LIVONIA, Mich. – The LEAD Prep Academy (LPA), a thirteenth- year, post-high school, college prep academy powered by the LEAD Foundation, Madonna University and Legacy Center Sports Complex announced, in May, its opening in the Fall of 2023. In addition to recruiting football student-athletes, LPA now will also offer its academic programs to basketball players. The LPA partnership will deliver top-notch academic programs through Madonna University, and first-class athletic training in state-of-the-art facilities at the Legacy Center Sports Complex. The LEAD Prep Academy is a subsidiary of the LEAD Foundation, a nonprofit 501c3 based in Michigan. This partnership will be the first of its kind in Michigan and the Midwest. The unique program is geared toward international and domestic high-school graduates who are seeking social, academic, and athletic development during a gap year between high school and college.
“We are extremely excited to open the Academy to student-athletes from around the world,” said Justin Cessante, LPA founder and athletic director. “We are honored to combine the best of such a respected University as Madonna with the outstanding Legacy
organization and athletic facilities. “Our goal is to provide a unique platform and environment that promotes the development of the whole student; in the classroom and in athletic competition, while helping each student-athlete to achieve their academic and athletic goals,” said Cessante. “Student-athletes will earn college credits while maintaining their athletic eligibility and developing socially, academically, and athletically,’’ said Cessante. Madonna University’s administrators are eager for LPA to start recruiting students for the program next year, “This unique program provides yet another opportunity for students to join Madonna University’s close-knit community, experience college in a new way while also gaining fitness training, and playing football or basketball at the Legacy Center Sports Complex,” said Deborah Dunn, Ed.D., , Madonna University provost and vice president for academic administration.
I am grateful to be named head basketball coach at LEAD Prep Academy. I am humbled by the opportunity to build a program that will participate at the highest levels of competition while also representing the core values of the LEAD foundation: Leadership, Education, Action, and Development. I’d like to thank our Founder and Athletic Director Justin Cessante for his confidence and support,” said Waleed Samaha, LPA head basketball coach.
“The LEAD Prep Academy will provide a unique, first class experience. Our student athletes will attend college classes, live in residence halls, study, and dine on campus at Madonna University and train in state-of-the-art facilities at the Legacy Center Sports
Complex,” Samaha said “ Our student-athletes will gain valuable life experiences through internships and community service opportunities. Our focus on strength training, nutrition, and skill development will enable our student athletes to gain a competitive
advantage. We will play a competitive schedule against the top post-secondary programs in the United States and Canada,” said Samaha. The LEAD Prep Academy is a subsidiary of the LEAD Foundation, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization.
About Madonna: Liberal arts education, career preparation, and service-learning have been the hallmarks of a Madonna University education for 85 years. In addition to the beautiful main campus, conveniently located at I-96 and Levan Road in Livonia, Madonna offers academic programs in Dearborn, Gaylord, Macomb, and Southfield, and online in Haiti and the United Arab Emirates. Michigan’s most affordable, independent, Catholic, liberal arts university, Madonna offers more than 100 undergraduate and 35 graduate programs in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Development, and Nursing and Health, as well as the School of Business.