Drexel Athletics 2024-2025 Annual Report | Community & STUDENT Engagement

Student-Athletes Participate in Vidas Play Day

More than 200 students and staff from Alain Locke Elementary School joined Drexel coaches and student-athletes at Drexel's Vidas Play Day. It was the fourth year of the event which brings local grade school students to Drexel for a day of athletic activities. Vidas Play Day was coordinated by Drexel's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and members of Drexel's varsity athletic teams.

Vidas Play Day is held in partnership with Drexel's Vice President in the Office of University & Community Partnerships. It encourages West Philadelphia area students to stay active and to build their confidence through participation in athletic activities.

Drexel Student-Athletes Participate in 2025 Community Clean-Up Day

Drexel University student-athletes participated in a Community Clean-Up Day on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26. The Community Clean-Up Day was in partnership with the Office of University and Community Partnerships and presented by Spark Therapeutics.

The Dragons volunteered their time at the Mantua Urban Peace Garden and the Embracing Truth Ministries on Friday. The day after, DU student-athletes assisted the Spring Garden Festival at the Dornsife Center.

Griffin Mitchell Named a CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award Winner

Drexel's Griffin Mitchell was named one of the 20 recipients of the prestigious CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award for the 2024-25 academic year. Mitchell, a member of the Drexel golf team, compiled a 3.87 GPA while earning a bachelor's degree in finance and recently completed a master's degree in business administration.

A 13-time Dean's List member, he made the CSC Academic All-District team and has participated in a variety of community service initiatives. He was selected to the All-CAA second team, finished second at the CAA Men's Golf Championship to garner all-tournament accolades and also made the All-Northeast Region team.

Drexel Athletics Participates in Read Across America

Drexel student-athletes once again participated in National Read Across America Day. More than 20 student-athletes participated across four different West Philadelphia schools. The event was planned in partnership with Drexel's Office of University and Community Partnerships.

Athletes from golf, field hockey, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's rowing, wrestling and the dance team visited Alain Locke, Martha Washington, McMichael and Powel SLAMS elementary schools. While there they not only read to students, but talked about the importance of reading and literature.

"Whenever there is a chance for Drexel students to visit one of our local public schools, it is a valuable opportunity for all involved," said Jeffrey H. Jordan, Drexel's Outreach Community Engagement Specialist. "Read Across America was such an occasion. It was rewarding to see primary school students sit attentively and take in every word from the books being read by our athletes. It was equally rewarding to see our athletes, with smiles on their faces, sit in preschool chairs and interact on their level with small children who view them as heroes. This day was a win for the local schools and their students, Drexel's Office of University and Community Partnerships and Athletic Department."

Youssef Bahgat and Devyn Demchack Represented Drexel at Annual CAA SAAC Leadership Summit

Youssef Bahgat of the men's swimming and diving team and Devyn Demchak of the softball team, along with Peaches Brown, Drexel's Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development, represented the Dragons at the CAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Leadership Summit. The Leadership Summit included 27 student-athletes representing all 13 CAA institutions, along with an administrator from each school and members of the conference staff.

Additional Student Development and Community Initiatives

Dragon Leadership Academy
Student Executive Professional Development
SAAC Welcome Back
Dornsife Dinners
Networking Night
Trivia Night
Candy Grams
Blue & Gold Awards
AI Innovision
BSAU Paint Night
Morgan' Message
International Student-Athlete Welcome Dinner
Chalk it Up to Wellness
Gratitude Tree
Coffee & Conversations
Restorative Yoga Series
National Nutrition Month - Food Connects Us
Autism Acceptance Night
Girls & Women in Sports Day
Drexel Dance a THON

SAAC Leadership

Many of the initiatives listed above were due to the leadership and planning of the 2024-25 SAAC Executive Board. Thank you to this group of student leaders who dedicated a great deal of time and effort to represent the greater student-athlete community.

President: Tommy Pennimpede
President Elect: Hannah Carmen
Communications Chair: Aldercy Bui
DEI Chair: Sebastion Smith
Athlete Engagement Chair: Devyn Demchak
Community Outreach Chair: Fiona Steele
Student Body Chair: Jack Janda
Events Chair: Katie O’Donnell