Real-Life Hero of 'Invincible' Visits Jefferson High School to Encourage Students to Achieve Their Dreams of a Higher Education

Real-Life Hero of 'Invincible' Visits Jefferson High School to Encourage Students to Achieve Their Dreams of a Higher Education

Vince Papale in Los Angeles for The Sallie Mae Fund's 'Hold Fast to Dreams' $50,000 Scholarship Tour

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Vince Papale -- the real-life hero who inspired Walt Disney Pictures' "Invincible" -- visited Jefferson High School today to bring his message about beating the odds to more than 200 Los Angeles high school students. Papale was in Los Angeles for the final stop of The Sallie Mae Fund's "Hold Fast to Dreams" Scholarship Tour. The NFL's oldest rookie also presented a $10,000 scholarship to one deserving Jefferson student, senior Jeannette Juarez.

"Playing for the Philadelphia Eagles was a dream come true but so was being the first in my family to go to college," said Papale. "I see a little bit of Vince Papale in all of these kids. They all have dreams of attending college, and I'm here to tell them through hard work and dedication that dream is possible."

The day was particularly unforgettable Jefferson High School student Jeannette Juarez who received a $10,000 Sallie Mae Fund "Hold Fast to Dreams" scholarship to help achieve her dream of attending college. Juarez was chosen among all Jefferson seniors for her commitment to achieving her education goals by overcoming obstacles.

As part of his inspirational workshop, Papale introduced his "Five Plays to Win Your Way to College," a simple planning and paying for college playbook for students and families. As the first in his family to go to college, Papale credits his degree from St. Joseph's University as one of his greatest accomplishments and one that has allowed him to provide for his family.

Papale's visit to Los Angeles was the final stop on The Sallie Mae Fund's five-city "Hold Fast to Dreams" Scholarship Tour. Launched from Papale's alma mater Interboro High School in Philadelphia, the "Hold Fast to Dreams" Scholarship Tour is named for the Langston Hughes poem frequently cited by former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil and captures the spirit of Vince Papale. Additional tour stops included Newark, St. Louis and Orlando.

"We designed this tour to connect Vince's two dreams -- to be a football player and to be the first in his family to attend college," said Kathleen deLaski, president, The Sallie Mae Fund. "Young people need role models beyond celebrities. Vince has been a sports celebrity, and he's also been a teacher, businessman, husband, father and cancer survivor. He now works for The Sallie Mae Fund, helping students and parents understand the value of a college education."

As part of the campaign to underscore the importance of college attendance, a public service announcement featuring Vince Papale and Mark Wahlberg (who plays Vince on-screen), is being shown in theaters across the country. Go to http://www.salliemaefund.org/ to see the public service announcement and to download Vince's "Five Plays to Win Your Way to College."

The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, achieves its mission -- to increase access to a postsecondary education for America's students -- by supporting programs and initiatives that help open doors to higher education, prepare families for their investment, and bridge the gap when no one else can. For more information visit http://www.salliemaefund.org/.

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Source: The Sallie Mae Fund

CONTACT: Rick Castellano, +1-703-984-5535,
richard.castellano@salliemae.com, for The Sallie Mae Fund

Web site: http://www.salliemaefund.org/

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