Lehigh visits Northeast Middle School to kick off Stay in to Win Program
9/16/2014 2:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's basketball team visited Northeast Middle School on Friday to kick off the NABC Stay in to Win Program. The Mountain Hawks were one of the first colleges in the country to step forward and embrace the program after its inception in 2012, and continue to make a difference in the lives of young students. Â "I think an event such as the Stay in to Win program really benefits both sides of those who participate," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "Our players have the opportunity to present very valuable messaging to impressionable youth about importance of education, responsible decision making and action plans for success in life. Those messages are very well received." Â Al Foderaro, the program's founder, was in attendance on Friday afternoon. Â "Coach Reed didn't just want to do one school. He started with one and wants to expand to all the middle schools in Bethlehem," he said. "Brett takes this really seriously. He believes in not only contributing to the community, but also delivering this positive message." Â At the core of the Stay in to Win program is five keys to success: Â
Stay in school and graduate
Create a Success Team and Success Plan
Learn and practice decision-making skills
Improve academic performance
Focus on personal development
 During Friday's school visit, a different Lehigh player presented each of the five keys and related the concepts back to experiences from their own lives.  "It's always nice knowing as a player that we have a chance to impact those we talk to and might help influence them in the right direction," said senior Corey Schaefer. "We also help them consider some of the decisions they'll have to make at this point in their lives with staying in school, staying away from drugs and drinking, and trying to find a good group of friends. I think sharing personal experiences about how we made some of these decisions as kids and how we overcame some of our own struggles helps them as well."  The program is successful due in large part to its setup. The players don't just make an appearance, but they also leave a Stay in to Win workbook which reinforces the concepts covered.Stay in to Win WorkbookÂ
"If the team was here and solely did an assembly, the kids in the audience would remember it for about two weeks then forget the message," said Foderaro. "The unique part of this program is that we provide the school with workbooks that follow up the message, built on the five keys of student success. The real success of the program is how the schools reinforce and use these messages to help these kids over the course of the year. If the team comes back every year, they'll keep talking to a new class of students and eventually, the whole school has a culture built around these keys." Â Stay in to Win benefits the Lehigh student-athletes just as much as the middle school students. Â "Our players gain a perspective of their influence within our community and a sense of connection with those who surround our campus and athletic program, and really get a sense of context about their overall experience," said Reed. "This aids in their development holistically as student-athletes." Â The Stay in to Win program initially began as an idea that Foderaro, who retired in 2008 following a lifetime career in higher education as a career services professional, had to address the dropout crisis impacting schools and youth throughout the nation.Â
"I was always concerned about at-risk kids and the number of kids that were dropping out in this country," he said. "The rates were really staggering. My son was going to grad school at Duke at the time, so I went to see Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) and I asked him if he thought this would be something that the players and coaches would go into schools and do. He referred me to the National Association of Basketball Coaches." Â The program began in 2012 with 15 colleges, expanded to 30 programs last year and has reached 55 this year. Â "As we begin our third year of the program, we're already in 22 states with 55 teams from 30 different conferences having partnered with over 85 middle schools across the country," said Foderaro. "So far, approximately 45,000 students have heard players and coaches deliver the Stay in to Win message and received workbooks to help reinforce the teams' messages throughout the year and beyond. The intent of the program is to make a positive impact on students that will be longer lasting and more significant."
This year, in addition to presenting at Northeast Middle School, the team is scheduled to present at Nitschmann and Broughal Middle Schools and hopes to collaborate with East Hills Middle School next year in an effort to establish a community wide culture throughout Bethlehem focused on student success.  "It's very important to be active in the community," said Schaefer. "We know that many of these kids look up to us as students and athletes, so to be in their schools and talk to them allows us to have an impact on them. We also know that many of these students try to attend our games, so it's a way to connect and thank them for their support."  Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content, team updates and more. Â
