25 MoCo High School Student-Athletes Will Mentor 100 Children Through Upcoming Program

25 student-athletes from five different Montgomery County  high schools are currently going through leadership training with Adam Bradley’s Lead ‘Em Up to prepare for the Student-Athlete Mentor Program (SAMP), created by Joseph Hooks and the 480 Club.

The participating student-athletes had to interview in order to be hired for the stipend, which is fully funded by the Montgomery County Department of Health & Humans Services (DHHS). After the student-athletes go through an 8-part Lead ‘Em Up training, they will begin to serve as mentors for the program.

Each student-athlete will be assigned four children from the Montgomery Village area that they will be responsible for mentoring and “leading up” through the duration of the year, through a series of events, in-person visits, frequent communication, and more. Each of the five MCPS high schools will have a paid supervisor helping organize, coordinating, and supporting their five high school student-athlete mentors.

The student-athletes participating as mentors come from Gaithersburg, Northwest, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, and Watkins Mill high schools. The program is the first of its kind in our area and has hopes to expand.

Pictured: Top row ( Gideon Ituka , Owen Bibb, Coach Marvin Romero , Malik Sarr , Warner Williams , Kevin Garcia , Elijah Frazier , Jakai Joppy , Micheal Nwaogwugwu, Anthony Gengerella , La kyi Wilson , Rahmise Jones , Angel Pelaez, Mike Thomas , Michael Wilson , Xavier Rivers

Middle row: Christian Ose , Adam Bradley , Raheem Mbaye , Jorden Hungerford , Mike Young , Marvin Romero , Jarel Brown , Jayden Davis

Front row: Coach Brian McNeary , Coach Chris Patterson , 480 Director Joseph Hooks, Sidoine Djimbou

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