program of leadership, character and integrity,” said David Baker, president & executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “The game of football is a great teacher for the game of life and we look forward to being part of the classroom.”

Forty-one student-athletes from 20 states were selected to participate in the Academy based on academic and athletic performance, character, civic involvement, and a coach’s recommendation: