Chief Jay Lindsay and Chief Marlon Joseph work to update the database used by the PEP program to track volunteer hours.
Every year hundreds of people onboard NAS Patuxent River spend thousands of hours volunteering time to help local youth. Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate (AW⁄SW) Jay Lindsay and Chief Gas Turbine System Technician Mechanical (AW⁄SW) Marlon Joseph are no exception. The two have recently chosen to volunteer their time as the 2008⁄2009 coordinators for Pax River’s Personal Excellence Partnership (PEP) program.
‘‘The PEP program serves as the basis for developing the youth of Southern Maryland to their fullest potential in academic achievement, healthy lifestyles and civic responsibility,” said Naval Air Station Commanding Officer Capt. Andy Macyko during the PEP kick-off ceremony held in the Frank Knox Employee Development Center Sept. 9. ‘‘Utilizing the vast technical resources of the air station, our employees strive to boost the students’ self esteem, reach personal goals and achieve academic success.”
‘‘I just wanted to make a positive impact on the future and the community,” said Lindsay. I know the best way to do that is through the children of Southern Maryland.”
‘‘NAS Pax has maintained a strong bond with the local community through these kinds of outreach programs,” said Joseph. ‘‘I think this is due in large part to the outstanding support the community has received from our employees. I want to continue to strengthen that bond as a PEP coordinator.”
Volunteers to the program spend time at any of the 29 participating schools in Southern Maryland tutoring, mentoring and serving as positive role models for students who take part in the program. There are currently 413 naval, civil service and contractor employees involved with the program who make every effort to enhance the quality of education that local students receive.
‘‘We are responsible for assisting the schools and their respective coordinators by providing volunteers for tutoring and mentoring students,” explained Lindsay. PEP reaches more than 12,000 local students every year, helping them weekly receive a solid foundation in math science and reading skills.
‘‘We are always looking for volunteers,” said Joseph, ‘‘even if you are the only one at your command serving a particular school you are still vital to the mission of the PEP program.”
As coordinators Joseph and Lindsay keep track of every hour that every volunteer works at the schools to which they are assigned. ‘‘We record their hours and maintain them in our PEP database,” said Lindsay. This record of volunteer hours worked allows them to recognize long-term volunteers in the program for service to the community. Last year 6,781 volunteer hours were recorded.
While there are many volunteers in the program, the need for more is there. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with the program contact Lindsay or Joseph by calling 301-342-1095 or by e-mail at jay.lindsay@navy.mil or marlon.joseph@ navy.mil.
‘‘It only takes one to make a difference,” said Lindsay, ‘‘only one.”
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