Kean University Student Succeeds with Irvington Student-Athletes

From Kean University: Kean University Counseling student Stephanie Kaplan of Keyport is making a difference in the lives of student-athletes at Irvington High School.

As part of her counseling work with the school’s athletic department through the AthLife Foundation, Kaplan implemented a program she called Extra M.I.L.E (Maximum Impact Less Excuses) to raise academic performance and college readiness of the school’s football players.

The program tracks students’ potential NCAA eligibility based on factors such as SAT scores and high school grade-point average. Students receive points for participating in the program’s individual and group sessions, which Kaplan runs 22 hours per week in the school.

Jeff McCann, AthLife Foundation, executive director and vice president, notes the program has achieved the following remarkable results:

• A 31 percent increase in the mean grade-point average of the football team over a three-year period, from 1.9 to 2.50.
• A 91 percent four-year graduation rate for members of the team.
• Improvement of individual career goals (88 percent of the team planning to attend college or serve in the military).
• 1,000 hours of community service.
• Over $150,000 in academic and athletic scholarships earned by team members.
• Expansion of the program to other sports teams in Irvington Public Schools.

"The programming taps into a student’s passion for their sport, driving academic achievement, leadership development and post-secondary success," McCann said. "The culture of the team is transformed, creating a positive ripple effect across the school.”

Kaplan has worked with student-athletes through a “Tally Your Touchdown” plan to award points to students for achieving academic and community goals, including improving test scores, practicing for standardized tests and making career plans.

"The Extra M.I.L.E. provides the opportunity for student-athletes to do service learning projects and volunteer for community service, making cards for kids in the hospital, participating in the Irvington Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, and so on," Kaplan said.

About Kean University
Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The University's six undergraduate colleges offer 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable, accessible and world-class education. Visit here.

Image via Pixabay