NDP RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ATHLETIC PROGRAM

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March 27, 2026

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Award — one of only 50 nationwide — reflects focus on student-athlete development, program structure and alignment with mission.

Notre Dame Prep received recognition this week from AEA Neuro-Fitness Academy for its athletic program.

The Athletic Department of the Year Innovation Award reflects the school’s approach to athletics, including training methods, student development and program organization, according to AEA.

Program structure and development

Notre Dame Prep’s athletic program spans lower school through varsity levels, with offerings across multiple sports. The structure is designed to support skill development over time while maintaining academic expectations.

The recognition from AEA Neuro-Fitness Academy highlights programs that incorporate training approaches related to performance and cognitive development.

An AEA executive noted the program’s consistency and structure in announcing the award, citing its alignment with the organization’s standards for athlete development.

"We are honored to recognize athletic departments that are prioritizing innovation and athlete development," said Eric Orme, founder of the AEA Institute. "These programs are leading the way in creating environments where athletes can develop not only physically, but mentally and personally."

Integration with academics

School administrators said athletics are intended to complement the academic experience. Coaches and faculty coordinate to help students manage coursework alongside athletic participation.

This approach emphasizes time management, accountability and consistency in both areas.

NDP Athletic Director Betty Wroubel said the award reflects the efforts of coaches and students.

“We are grateful to receive this honor and to see our program recognized among the top in the state of Michigan,” Wroubel said. “It reflects a shared commitment to excellence and to developing the whole student.”

Ongoing work

School officials said the recognition aligns with continued efforts to maintain and refine the athletic program. It adds to previous acknowledgments of the program and provides an external measure of its structure and focus.

For prospective families, the recognition offers still more context on how athletics are well-organized within the broader educational experience and mission of Notre Dame Prep.

About the AEA Institute:

The AEA Institute is a leadership and performance development organization focused on helping athletes, teams, and organizations strengthen mindset, leadership, and performance through structured mental training programs. Its flagship program, Mental Edge Academy, provides student-athletes with a daily mental performance training system designed to build confidence, focus and resilience both in sports and in life.

Learn more at: www.aea-neuro-fitness-academy.com

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.