LifePrep@Naz 
LifePrep@Naz is an innovative program designed to provide students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a college experience, strengthening their life skills, vocational skills, self-sufficiency, and independence. Created through the collaborative relationship among Nazareth, Victor Central School District, and The Arc of Monroe, the LifePrep@Naz program thrives on the passion and commitment of everyone involved.
Through campus employment, Nazareth students serve as mentors to the LifePrep students, providing consistent peer-to-peer interaction. The mentors assist and support LifePrep students in LifePrep and Nazareth classes, and accompany them to lunch, as well as their on-campus vocational experiences.
LifePrep students are fully immersed in campus life, including but not limited to:
- Enrollment in a Nazareth course
- Involvement in clubs & organizations
- Attendance at college functions and athletic events
- Internship on campus
- Participation in Commencement upon completion of the LifePrep program
Eligibility
For more information regarding eligibility, acceptance criteria, and application information for LifePrep@Naz, please visit:
Mentor Experiences
What is your favorite experience with LifePrep?
"Every moment I spend at LifePrep is a moment that I cherish, but it is particularly special to me when I see moments of growth in individual students. Seeing shy students come out of their shells, or students who lack confidence demonstrate how independent they have become brings me so much joy.
"It is incredible to see the meaningful relationships the students form with each other and the mentors, and I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am to have each and every one of these wonderful people in my life."
How will you integrate what you've learned from LifePrep into your everyday life moving forward?
"I plan to work as an Occupational Therapist after graduating from Nazareth, and will be working with people across the lifespan with varying diagnoses. No matter what setting I am working in, I know that what I have learned about never assuming anything about a person because of their disability/any kind of label will translate. No two people are the same, regardless of the diagnosis they have, and I will move forward keeping this in mind."
"Compassion, diligence, and intuition are three characteristics I have learned through my involvement at LifePrep, and integrate into my studies and beyond. These skills are not ones that could be learned in the classroom, but only by direct experience. The friendships and rapport I have built with students and staff have taught me compassion and empathy which supports my connection to clients in clinical rotations."
Why are you a mentor?
"Lifeprep has become like a family for me at Nazareth College. As someone who started at Nazareth College as a transfer student, I was nervous about what would happen. However, after joining Nazareth, I quickly found my sense of community in Lifeprep. I always look forward to seeing all the students during the day. They brighten my day, and I always look forward to saying hi to everyone."
"LifePrep plays a huge role in the atmosphere that we have here on campus. Some of mine, as well as my friends, favorite interactions have been with the LifePrep students whether that be "on the job" where we get to hang out with the students and provide support where they need it, but more so around campus at all the different events. The students are always stopping to say hi to you across campus and they are just as active in the Naz community."
"Working with the students in the LifePrep program made me decide on my future career path of working with individuals with disabilities. They have opened my eyes to the world of inclusivity for those with disabilities and that is where I found my passion. There is no better moment than watching a student do something independently that they used to depend on for assistance and watching them grow as a collective and individuals. I have developed my own personal skills as well as my professional skills throughout my years with the program."
