Pax NAS Commanding Officer Capt. Heidi Fleming addresses PEP kick-ff attendees as PEP coordinator Master Chief David Lively looks on.

Lexington Park, MD — It was a big PEP rally but there weren’t any bonfires or scheduled football games. The PEP at this rally was Personal Excellence Partnerships (PEP), a cooperative effort between the U.S. Navy at Patuxent River NAS and the public and parochial schools in Southern Maryland.

The kick-off of this year’s partnership effort occurred Oct. 6 at the Frank Knox Training center with representatives of the schools and the Navy in attendance.

Volunteerism is a big thing at the base according to Pax NAS Commanding Officer Capt. Heidi Fleming. She told those assembled at the kick-off that Pax River leads all Navy installations worldwide in its level of volunteerism, which involves 400 employees logging in 7,292 man hours annually. She said the work of all the partners involved is what makes the base’s efforts a success.

Captain Fleming said she was amazed at the efforts of the schools in STEM education and the results shown in the numbers of scholarships announced at each high school’s graduation ceremonies, which she attends.

The commanding officer noted “the tremendous impact you have on students,” harkening back to her experiences in school and the impact teachers had on her.
Capt. Fleming was introduced by Master Chief David Lively, who is the PEP coordinator on base.

In attendance in addition to many school principals in the Tri-County area were Calvert Superintendent Dr. Daniel Curry (shown at left) and St. Mary’s Deputy Superintendent Maureen Montgomery. Dr. Curry said, “Each principal works to maximize the volunteer effort.”

Patuxent Appeal Elementary Campus Principal Charles Treft told The BayNet that the Navy volunteers are especially helpful in assisting at special events in his schools. He said they also have a monthly luncheon for at-risk students at which the volunteers attend and act as role models for the students.

PEP volunteers tutor, mentor, provide technical expertise and serve as positive role models to boost students’ self-esteem, reach personal goals and achieve academic success.

During the kick-off, certificates of appreciation were handed out to the principals by Capt. Fleming and the base’s school liaison Dawn Simpson.

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com